France – ‘no intention’ vetoing Iraq resolution
The French President, Jacques Chirac, has stated that France would not veto the United States’ UN Security Council resolution on the future of Iraq.
President Chirac told the New York Times in an interview that he had ‘no intention’ of opposing the resolution that has been on the table for almost a month.
The US put forward the draft resolution, which calls for a multi-national force to defend the change over in regime in Iraq, for discussion earlier this month.
France has been highly critical of the US calling for a swifter withdrawal of US and UK occupying forces and handover to the Iraqi people.
Last week the US claimed that the French suggestion that a new Iraqi government could be in place within a month and elections within nine months was ‘totalling unrealistic’.
The French President told the newspaper that there should be a symbolic transfer of power to the existing Iraqi Governing Council with real powers being passed on over the next six to nine months.
Mr Chirac stated that he would back a resolution on the handover if a timetable and a key role for the UN was included. If these provisions are not in the resolution’s text then France will abstain from a vote rather than veto it.
The US has repeatedly warned that handing over power to the Iraqi Governing Council too quickly could undermine their efforts to bring peace and stability to the country.
President Chirac told the New York Times that France would not be sending any soldiers as part of a multi-national force at present. However, he stated that this position could change in the future.
