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With Swipe at U.S., Iraq Builds Ties to French
BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq signaled a desire
to gradually diminish American power over Iraqi politics and increase ties
to other Western powers, during a visit on Tuesday by President Nicolas
Sarkozy of France.
In a rare news conference with a Western leader who is not from the United
States or Britain, Mr. Maliki gave Mr. Sarkozy a warm welcome and rebuffed
a recent statement by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. that the United States
would have to be “more aggressive” in forcing the Iraqis to reach political
reconciliation.
“The time for putting pressure on Iraq is over,” Mr. Maliki said in answer to a
reporter’s question about Mr. Biden’s remarks. “The Iraqi government knows
what its responsibilities are. We are carrying out reform, and we are in the
last step of reconciliation.” According to political advisers, Mr. Maliki is intent
on changing the nature of Baghdad’s relationship with Washington, shifting
Iraq’s role from a client state to a more equal partner.
Mr. Maliki also contended Tuesday that his government had fixed the missteps
of the Americans after the invasion, like the American decision to dismantle the
pre-war Iraqi Army.
Mr. Biden made his remarks in a speech to fellow Democrats last week in
Williamsburg, Va., but also said the progress Iraq had made so far “is real.”
With Americans cautiously handing over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces
and with a new president in the White House, analysts in Paris said that Mr.
Sarkozy’s visit was intended to signal a new French attitude and promote French
business interests and influence in a region dominated by the United States. The
French overture came at a time of intense jockeying among the world’s leading oil
companies for contracts in Iraq, with France’s Total among the major competitors.
The visit also allowed Mr. Maliki to make the case that his country was no longer
dependent solely on the Americans. “Iraq, which had many enemies, now has
many friends, and that is all because of the direction of the National Unity
Government,” he said.
In pressing for more investment in Iraq, where basic services remain in dismal
condition, Mr. Maliki noted the long history of French business involvement in the
country before Saddam Hussein’s government was toppled. “They will not be
starting from scratch, because French firms have a long history in Iraq,” Mr. Maliki
said.
Mr. Sarkozy, who earlier in the day visited with Iraq’s president, Jalal Talabani, said
that only a year ago, such a visit by a French leader would have been unthinkable.
“The situation is not perfect, but a few months ago who was betting that I was going
to visit Iraq and its leaders?” he said in a news conference with Mr. Talabani. Later,
after meeting with Mr. Maliki, Mr. Sarkozy said a delegation of French companies
would be coming to Iraq soon to explore investment opportunities. “We say to
French companies that the time has come to return to Iraq,” Mr. Sarkozy said.
The French initiative was part of a broader bid to raise France’s profile in the region.
Last year, Mr. Sarkozy visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar. On his latest trip, he planned
to fly on from Baghdad to Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. French officials said Mr. Sarkozy
was the first leader of a European nation that opposed the 2003 invasion to visit Baghdad,
offering a marked contrast to relations between Paris and both Baghdad and Washington
under his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
French opposition to the invasion was fueled, in part, by a strong animosity in Europe
toward President Bush. Anti-French feelings were so fierce in Congress at the time
that the word “French” was stricken from the menus of the House of Representatives’
cafeterias. “Freedom fries” and “Freedom toast” were introduced.
But, with the election of Barack Obama, gestures of reconciliation toward the United
States carry far less political freight in France, analysts said. Mr. Sarkozy’s visit was
not made public until after he landed in Baghdad — as is usual with high-profile
foreign visitors worried about their security, despite a marked decline in violence in
Iraq.
Yet even as the security gains are evident on the street, a bombing less than a
half-mile from the French Embassy aimed at a security officer for Vice President
Adel Abdul Mahdi provided a reminder of how fragile those gains remain. A bomb
was placed under the guard’s vehicle in the Karada neighborhood on Tuesday,
wounding him as well as two bystanders, The Associated Press reported.
The vice president is a member of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, the chief
political rival to Mr. Maliki’s Dawa Party. Karada is considered something of a
stronghold for Mr. Abdul Mahdi’s party, making the attack seem all the more brazen.
Violence also continued to plague the northern city of Mosul. At least five police officers
were killed in separate attacks, Iraqi officials said. A Christian woman was also shot and
killed in the city, security officials said.
Marc Santora reported from Baghdad, and Alan Cowell from Paris.
BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq signaled a desire
to gradually diminish American power over Iraqi politics and increase ties
to other Western powers, during a visit on Tuesday by President Nicolas
Sarkozy of France.
In a rare news conference with a Western leader who is not from the United
States or Britain, Mr. Maliki gave Mr. Sarkozy a warm welcome and rebuffed
a recent statement by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. that the United States
would have to be “more aggressive” in forcing the Iraqis to reach political
reconciliation.
“The time for putting pressure on Iraq is over,” Mr. Maliki said in answer to a
reporter’s question about Mr. Biden’s remarks. “The Iraqi government knows
what its responsibilities are. We are carrying out reform, and we are in the
last step of reconciliation.” According to political advisers, Mr. Maliki is intent
on changing the nature of Baghdad’s relationship with Washington, shifting
Iraq’s role from a client state to a more equal partner.
Mr. Maliki also contended Tuesday that his government had fixed the missteps
of the Americans after the invasion, like the American decision to dismantle the
pre-war Iraqi Army.
Mr. Biden made his remarks in a speech to fellow Democrats last week in
Williamsburg, Va., but also said the progress Iraq had made so far “is real.”
With Americans cautiously handing over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces
and with a new president in the White House, analysts in Paris said that Mr.
Sarkozy’s visit was intended to signal a new French attitude and promote French
business interests and influence in a region dominated by the United States. The
French overture came at a time of intense jockeying among the world’s leading oil
companies for contracts in Iraq, with France’s Total among the major competitors.
The visit also allowed Mr. Maliki to make the case that his country was no longer
dependent solely on the Americans. “Iraq, which had many enemies, now has
many friends, and that is all because of the direction of the National Unity
Government,” he said.
In pressing for more investment in Iraq, where basic services remain in dismal
condition, Mr. Maliki noted the long history of French business involvement in the
country before Saddam Hussein’s government was toppled. “They will not be
starting from scratch, because French firms have a long history in Iraq,” Mr. Maliki
said.
Mr. Sarkozy, who earlier in the day visited with Iraq’s president, Jalal Talabani, said
that only a year ago, such a visit by a French leader would have been unthinkable.
“The situation is not perfect, but a few months ago who was betting that I was going
to visit Iraq and its leaders?” he said in a news conference with Mr. Talabani. Later,
after meeting with Mr. Maliki, Mr. Sarkozy said a delegation of French companies
would be coming to Iraq soon to explore investment opportunities. “We say to
French companies that the time has come to return to Iraq,” Mr. Sarkozy said.
The French initiative was part of a broader bid to raise France’s profile in the region.
Last year, Mr. Sarkozy visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar. On his latest trip, he planned
to fly on from Baghdad to Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. French officials said Mr. Sarkozy
was the first leader of a European nation that opposed the 2003 invasion to visit Baghdad,
offering a marked contrast to relations between Paris and both Baghdad and Washington
under his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
French opposition to the invasion was fueled, in part, by a strong animosity in Europe
toward President Bush. Anti-French feelings were so fierce in Congress at the time
that the word “French” was stricken from the menus of the House of Representatives’
cafeterias. “Freedom fries” and “Freedom toast” were introduced.
But, with the election of Barack Obama, gestures of reconciliation toward the United
States carry far less political freight in France, analysts said. Mr. Sarkozy’s visit was
not made public until after he landed in Baghdad — as is usual with high-profile
foreign visitors worried about their security, despite a marked decline in violence in
Iraq.
Yet even as the security gains are evident on the street, a bombing less than a
half-mile from the French Embassy aimed at a security officer for Vice President
Adel Abdul Mahdi provided a reminder of how fragile those gains remain. A bomb
was placed under the guard’s vehicle in the Karada neighborhood on Tuesday,
wounding him as well as two bystanders, The Associated Press reported.
The vice president is a member of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, the chief
political rival to Mr. Maliki’s Dawa Party. Karada is considered something of a
stronghold for Mr. Abdul Mahdi’s party, making the attack seem all the more brazen.
Violence also continued to plague the northern city of Mosul. At least five police officers
were killed in separate attacks, Iraqi officials said. A Christian woman was also shot and
killed in the city, security officials said.
Marc Santora reported from Baghdad, and Alan Cowell from Paris.
