Sarkozy visits Iraq in bid to rebuild ties with France

PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy made the first ever visit by a French head of state to Iraq yesterday, seeking to reassert French influence in the country as the United States prepares to draw down its forces.

Sarkozy urged other European nations to follow his lead and rebuild ties with the country that was shunned diplomatically because of European opposition to the US-led war.

Sarkozy was received by Iraqi president Jalal Talabani and a guard honour in a televised outdoor, welcome ceremony despite gusty winds in Baghdad.

The visit — which was unannounced beforehand as is usual with visitors to Iraq for security reasons — was the first stop by the French president as part of a regional tour including trips to Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The French leader, who also met later with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, praised Iraq for successful provincial elections held last month without major violence, and he promised economic and political support for the country.

“France wants to turn towards the future, the future of Iraq, which is turning the painful pages that it has been living through these past years,” he said. “For stability in the region, a united and democratic Iraq is imperative.”

Sarkozy, who was accompanied by French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, urged other European leaders to re-engage with Iraq.

“We want to encourage all European countries to come,” he said. “It is in Europe’s interest to extend a hand here and to support the peace.”

Sarkozy, nicknamed “Sarko l’Americain” for his admiration and support of the US, has been seeking to re-establish ties with Iraq and shore up relations with Washington that were deeply strained by his predecessor’s opposition to the 2003 US invasion.

Then-president Jacques Chirac’s refusal to back the US-led military effort in Iraq led to a new low in France-US ties and France was vilified in US public opinion.

The French president welcomed security gains, saying the decline in violence had paved the way for his visit, but cautioned the situation was fragile.

“The situation is not perfect but who could have bet a few months ago that I could come here for talks under these conditions?” he said. “Iraq represents a hope that has not yet reached fruition.”

The visit comes as President Barack Obama is seeking to bolster support for the military effort in Afghanistan and considering different time-frames to pull out the 140,000 US forces in Iraq.