SAVANNAH, United States, June 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Commission on Tuesday welcomed the unanimous approval of the Iraq resolution by the United Nations Security council, saying it was "an important contribution" to effort to end the crisis in Iraq.

    "The Resolution strengthens the role of the UN as a guarantor of the political and economic reconstruction of this country," Commission President Romano Prodi said in a statement issued at the G8 Summit on Sea Island in Georgia.

    Prodi said the process started by the resolution will put an end to the military occupation in Iraq. It will start a transitional phase during which the Iraqi people will be able to choose their own Government and determine its composition, he said.

    "Iraq will return to the hands of the Iraqi people through a progressive transfer of power and an increased involvement of the UN," Prodi said.

    The EU stands ready to help Iraqis fully reintegrate their country into the international community, Prodi said.

    The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by the United States and Britain to transfer power to the Iraqi interim government on June 30. The resolution authorizes the US-led occupation authorities to remain in Iraq to help keep security but gives the Iraqi government the right to ask the multinational forces to leave at any time.

    Facing objections from France, Russia and Germany, who have demanded handover of full sovereignty to Iraq, the United States and Britain had to revise the draft resolution four times to get its final approval. Enditem