By DPA
Washington : The US ambassador to Baghdad has said that he has seen a greater recognition from some European countries that they have a stake in the outcome in Iraq.
Ryan Crocker, who was in Washington to testify before Congress about the situation in Iraq along with the top military commander General David Petraeus, Wednesday referred to the recent visits to Baghdad by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt.
“It seems to me that some major European countries are now taking another look, a new look at Iraq,” Crocker said, “and recognising four-and a-half years after the fall of Saddam that they have long-term interests in how things turn out in Iraq.”
Kouchner flew to Iraq in August and Bildt in early September. Kouchner has emphasised that Europe needs to play a greater diplomatic role helping Iraq emerge from turmoil and put behind differences over the American decision to invade in March 2003.
French President Nicholas Sarkozy has taken a friendlier approach to US-French relations since succeeding Jacques Chirac in May. Bildt returned from his visit persuaded that Sweden needed to beef up its diplomatic presence in Baghdad.
“This expanded European engagement is a very positive thing,” Crocker said.
France and Germany spearheaded opposition to President George W. Bush’s efforts to get UN Security Council support for the military attack on Iraq, but both countries now have new leadership.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed an interest in travelling to Iraq.
The United Nations and Iraqi government plan to host an international gathering Sep 21 to discuss the UN-backed International Compact for Iraq which provides reconstruction aid while requiring Baghdad to carry out democratic reforms.