EU commissioner attacks Iraq contract ban

Europe’s foreign affairs chief Chris Patten, adding his voice to criticism of Washington, today called the US decision to bar opponents of the war in Iraq from reconstruction contracts “gratuitous and unhelpful” when unity is needed.

But the British government, which sent troops to fight in Iraq, said Washington was fully entitled to limit construction contracts to countries that were part of the US led coalition.

The White House said the ban was not up for reconsideration, though it told critics the Bush administration “will welcome the opportunity to talk to them and explain to them about why this decision was made.”

Amid the furore, the US postponed a conference that was to have taken place today for companies seeking reconstruction contracts in Iraq.

The conference, at which the contract requests were to have been made public, is now scheduled for December 19 at a Washington hotel.

The White House says countries wanting a share of the €14bn in reconstruction contracts must participate militarily in the post-war effort.

”This is a gratuitous and extremely unhelpful decision at a time when there is a general recognition of the need for the international community to work together for stability and reconstruction in Iraq,” said former Tory minister Chris Patten, the European Union’s commissioner for international relations.

French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin all raised the contracting issue during phone calls with President George Bush.

Britain, which says it will award contracts on merit and has not excluded any countries, expressed support for the US policy.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said it was up to the United States to decide how it spent its tax revenue.

”The United States Congress is fully entitled to say the tax dollars are spent in one way, which in this particular case is contracts limited to those active allies in Iraq, rather than another way,” said Mr Straw.

“We have talked to them about it but the decision is for them, not ours.”