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EC mulls role in reconstruction of Iraq
European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten is currently visiting Iraq to study the possibility of its role in the country's reconstruction.
He held talks with senior figures involved in the reconstruction of Iraq, according to a press release issued by
the European Commission (EC) Wednesday.
"The purpose of his trip was to assess conditions in the country and priorities for assistance, in the run-up to the Madrid Conference of 23-24 October," it said.
The European Council meeting held at Thessaloniki, Greece, in June requested the EC to make proposals for the European Union's (EU) contribution to the reconstruction of Iraq. Patten will be presenting his proposals in early October.
He reassured his interlocutors that the EC, as the executive arm of the EU, will do everything possible to make the reconstruction conference in Madrid a success, underlining the importance of three factors: an adequate security environment,
the transfer of political authority to the Iraqi people, and a multilateral umbrella for the contributions of the international community.
He also stressed that a more clearly defined role for the United Nations would be important to maximize donor support, the press release added.
France deplores US veto of UN resolution
France on Wednesday deplored the veto cast by the United States on a United Nations resolution demanding Israel to drop its threat to assassinate or expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
"We deplore the negative result of the (UN) Security Council vote on the draft Arab resolution concerning the Middle East," said Cecile Pozzo di Borgo, spokeswoman of the French Foreign Ministry.
On Tuesday, 11 Security Council members including France voted in favor of the resolution sponsored by Syria and Sudan. The United States voted it, saying that it did not contain a condemnation of what the United States describes as terrorist groups such as the
Hamas.
Britain, Germany and Bulgaria abstained after hours of consultations.
The resolution "addressed a balanced message to both sides thatwas likely to result in a consensus," said the French spokeswoman.
The text also called for an immediate and unconditional halt
to "acts of violence and terrorism" between Israelis and
Palestinians and a return to the roadmap peace plan put forward by the Quartet (the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia), she added.
France "along with the overwhelming majority of countries that have issued a call for Israel to rethink its decision, reiterates this appeal," she said.
Air France, Dutch carrier agree on main principles of merger
Air France and Dutch carrier KLM have agreed on the main principles about creating a common holding company that could be the biggest airline group in Europe, Air France chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta said on Wednesday.
Both airlines will retain their names and operating rights in the holding group and financial details such as each carriers' participation are not finalized yet, said
Spinetta.
Earlier, Air France said it was discussing an "intensive" form of cooperation with the Dutch carrier, which would see KLM join the Skyteam code-sharing alliance.
The alliance already includes Delta, Aeromexico, Alitalia, Air France, CSA Czech Airlines and Korean Air.
French financial newspaper L'Agefi has reported that the long-discussed merger of the two airlines are in an advanced stage and a deal will be announced Thursday.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has been looking for a partner
airline for years. An agreement with Alitalia broke down over the Italian airline's slow privatization. Air France has been named as the likely candidate for months.
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