BAGHDAD / Nina / Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki stressed on the "work to prevent interventions that would increase the complexity of the situation in Syria and the shedding of more blood."

A statement by Maliki's office said the Prime Minister received today, Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and Radoslaw Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Nikolai Maladenov Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, who represent the European Union and visiting Baghdad now to develop relations between the two sides and make consultations on various issues in the region, particularly the situation in Syria.

The statement quoted Maliki's assertion that "Iraq called from the beginning to the need to find a political solution and not a security one for the situation in Syria, expressing his concern about the escalating violence and killings that affect innocent people."

He expressed Iraq's readiness to "support any international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the suffering of Syria people and guarantee their legitimate goals and avoid the region further bloodshed and destruction."


He said: "The crisis is not about Syria alone, but all the countries of the region, especially Iraq, which has a long border and common interests."

On the other hand al-Maliki stressed on "the need to develop relations with all EU countries," calling for the activation of the bilateral cooperation in line with the strategic Convention of the cooperation between Iraq and the European Union approved by the Council of Ministers recently.

For their part, the foreign ministers stressed on the "positive role of Iraq in the region and what support Iraq can offer for a political solution to get Syria out of its current crisis," the statement said.

The Swedish Foreign Minister said "The Iraqi experience of the past years will be a great help to push all of the Syrian parties to reach a solution to save the situation there."/End /