BRUSSELS MEETINGS: The European Union and United States remained sharply divided last night over who should play the leading role in post-war Iraq, despite an intensive effort by the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, to heal the transatlantic rift. Denis Staunton, in Brussels.
During a series of meetings with EU and NATO foreign ministers in Brussels yesterday, Mr Powell insisted the US and its allies who are fighting in Iraq must play the leading role in post-war political reconstruction.
"One always has to remember that it was a Coalition that came together and took on this difficult mission at political expense, at expense of the money that it cost but at the expense of lives as well.
"When we have succeeded, and when we look down the road to create this better life for the Iraqi people, I think the Coalition has to play the leading role in determining the way forward. This is not to say that we have shut others out," he said.
EU leaders want the UN to play the leading role after war ends and a number of leaders expressed support for remarks by the Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, warning against allowing the US and Britain to lead the post-war reconstruction.
The Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, said after a meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, that the EU was united in its approach.
"The leading role has to be played by the UN. I think it is very important that the EU repeat as many times as necessary that in humanitarian aid, in reconstruction, economically and politically, the lead has to be with the UN. That is our position. I'm very pleased this is the position of the whole EU, repeated yesterday by Costas Simitis," he said.
The Taoiseach agreed, adding the UN role in East Timor could serve as a model for post-war Iraq. "That's our position, I think it is important that the UN are in as early as possible. The model of East Timor is a very good one," he said.
In 1999, the UN was mandated to provide security and maintain law and order throughout the territory of East Timor; to establish an effective administration; to assist in the development of civil and social services; to ensure the co-ordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance; to support capacity-building for self-government; and to assist in the establishment of conditions for sustainable development.
Britain has joined France and Germany, both of which opposed the decision to attack Iraq, in calling for the UN to take the leading role. Writing in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung yesterday, Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said there was no division within the EU on the issue.
"We are all united in our common support for a central role for the United Nations," he said.
European foreign ministers reacted coolly to Mr Powell's suggestion that NATO could play a peacekeeping role in post-war Iraq. The Secretary of State did not ask the ministers individually what they thought of the idea but he expressed satisfaction that nobody rejected it out of hand.
"The important thing is that no one raised any objection to that possibility," he said.
But Germany's Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, played down the prospect of a role for NATO in Iraq. "The question of a NATO role was rather abstract and should stay that way," he said.
Despite the disagreement over reconstructing Iraq, the mood at the meetings was described as friendly and Mr Powell insisted that he had come to Brussels to listen.
During Mr Powell's lunch with EU and NATO foreign ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, stressed the importance of making progress in the Middle East peace process without delay.
Mr Powell said that Washington would move swiftly to implement a "non-negotiable" road-map for a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"A road-map is ready to be delivered. We have been waiting for a new Palestinian leadership to come forward and we are now seeing that happen," he said.