EU: we seek to amend Iraqi sanctions

As the European Union announced that it looks forward to amend the sanctions imposed on Iraq, Germany has expressed its rejection to the American threats of attacking Iraq and other countries under the pretest of fighting international terrorism.

The spokesman for the European commissioner for foreign affairs told the press that talks are being made now with Iraq within the framework of the UN on the sanctions imposed on Iraq and that the EU seeks to amend these sanctions. He said: "and we are working with partners at the UN and Russia to achieve this matter."

On whether the EU will agree to the American statements pertaining to the "axis of evil" in the region, the EU spokesman said that "the EU presidency, the EU commissioner for foreign affairs and the higher representative for the European foreign policy did not use the words stated by the US and will not agree to this policy, rather refuse it, especially those policy pertaining to Iraq, Iran and democratic Korea."

For his part, the German minister of state at the foreign ministry said in a televised statement on Monday "we, the Europeans warn against threatening Iraq. There is no evidence on that this country is involved in terrorism, but it seems that the US wants to make Iraq pay bills," adding that terrorism should not be used as a pretext to legitimize the "old hostility."