By NNN-KUNA
Brussels : The European Union and Iraqi officials have concluded the fourth round of negotiations for a trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) on an optimistic note.
During the two-day of negotiations the two sides covered much ground, Hugues Mingarelli, Deputy Director-General for the External Relations in the European Commission told a news conference Wednesday.
“We have been able to agree on such areas such as human rights, the international Criminal Court and also on environment, agriculture, training, customs, taxation, employment and social protection and transport,” said Mingarelli who led the EU side at the negotiations.
He said, “There are a few sectors left open and we are confident that in the next few months we will be able to conclude our talks.”
On his part, Mohammed Hamoud Bidan, Iraqi Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed optimism that the TCA will be concluded this year. “I am optimistic for this year,” said Bidan who led his country’s delegation.
Mingarelli said all sections of the trade agreement, but the one on trade, should be agreed upon by the end of this year.
For the trade sector, the EU official did not rule out that talks will conclude this year but did not exclude that they continue in 2009.
TCA negotiations which started in November 2006 are aimed at boosting EU-Iraq economic and trade cooperation.
On Turkish incursion into Iraq, Bidan replied “this is not acceptable.”
“This is an interference in the internal affairs of Iraq.
“We agree with the Turkish government to fight together the PKK … We are ready to cooperate with the Turkish government to push them out,” he said.
“They should struggle for their rights in their country, not inside Iraq. We are not against them as a national movement but we are against them to prepare their attacks from the Iraqi territory,” added Bidan.
He noted that a Turkish delegation was in Baghdad Wednesday to discuss the issue.