June 13, 2006	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1427

LUXEMBOURG, June 12: Iraq's new government plans to start immediately negotiating a trade and cooperation deal with the EU, its foreign minister said on Monday hailing a “new chapter” in ties with the bloc.

Hoshyar Zebari, speaking after talks with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, said the new Baghdad leadership is determined, though realistic about its hopes for the violence-wracked country.

“We don't want to paint a rosy picture about the situation in Iraq. It's still difficult, it's complex,” he told reporters.

But he insisted: “We are facing a new beginning ... we have every opportunity to change the situation and turn it around, but we will need (the) continued support and engagement of the EU. ”

The EC, the EU's executive arm, unveiled plans for its relations with the new Iraqi government last week—AFP