Downing Street Says » EU/US Conference

» Tuesday, February 22, 2005

EU/US Conference

Asked for more information on where and when the EU/US conference may take place, and why was it decided to go "this route" rather than take an existing format, such as NATO or the UN, the PMOS replied that the details would depend on the views of the new Iraqi Government. What was important to recognise was that there was already a lot of activity going on, but there was a need to find a mechanism, which coordinated that activity in the best way possible. The consensus was that this was the best way to do it.

Put to him that President Chirac was keen that the conference be held in Brussels, the PMOS said he had heard a variety of proposals. He thought the venue was less important than what it did, and people should not get hung up on it. Rather what they should take notice of was that this would be decided in conjunction a newly elected Iraqi Government, and that we worked with them, and if they believed it would be helpful.

Asked about timescales for a EU/US conference, the PMOS said it would depend on the formation of the new Iraqi Government and their views. The PMOS said it would not happen within days, as the Iraqi Government had to establish itself and form a view. Equally, everyone understood that this was not something that could be put off for the long term; this was a medium term need. That need was once the government was formed, was to get it engaged in helping it in a coordinated, practical way to establish its authority and establish democracy to let other elections take place later in the year.

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