Europe and US commit to joint Iraq initiative

EUROPE and the United States are set to unveil a joint transatlantic initiative on Iraq during the visit of US President George W Bush later this month.

The new US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, preparing for the President’s trip, held discussions with the European Commission and Nato leaders in Brussels yesterday.

Her visit lasted 40 minutes longer than scheduled and diplomats said the talks went very well. “We have full re-engagement,” said a senior commission source after the meeting in the Berlaymont.

It is expected that European countries will become more involved with Iraq, but diplomats say they want to ensure this happens during the tenure of the new interim government and during the writing of the new constitution.

European states are thought to be ready to help fund and carry out programmes towards building democracy and stability in Iraq.

Discussions between Ms Rice and the European Commission covered the foreign policy areas in which the two blocs have a common interest, especially the Middle East, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ms Rice also urged Europe to listen to European concerns before going ahead with a plan to lift an arms embargo on China.

Iraq has been the main topic during Ms Rice’s visit to European capitals including Paris, Berlin and London, to the European Commission and NATO headquarters in Brussels yesterday, and in Luxembourg last night where she met EU foreign ministers.

America is severely stretched militarily and financially in Iraq following the invasion and is concerned over its poor image worldwide following its operations there.

Publicly the rhetoric from both the Europeans and the Americans during the week-long visit has been to emphasise their common values and links.

Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso talked about “two long-standing allies working together to promote democracy, freedom and stability in the world.” Ms Rice echoed this, affirming their shared values, the importance of spreading democracy and of working together to do so.

She emphasised the opportunity in the Middle East for peace and said the US pledged to redouble its efforts to bring about the vision of the roadmap with two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side.

The Europeans have always indicated that any support they might give the US in Iraq would be linked to greater American support for peace in the Middle East.

Ms Rice said times are different now than they were a year or two ago when Europe and the US did not have a common agenda, at least in regards to Iraq. “We do have a common agenda now that the war or major military operations are behind us and we have the Iraqi people taking risks of their own.”

Her meetings with all the governments during her visit were very open and the dialogue will be continued with President Bush when, Ms Rice said, concrete steps would be taken.

On Iran Ms Rice publicly urged Britain, France and Germany to take a tough line with the country on nuclear enrichment and warned about Iran supporting terrorism. However, in the background, the US is not obstructing the negotiations despite the Iranians dragging their heels on an agreement.