Catherine ASHTON, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,congratulates Francisco DÍAZ ALCANTUD on taking office as Head of MissionCatherine ASHTON, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, today congratulated Francisco DÍAZ ALCANTUD, a colonel in the Spanish Guardia Civil, on taking office as the new Head of Mission of EUJUST LEX (Iraq). He succeeds Stephen WHITE from the United Kingdom. The High Representative made the following comments:
"I would like to congratulate Francisco Díaz on taking office as the new Head of the EU Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq, EUJUST LEX.
His excellent background, his management skills and the extensive experience he acquired both in Spain and in international positions make him most suitable for taking on the challenges facing the mission.
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Head of Mission Francisco Díaz Alcantud
European Union Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX) is a civilian crisis management operation under the auspices of the European Security and Defence Policy.
Following an invitation to the EU by the then Prime Minister of the elected Iraqi Interim Government, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, to commence training activities for Iraqi rule of law professionals, the operational phase of the EUJUST LEX mission started on 1 July 2005. During a meeting with the Head of mission on 18 June 2006, the current Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also extended his welcome to and support for the mission and its activities. In January 2010
Mr. Francisco Díaz Alcantud was appointed Head of mission of EUJUST LEX. He succeeds Mr. Stephen White.
Established to strengthen the rule of law and promote a culture of respect for human rights in Iraq, EUJUST LEX provides professional development opportunities to senior Iraqi officials from the criminal justice system. Member States provide courses which offer learning opportunities and demonstrate best practice in rule of law. In addition, the courses facilitate an exchange of views between the EU trainers and the Iraqi participants. The core aim of the courses is to foster confidence, mutual respect and operational cooperation between the different branches of the Iraqi criminal justice system (police, judiciary and penitentiary). EUJUST LEX is the first EU Integrated Rule of Law mission.
From the outset, the Head of mission has set three guiding principles for all staff to adhere to. These are:
Most of the EUJUST LEX team are based in the coordination office in Brussels. The mission also has a small but vitally important liaison team in Baghdad.
On 17 November 2009, the Council underlined the strong continued commitment of the European Union to support the development of the rule of law in Iraq, specifically by providing training and mentoring in the area of the police, the judiciary and the penitentiary system. The Council welcomed the extension of EUJUST LEX for one year (until 30 June 2010) and its first pilot activities on Iraqi territory.
Building on the success of these in-country activities, the mission is stepping up its engagement to support the rule of law in Iraq through further planned work.