Europeans Demand Major U.N. Role in Iraq

AP | 4/04/03 | ELAINE GANLEY

[kattracks]

Europeans Demand Major U.N. Role in Iraq

By ELAINE GANLEY .c The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - France, Russia and Germany on Friday renewed demands that the United Nations play a major role in postwar Iraq during a meeting of foreign ministers.

The meeting was part of a new wave of geared-up diplomacy over Iraq following the three countries' staunch advocacy of continued weapons inspections in Iraq and vehement opposition to war. Now the three have set their sights on participating in bringing humanitarian aid and economic stability to Iraq.

``We consider that the only organization to play a central role is the United Nations,'' said Igor Ivanov, Russia's foreign minister.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin traveled to Italy later Friday for a meeting with Pope John Paul II, a strong opponent of the war.

De Villepin also planned to meet Italy's foreign minister, Franco Frattini, whose country supports Washington in the war.

Only the United Nations can ``legitimize'' the urgent work confronting the international community after the war, said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

The ministers did not comment on statements made Thursday by Secretary of State Colin Powell, who said America should have the ``leading role'' in postwar Iraq.

Powell, meeting in Brussels with European Union foreign ministers, said the United Nations would not be shut out. But its exact role ``remains to be seen,'' he said.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Friday that Germany and the United States were ``not so far apart'' on the role of the United Nations in postwar Iraq.

De Villepin cautioned against fighting over lucrative contracts to rebuild Iraq.

``The idea that Iraq can be an El Dorado, a cake that states can cut up and share doesn't appear to me to be good sense,'' he said.

04/04/03 14:48 EST

[KriegerGeist]

The Frogs can contribute Craw-saunts and Lah-tays. Serve up some goose pat-tay-du-frog-raw and some s-car-go. We'll serve up the Freedom Fries and breakfast on Liberty Toast.

Sorry, I don't speak Frog and can't spell it either.

[HardStarboard]

The answer is UhUnh!

[bigdog]

Dear France, Russia & Germany,

Eat $h!t and die.

[snooker]

>>>Those weenies should kiss-off!
Why ... just charge admission to the tent. Pay at the door.

$25 Billion for each ticket. Problem solved.

[monocle]

Ante up $30 billion before playing the game.

[ArrogantBustard]

Only the United Nations can ``legitimize'' the urgent work confronting the international community after the war,

Rubbish. The UN threw away its legitimacy, credibility, and authority by refusing to enforce its own resolutions. Sending that blithering imbecile Blix to tool fecklessly around Iraq does not constitutie "enforcement".

[Wolfstar]

Why oh why is it that I can never think of a response to the Euro-weasels that's calm and clean enough to be posted?! [wink]

[Prysson]

I love the way France Germany and Russia are equated with all of europe.

I really wish these people would just shut up.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin traveled to Italy...

"Ok, Dominique!"
"You pinch me once more and I'm blowing off you freeking head!"

Want a break from war news? Go to the Stark Trek Freeper Post or the New Stark Trek Website for a laugh or two. Then come back refreshed and loaded for bear!

[Wolfstar]

Jimmy Cahtah would never, under any circumstances, have attacked Iraq in the first place (or Afghanistan, for that matter). Instead, he'd personally go over, build some habitats for Taliban and Iraqi humanity, organize "free elections," then come home and polish his Nobel Peace Prize — all to the roaring cheers of Leftists everywhere.

[Fraulein]

They demand it? Hmmm.

[6GTex]

How can they not laugh while saying stupid crap like that?

[xfmrman]

Mon Ami, Once again I must fart in their general direction...

[Mister Baredog]

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin traveled to Italy later Friday for a meeting with Pope John Paul II, a strong opponent of the war.

Dominic is thinking of becoming a priest, he's heard he can get more young boys that way, rather than just getting Chirac's rejects.

[Kudsman]

Only the United Nations can ``legitimize'' the urgent work confronting the international community after the war, said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer

If Germany wants to legitimize anything after a war maybe they should get with Russia and start their own war in France. We could sit by and watch this time. It wouldn't take long. Only 6 weeks in 1940. Maybe a day in 2003. ;-)

[SGCOS]

As much as I despise the way the Dip$hits-3 voted against us in the U.N., the Presidential thing to do would be to give some of the rebuilding contracts to the Dip$hits-3.

To keep peace in the family, if you will.

[keithtoo]

Ya buncha weenies.

[Kudsman]

Well just bring it up in the Security Council so we can vote against it.

Great idea. I have been wishing the US would quit the U.N. But now maybe we ought to become the permanent VETO member. ;^)

[OrioleFan]

Sounds like a threat from the new empires of evil.