Iraq rebuilding conference to be held in Brussels

The European Union (EU) will join hands with the United States to co-host an Iraq rebuilding conference in Brussels "in early June", a senior EU official said Saturday.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told a press conference that the idea was raised at a US-EU summit during US President George W. Bush's European tour this February.

The meeting is to be held "at the request of the new Iraqi government," said Asselborn, who is currently chairing an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting.

The foreign minister said it was too early to give precise dates or details.

The EU is concerned not only about stability and security in Iraq, but also about the country's integration into the region and the world at large, Asselborn added.

Earlier in the day, EU ministers discussed issues concerning Iraq and the Middle East at a two-day meeting which concluded here Saturday

Source: Xinhua