- Title: IRAQ: IRAQ: BRITAIN REOPENS ITS EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD AFTER CLOSURE OF 13 YEARS
- Date: 7th July 2004
- Summary: (W6) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JULY 7, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. EXTERIOR OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED BRITISH EMBASSY 0.06 2. GUARD AT MAIN GATE TO EMBASSY 0.12 3. CU: SIGN READING "BRITISH EMBASSY, BAGHDAD" 0.18 4. CANON AT EMBASSY GATE 0.23 5. CU: BRITISH FLAG ON VEST OF GUARD 0.28 6. WS: JOURNALISTS AND BRITISH OFFICIALS ATTENDING FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY 0.34 7. BRITISH SOLDIERS ENTERING THROUGH EMBASSY GATE AND MARCHING INSIDE WITH ONE CARRYING A BRITISH FLAG 0.55 8. BRITISH SOLDIER AND OFFICIAL RAISING FLAG; BRITISH SOLDIERS SALUTING FLAG (2 SHOTS) 1.26 9. SCU: UNION FLAG FLYING 1.32 10. BRITISH SOLDIERS LEAVING/ PAN TO RAISED BRITISH FLAG 1.50 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English and Arabic) BRITISH AMBASSADOR EDWARD CHAPLIN, SAYING: "Ladies and gentlemen on the 28th of June, ten days ago the Iraqi interim government assumed full sovereignty and also on that same day Britain formally re-established diplomatic relations, which were broken off 13 years ago in very different circumstances and therefore I have a particular honour to preside over today's ceremony as first British ambassador to Iraq since 1991." (CHAPLIN SAYING IN ARABIC) :"Ladies and gentlemen on the 28th of June, ten days ago the Iraqi interim government assumed full sovereignty and also on that same day Britain formally re-established diplomatic relations, which were broken off 13 years ago in very different circumstances and therefore I have a particular honour to preside over today's ceremony as first British ambassador to Iraq since 1991." 2.57 12. CAMERA OPERATOR 3.01 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EDWARD CHAPLIN, SAYING: "The raising, ladies and gentlemen of the Union flag today over the British Embassy symbolises a new relationship for Britain and Iraq. It will be based on partnership, based on a shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Iraq and friendship and cooperation between peoples of two sovereign nations." (CHAPLIN SAYING IN ARABIC): The raising, ladies and gentlemen of the Union flag today over the British Embassy symbolises a new relationship for Britain and Iraq . It will be based on partnership, based on a shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Iraq and friendship and cooperation between peoples of two sovereign nations." 3.25 14. SOLDIER PLAYING BAGPIPES (2 SHOTS) 3.36 15. CU: HANDS OF BAGPIPERS 3.41 16. BAGPIPERS PLAYING / BRITISH FLAG IN THE BACKGROUND 3.48 17. UNINO FLAG FLYING AT EMBASSY 3.54 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd July 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA3K4Q5VK1YPAWSH6RJGLAH64O9
- Story Text: Britain has reopened its embassy in Baghdad, after a
closure of 13 years.
Britain reopened its embassy in Iraq on Wednesday
(July 7) after a closure of 13 years .
Britain's first ambassador to Iraq for more than a
decade, Edward Chaplin, arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday (July
6).
Chaplin took part in a flag raising ceremony at
Britain's recently established embassy in the highly
fortified Green Zone. The ceremony was attended by British
diplomatic staff and a number of Iraqi officials.
Chaplin, an Arabic speaker, delivered a speech in
English and Arabic, announcing that Britain has formally
resumed diplomatic ties with Iraq after the handover of
power to an Iraqi interim government on June 28.
"Ladies and gentlemen on the 28th of June, ten days ago
the Iraqi interim government assumed full sovereignty and
also on that same day Britain formally re-established
diplomatic relations, which were broken off 13 years ago in
very different circumstances and therefore I have a
particular honour to preside over today's ceremony as first
British ambassador to Iraq since 1991."
Britain broke off diplomatic ties with Iraq in the
run-up to the 1991 Gulf War.
Chaplin said the resumption of relations will help
promote friendship and cooperation between the people of
both countries.
"The raising, ladies and gentlemen of the Union flag
today over the British Embassy symbolises a new
relationship for Britain and Iraq . it will be based on
partnership, based on a shared vision for a peaceful,
prosperous and democratic Iraq and friendship and
cooperation between peoples of two sovereign nations."
Chaplin, a senior diplomat with extensive experience in
the region, last served as director of the Middle East and
Africa Directorate at the British Foreign Office. He has
also served in Jordan, Iran and Oman.
U.S. ambassador John Negroponte arrived in Baghdad on
June 28, the day Iraq's interim government formally took
over sovereignty, and has already presented his credentials.
Married with two daughters and one son, Chaplin left
his job as director for Middle East and North Africa at the
Foreign Office to work in Iraq.
He replaces Britain's top special representative in
Iraq during the U.S.-led occupation, David Richmond, who
departed on the same day as U.S. overseer in Iraq Paul
Bremer following the hasty transfer of sovereignty.
Chaplin spent five years of his childhood in Baghdad in
the 1950s when his father worked as a businessman for
British chemicals giant ICI.
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