The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the
situation in Iraq.
The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR,
ALDE, and Greens/ALE groups.
It strongly condemned the attacks perpetrated by the
jihadist al-Qaeda splinter group Islamic State (IS) formerly
the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against
Iraqi citizens and the Iraqi state, leading to summary executions,
the imposition of a harsh interpretation of Sharia law, the
destruction of places of the Shiite, Sufi, Sunni and Christian
places of worship and shrines, of the regions historic,
cultural and artistic heritage, and other atrocities. Members
condemned attacks directed at civilian targets, including
hospitals, schools and places of worship, and the use of executions
and sexual violence in the conflict. Underlining the fact that
there should be no impunity for the perpetrators of these acts,
Members were deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis and the
massive displacement of civilians. They rejected without
reservation and considered illegitimate the announcement by the IS
leadership that it had established a caliphate in the areas it now
controlled.
Whilst supporting the Iraqi authorities in the fight
against IS terrorism and other armed/terrorist groups, Parliament
emphasised that the security response needed to be combined with a
sustainable political solution involving all the components of
Iraqi society and addressing their legitimate grievances. It
noted that the rapid surge of the IS had revealed the fragility of
the Iraqi army and institutions which were plagued by corruption,
sectarianism and the exclusivist policies of the government of the
Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, which had led to substantial
alienation of the Sunni and other minorities in Iraq. Members felt
that the parliamentary elections held in Iraq on 30 April 2014
presented an opportunity to create a truly representative
government with an inclusive agenda and they urged all political
leaders, especially Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, to make sure
that an inclusive government representing the political, religious
and ethnic diversity of Iraqi society, was formed in order to stop
the bloodshed and the fragmentation of the country. The Iraqi
Government must reach out to the Sunni minority and reorganise the
army in an inclusive, non-sectarian and non-partisan
way.
With regard to the Kurds, Parliament took note
of the announcement by the Kurdistan Regional Government of a
referendum for independence, but it appealed to the parliament and
the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, to uphold an
inclusive process in respect of the rights of the non-Kurdish
minorities living in the province.
EU action required:
Members stressed that the EU should develop a comprehensive policy
approach to the region and, notably, that Iran, Saudi Arabia and
the other Gulf states need to be included as essential players in
any de-escalation effort in Syria and Iraq. Members recalled
that the IS was receiving funds from wealthy donors, particularly
in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The
President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, has indicated readiness to
cooperate with the US in countering the IS threat in Iraq, while
extremist Sunni armed groups in the region, including the IS, have
been receiving ideological support over the past years from actors
in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
Parliament welcomed the EUs decision of 19 June
2014 to increase its humanitarian assistance to Iraq by
EUR 5 million to provide basic assistance to displaced people,
thus bringing humanitarian funding for Iraq to EUR 12 million
so far in 2014. It reaffirmed the EUs commitment to
strengthening its relationship with Iraq, including through the
implementation of the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
(PCA), and building on the experiences and achievements of the
EUJUST LEX-Iraq mission.
Lastly, Members were concerned at reports of hundreds
of foreign fighters, including citizens of EU Member States,
having joined the IS insurgency, and called for international
cooperation in order to take appropriate legal action against any
individuals suspected of being involved in acts of terrorism. All
regional actors must do everything in their power to stop all
activities by official or private bodies to propagate and spread
extreme Islamist ideologies in words and acts. The international
community, especially the EU, was called upon to facilitate a
regional dialogue on the problems facing the Middle East and
include all significant parties, in particular Iran and Saudi
Arabia.