UNITED NATIONS: EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN AFFAIRS ENVOY JAVIER SOLANA , HAS TALKS WITH UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ON IRAQ

Record ID: 184531

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS: EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN AFFAIRS ENVOY JAVIER SOLANA , HAS TALKS WITH UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ON IRAQ
  • Date: 8th April 2003
  • Summary: (W8) UNITED NATIONS (APRIL 8, 2003) (AGENCY POOL) PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPORTERS SMV REPORTER WRITING
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: UNITED NATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EDHJZSA7UOGCE026VRM10BHJ
  • Story Text: The European Union's foreign policy chief has met U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan and called for a "vital" and "important" U.N role in the running of post-war Iraq.
    Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, held a long meeting with U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan at the United Nations on Tuesday (April 8, 2003) to make the E.U's case for significant U.N. involvement in post-conflict Iraq.
    Solana wants to find out what role E.U countries can play towards supporting the U.N and healing divisions within the international community over the controversial U.S-led invasion of Iraq.
    Solana told reporters "You know that the European Union has made already several statements defining that the role of the United Nations should be an important role, a major role, a vital role."
    He said U.S President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair also called for a "vital" U.N role during Tuesday's news conference in Northern Ireland.
    While maintaining that the U.N will play an important supportive role, Washington is still insisting that governmental responsibilities will be placed into the hands of an interim authority composed of Iraqis from both inside and outside the country. Bush said on Tuesday that the interim authority will serve until a permanent government can be elected.
    European nations like France and Germany have demanded that the U.N and not the USA and Britain be in charge of administering Iraq post-conflict. Paris is insisting that reconstruction not be left to a handful of countries.
    When asked why the White House should allow Europeans nations a role in rebuilding Iraq, Solana replied, "we are not asking for a role as Europeans, we are trying to defend the role of the United Nations, we are members of the United Nations but it should be the United Nations who plays a very important role, a vital role in the post-conflict."
    Solana is scheduled on Wednesday to meet U.N. ambassadors from EU nations, then he will meet with Annan once more.
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register