BRUSSELS
The European Union and NATO have welcomed the formation of a new government in Iraq, said a top EU diplomat.
"We congratulate Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi on the formation of the new government and the presentation of a demanding programme. We welcome the spirit of compromise and inclusiveness through which personal interests are put to one side for the sake of the future of the country and the preservation of its unity," said Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief in an online statement on Tuesday.
"We sincerely hope that the whole government will work effectively together to give inclusive responses to the many urgent needs of all the Iraqi citizens. The EU pledges its full support in this endeavour," the statement also read.
NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen also congratulated the new government, saying its formation was a "historic opportunity" for overcoming ethnic and sectarian divisions in Iraq.
"I encourage all Iraqi political leaders to stand behind the new government to ensure it addresses the legitimate interests and aspirations of all Iraqis. Their support will be essential to defeat the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which poses a grave threat to the Iraqi people, to the wider region, and to our nations," Rasmussen said in an online statement on NATO website.
On Monday, Iraq's new government, led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, was officially formed after receiving a vote of confidence by parliament.
The new government, which includes Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, was approved by 177 representatives out of 280.
On August 11, President Fuad Masum named Haider al-Abadi prime minister, ending former PM Nouri al-Maliki's eight-year rule.
www.aa.com.tr/en
