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

[NoClones]

Those weenies should kiss-off!

[sarasota]

Maybe if they ask nice instead of "demanding"...

[sonrise57]

Explain to me how they are in position to demand anything.

[dts32041]

Our reply should be FOAD.

[Bikers4Bush]

I have two words for these folks with respect to a rotten egg.

Suck it.

[Psycho_Bunny]

How many times do you think President Bush is going to have to tell these people to go %$#$ themselves before they finally understand that we don't care what they think?

[thoughtomator]

Hahahahahahaha that's rich!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Dear France, Russia & Germany,

Demand in one hand, and defecate in the other. See which one fills up faster.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What a joke!

[Enterprise]

I think it is great that the Euroweenies want to play a major role after the war. I suggest that we let them haul around porta-potties.

[sauropod]

"France, Russia and Germany on Friday renewed demands that the United Nations play a major role in postwar Iraq..."

HAHAHAHAHA!

Cheese eating surrender monkeys cut out of the action.

[saluki_in_ohio]

Maybe if they ask nice instead of "demanding"...

And the answer still would be, "NON","NEIN", and "NYET"!

[GiveEmDubya]

"Europeans Demand Major UN Role in Iraq"

To quote Austin Powers:

"And I want a toilet made of solid gold, but it's not in the cards now is it, baby?"

[CathyRyan]

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

[netmilsmom]

Quote Little Red Hen..."Who will eat the bread?"
In the same way, we will share only with those who helped us.

[trebb]

Thank God Jimmy Carter isn't in charge now - he'd give our whole freakin country to the displaced Iraqis and ensure that France/German/Russia got perpetual claims on all the Iraqi oil.

[Shermy]

AP yet again misleads that Germany, France and Russia speak for "Europe." UK, Spain, Italy, Poland, etc. don't count.

[Redleg Duke]

Hey, Eurotrash...POUND SAND!

[fightinJAG]

Excuse me, this reporter is mistaken. She writes that "Europeans" demand blah-blah-blah. France, Germany and Russia do not speak for Europeans.