France lifts veto threat on Iraq

BBC News ^ | 22 September 2003 | Uncredited

[lambo]

France will not veto a US-backed Security Council resolution on the future of Iraq, President Jacques Chirac has said.

The United States circulated a draft text for a resolution earlier this month but it has not yet been put to a vote.

"I have no intention of opposing the resolution... I am not in that mind-set at all," the French leader told the New York Times newspaper in an interview published on Monday.

Paris had earlier criticised Washington's efforts to get United Nations backing for an multinational occupation force, demanding instead a more rapid transfer of power from the coalition forces to an Iraqi Government.

US President George W Bush, for his part, said on Sunday that he did not consider it essential to give the UN a greater role in Iraq.

Timetable

So far, the five permanent members of the Security Council have failed to agree on the timetable and manner of a transfer of power in Iraq, with France and the US differing most sharply.

Last week, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin suggested the establishment of a new Iraqi Government in a month, a draft constitution by the end of the year and elections in nine months' time.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell dismissed this as "totally unrealistic".

In his interview with the New York Times, Mr Chirac struck a conciliatory note.

He set out a two-stage plan for Iraqi self-rule, involving first a symbolic transfer of sovereignty to the existing Iraqi Governing Council.

A gradual ceding of real power would follow over the next six to nine months, Mr Chirac said.

However, he reaffirmed France's position that sovereignty should be "transferred to Iraq as quickly as possible".

Without Iraqi self-rule, he said, there was danger in having a "governor who is Christian and foreign" administer an Arab and Muslim country.

The United States has ruled out undermining the authority of the US administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer, saying a hasty move to sovereignty could be counterproductive.

No troops

Mr Chirac said France would vote for a resolution that included a timetable for Iraqi sovereignty and a "key role" for the United Nations.

However, he added, if these provisions were absent in the final text France would abstain rather than veto the resolution.

The French president ruled out for the moment sending French combat troops to Iraq, but made clear this position could be revised in the future.

"Everything could change," he said. "I don't have a crystal ball."

Mr Chirac is due to meet Mr Bush in New York on Tuesday, when the US president is due to address the UN General Assembly.

In his interview with Fox News - which released advanced transcripts on Sunday - George W Bush said he would tell the assembly that going to war with Iraq was "the right decision".

He said the US did not need to give the UN a bigger role in Iraq - but added that it would be helpful if the world body helped write a new Iraqi constitution and oversee elections.

Many other UN members have been pushing for a greater role in post-war Iraq, and have criticised the US rationale for war as exaggerated and unfounded.

[lambo]

I surrender!!

[Rain-maker]

[kayak]

bttt

[exit82]

Looks like the Jacques-strap has read the handwriting on the wall. His buddy Gerhard lost power this week in the German elections and is on the way out. Putin was a fair weather friend. The Germans and Russians are into supporting the US in Iraq.

The French have once again shown that they are unwilling to stand alone on the strength of their convictions.

[Pikamax]

what was it?

punish France, ignore germany, forgive russia?

[Bob J]

Everything could change," he said. "I don't have a crystal ball.

Chirac, you don't have any balls.

[RJL]

France will not veto a US-backed Security Council resolution on the future of Iraq, President Jacques Chirac has said.

This may be Chiraq's position today. Tomorrow if he can screw America with a veto, he will use his veto.

Count on it.

[dixiechick2000]

Actually, I believe it was forgive Russia, ignore Germany, and

PUNISH FRANCE---

Condi Rice.

[putupon]

Chirac, you don't have any balls.

LOL, thanks, I don't usually do that this early on a Monday morning.

[Johnbalaya]

Chirac's in a bind. He wants that oil money NOW. Saddam must have owed France a lot of money. I wonder how much?

[Sacajaweau]

The UN should write the Iraqi constitution according to Chirac?

[Sacajaweau]

Sorry, that's a Bush statement. I find the text of this article a bit confusing this early in the morning. Need more caffein.

[Sacajaweau]

I think the problem is that Iraq can't trade with France under the present circumstances.

[OldFriend]

Don't trust the French for a moment. They will be working behind the scenes to get others to veto any help for Iraq.

[Semi Civil Servant]

Perhaps in light of the apparently successful boycott of French products by Americans sick of France, French greed is overcoming French cowardice.

But don't bother on my account, Ch'Iraq. My boycott of French products is now a small, but satisfying, part of my life.

[kinghorse]

these one liners are killing me. Jock-strap. c'mon. too good.

[VRWC_minion]

Unilaterlist Bush does it again, without groveling like his haters wanted him to.

[VRWC_minion]

We went to our childs open house in high school last week. The French teacher's schedule has been cut back and assumes she will be teaching spanish as time goes on. Seems the parents of the middle school kids are pulling their kids out of French and towards Spanish.

[Wait4Truth]

President Bush does not buckle under pressure. That is one of his greatest qualities. I am proud of him and will proudly vote for him in 2004.