Blair to attend German summit on Iraq
The Prime Minister is due to fly to Germany this weekend for trilateral talks on Iraq.
Tony Blair’s official spokesman revealed today that he is due to meet President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder in Berlin this Saturday to discuss the post-war situation, although it was noted that there would also be “wide-ranging discussions” on other issues.
It will be the first time that the three leaders have met formally since the start of the US-led conflict in Iraq, which the German and French governments strongly opposed.
Mr. Blair has also invited Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar – a fellow supporter of the war – for talks at Chequers on Sunday.
Downing Street claimed that the talks have come about through “a general consensus that it would be sensible” and that they are not intended to coincide with any particular event.
The French government has been pushing for changes in Iraq, suggesting that the US should hand over control of operations to local politicians within a month. It has since modified that suggestion, by proposing an early ‘symbolic’ handover to Iraqi representatives.
The Security Council restarted negotiations yesterday about a new resolution to allow UN-mandated troops to help the coalition with security and reconstruction in Iraq. Several countries have stated that they would be unwilling to send troops to the region if they would be operating under US command.
