The Iraqi state is facing an
existential threat, with huge ramifications for the future stability and
freedom of this country. The single most important factor that will determine
whether or not Iraq overcomes this challenge is political
unity.
As a friend of Iraq, the UK
believes the urgent priority must be to form an inclusive government that can
command the support of all Iraqi people and work to stop ISIL in its tracks.
The discussion of this key point is the purpose of my visit to Iraq and will
form the basis of my conversations with Prime Minister Maliki and President of
the Kurdish Regional Government Masoud Barzani as well as other key political
figures.
The UK can provide diplomatic,
counter-terrorism and humanitarian support to Iraq. We were the first donor
nation to get a team on the ground to assess humanitarian needs in Erbil. We
have provided £5 million in emergency relief already, and there is more
that we will be able to do in support of a unified Iraqi
government.
ISIL is a brutal terrorist group
that is alien to this country, to the Middle East, and to the Islamic faith. It
is a mortal threat to the stability and territorial integrity of Iraq, but the
danger does not stop here: ISIL poses a direct threat to other countries in
this region.
Moreover, anyone glorifying,
supporting or joining ISIL should understand that they are assisting a group
responsible for kidnapping, torture, executions, rape, and numerous other
crimes documented by international human rights organisations. This is not
heroic behaviour, it is heinous behaviour, and no one should be under any
illusions about that.
But the immediate priority, and
the focus of my discussions today, is to help and encourage Iraqi leaders to
put sectarian conflict behind them and unite across all political
parties.