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Peter Kammerer

France, Germany and Russia forced to bow to pragmatism

European nations' backing of a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution on Iraq's rebuilding opens a new era of co-operation for the world body but does not normalise damaged bilateral relations.

In adopting the resolution, France, Germany and Russia - opposed to the war on Iraq - caved in to pressure from the United States and Britain.

In return, they will be allowed to help with humanitarian work in Iraq, while the UN will play a wider role through the appointment of a special representative. Economic sanctions, in place for 12 years, will also be lifted to allow for a resumption of Iraq's international trade.

But while Iraq will benefit from international co-operation, US relations with the UN, France, Germany and Russia will take time to normalise, analysts say.

The director of Columbia University's Centre on International Organisation, Edward Luck,  said the healing had begun, but he did not believe the bitterness caused by the US and Britain going to war without the security council's approval would be easily forgotten.

'But a certain pragmatism has taken hold of the council,' Professor Luck said from his office in New York. 'A number of these states don't want to be on the wrong side of the peace. If they did not pitch in in the rebuilding of Iraq, the UN would be condemned to being a bystander and I don't think they want to make that precedent.'

He believes  the Europeans are acting out of humanitarian desires rather than economic greed.  The divisions before the war had been more to do with geopolitics and economic interests than with the disarmament of Iraq or its future.

'The only way to have any leverage over the situation in Iraq is to be on the ground and that requires for them politically to have a UN stamp of approval,' he said.

The offer of working with the US had been made and the Europeans had had no choice but to accept in the interests of Iraq's future. For now, the practical necessities were foremost.

Professor Luck believes the US has not  dramatically changed its position on dealing with the UN. It  has always been selective in its approach to the world body, as evidenced this month by its seeking of multilateral action on North Korea.

'After this, it will be a little more selective,' Professor Luck said.  'There will be certain issues in which the degree of trust in some of the other permanent members [of the UN] will be more constrained.'

Observers agreed that France, Germany and Russia had had to step back from their positions for the sake of Iraq, rather than national pride.

The war had been fought and won and there was little point in continuing to refuse to deal with the US-led coalition.

Paris-based analyst Philippe Moreau Defarges, a senior fellow at the French Institute of International Relations,  said the three nations had given in to pressure.

'The war has been won. Because of the danger of terrorism, they are rediscovering they belong to the same camp as the US - they need peace, trade and economic growth. At the end of the day, they cannot  part with the US.'

Professor  Defarges believes much effort is needed before ties with the US are normalised, especially for  France and Germany.

'France and Germany are members of the Atlantic security alliance and the US wants to show that it's the boss,' he said.

French President Jacques Chirac, who  had said he would never assist the US in rebuilding Iraq, was now in a difficult position diplomatically.

'The French public remains quite proud of Mr Chirac's stand during the crisis,' Professor  Defarges said. 'The problem for the French is how their western partners will deal with France. It's a difficult task for their partners. Mr Chirac will have to put a brave face on the latest decision.'

peter.kammerer@scmp.com



UN unity on rebuilding effort glosses over strained ties