Spain to Float Iraq Proposal to France, Germany

[seruriermarshal]

Spain to Float Iraq Proposal to France, Germany


By Estelle Shirbon

MADRID (*******) - Spain will discuss with anti-war allies Germany and France how to find a solution to the conflict in Iraq (news - web sites) within the United Nations (news - web sites) framework, a Spanish government source said Tuesday.


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"The idea is to see if Spain, France and Germany can help the United States find a solution in Iraq...and devise a formula for an international presence there that would not be perceived as an occupation by most of the population," the source said.


New Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose first decision on taking office was to withdraw troops sent to Iraq by his predecessor, said Tuesday the last of Spain's soldiers will have left Iraq by May 27.


Zapatero will discuss Iraq during talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin Wednesday and with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris Thursday.


The Socialist leader is a strong advocate of acting within the United Nations framework.


Any joint Spanish-French-German initiative would probably unfold in the U.N. Security Council -- all three are members -- though the source said the form it might take had not been decided.


Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has mentioned the possibility of sending Arab forces into Iraq, and of a future international presence that would not include soldiers from countries which have been a part of the U.S.-led coalition.


Under Zapatero's predecessor, Jose Maria Aznar, Spain was a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year and sent forces there after the fall of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).


France and Germany were the leading opponents of military intervention in Iraq and neither joined the coalition.


Zapatero was elected on March 14, three days after the train bombings that killed 191 people in Madrid. During the election campaign, he had pledged to withdraw troops from Iraq unless the United Nations took political and military control of the country by June 30.

[foxtrot023]

Damn Zapatero is making us part of ¨Old Europe¨ :cantbeli:

[Kilgor]

http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/457_1083123761_piot.jpg

[MARINO]

:(
The next coalition with Osama, North Korea, Iran.... What else?

[mack pl]

[b]
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has mentioned the possibility of sending Arab forces into Iraq, and of a future international presence that would not include soldiers from countries which have been a part of the U.S.-led coalition.

Which arab countries?Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan Kingdom,Egypt :cantbeli: WTF he talking about?If they wanna sent theirs troops they should do that few months ago, not now.I think arab countries will not sent any troops.But maybe this guy have some idea, how to invated them to Iraq ;)

[gilgoul]

Let slet them "contribute", while they are jerking their pretentions, at least, they don`t come and bother.
waking up is not in the vocabulary of the "good old" europe.

[Loco]

[quote="gilgoul"
waking up is not in the vocabulary of the "good old" europe.[/quote]
I´m a good and not so old european, and I wake up every morning very early. What an israeli can write about the so called "old europeans", at least in this forums, it´s very strange. I don´t share your opinion. Bye.

[cut]

Damn Zapatero is making us part of ¨Old Europe¨ :cantbeli:

Increasingly it's becoming obvious that there is only one Europe.

[army cadet_ngcsu]

Well maybe some good can come out of the Spanish withdrawl from Iraq. If the Spanish can get the French and Germans on board this would help the US out a lot.

Although I seriously doubt that this will happen, we need as much assistance in Iraq as we can get. Even if they do decide to come on board with us, it will not be until things have really settled down in Iraq. We wouldn't want any SOLDIERS to get hurt. :lol:

[cut]

the UN can get the french on board and maybe the spannish back on board but the Germans have ruled everything out.

[Threelions]

Damn Zapatero is making us part of ¨Old Europe¨ :cantbeli:

Increasingly it's becoming obvious that there is only one Europe.

Extremly well said Cut! Like it or not, the balance of Europe is tipping more and more in one direction.

Cheers

[hedgehog]

I can't believe that people still bitch about Germany and France not coming along for the war in Iraq. get over it. They gave out specific reasons why they could not come along, specifically no proof of WMD. I still remember how the German foreign minister grilled Rumsfeld on the evidence and he basically had no answer. Unfortuantely that kind of stuff was never seen on CNN or propaganda channel FOX. They didn't say " no, we don't like war" but they gave specific reasons why could not join. another example would be the requirement of parlimentary decision before sending troops. SO people, stop wining about those countries not joining the "coalition" which was basically an ensemble of countries benefitting form certain US favours. Their criticisms turned out to be right, yet the states has yet to admit any wrong doing in their case for going to war. While these countries could have been running to the press saying "i told you so" they have increased their commitment in the war on terrorism and helped the states to relieve pressure on their troops. The fact that 2000 German soldiers have been pulled from theri regular duties to guard US installations in Germany has never made to the US news media. All I ever hear is "well, we saved your ass inWW2...so they owe US anyway" ...while that line is mostly false, since it was the russians that conquered Nazism. Anyway, all I want to say is for people to stop bashing countries simply on things they see on TV.

[ChuckThunder]

I know I don't speak for all Americans but I don't think there is anything wrong with getting other countries and the UN to help the Iraq situation. :roll:

[Pille1234]

Damn Zapatero is making us part of ¨Old Europe¨ :cantbeli:
Welcome home! :lol:

[admar2]

the UN coming to concensus on actually doing something??

exactly which dreamworld will that be occuring in?

:bash:


congrats to the spanish for making themselves just as insignificant as the french and germans.