US launches mission to reconstruct Iraq

US special envoy James Baker arrived in Paris today, kicking off a European mission to win support for Iraq’s reconstruction from some of the staunchest opponents to the US-led Iraq war.

Baker’s visit to Paris, aimed at easing Iraq’s crippling foreign debt, came a day after France pledged to work with other nations to cancel billions of dollars in Iraqi debt.

Baker’s first stop was at the US Embassy for discussions with members of the Iraqi Governing Council, followed by a midday meeting with French President Jacques Chirac.

After Paris, Baker’s travels will take him to Germany, Italy, Britain and Russia later in the week.

Germany and Russia were among the chief opponents to the Iraq war.

France, which has had a rocky relationship with the United States since it led the opposition to the war, said the capture of Saddam Hussein would open the way toward mending relations with Washington.

Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, one of the most persistent critics of the US-led war, said he hoped the capture would allow the international community to “regain its unity”.

Baker’s mission was complicated by a US decision last week to lock out France, Russia and Germany from bidding on reconstruction projects in Iraq.

De Villepin said France would join other members of the Paris Club of creditor nations to look for ways of restructuring or forgiving huge debts Iraq owes them.

De Villepin insisted that France’s willingness to forgive Iraqi debts was unrelated to the tussle over contracts, saying, “let’s not mix up the different subjects”.