European Union divided on shipment of arms to Kurds

Divided without definite position on how Europe should act in Iraq. The permanent representatives of the 28 member states of the EU without agreement on Tuesday closed an extraordinary meeting to discuss the open conflict in the country, where the terrorist group Islamic State (EI) aims to establish an independent caliphate.

The consensus among the European delegations is limited, according to EU sources, the sending of international aid to the area. By treating the most thorny issue, the decision to build or not to Kurdish fighters fighting the EI, the positions range from advocates provide support weapons -Italy, France, Holland and Czech Republic- and those, like Germany, want to avoid at all costs that European countries send weapons to “any conflict zone.” Although the agreement is not essential -of act, Member States would do separately- the EU diplomacy hoped a consensus position as to remove a message of unity.

France and Italy came to the meeting with the intention of convincing the other partners of the need to supply weapons to Kurdish militiamen to cope with the EI. However, the stance of the German railway delegation took the rest to deepen efforts in humanitarian aid and a joint decision to postpone the shipment of arms. ” Before approving any such action would have to come to an agreement with the new Iraqi government and other countries in the region,” said an EU source. Before the meeting, the European Commission announced a new helpline for five million euros to support those affected by the advance of the jihadists. This year, the EU has allocated 17 million in aid to Iraq.

On the other hand, NATO supported the appointment of Monday Haider al Abadi as Iraqi prime minister and stressed the importance of achieving form an “inclusive” government. “It is an essential condition for the defeat of EI,” he said in a statement.

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Posted by Shakira Subhani on Aug 13 2014. Filed under World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.