Sarkozy Says U.S. Troop Pullout Would Help End Iraq Civil War By Helene Fouquet
Aug. 27 (Bloomberg) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the prospect of a U.S. troop pullout from Iraq would help lead to a political settlement among the warring parties there.
``Defining a clear prospect for the withdrawal of foreign troops'' is required for Iraq to move out of civil war, he said in a speech to French ambassadors in Paris today. ``The only possible solution is a political solution.''
France is increasing its diplomatic involvement in Iraq, seeking to ease lingering tensions with the U.S. from then- President Jacques Chirac's opposition to the American-led toppling of Saddam Hussein. ``France was and remains hostile to this war,'' Sarkozy said today.
Still, Sarkozy supported Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner after he criticized Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his government. Kouchner apologized for the criticism. Kouchner this month made the first visit to Iraq by a French minister since 2003. He said today France is prepared to act as a mediator to help establish a broad- based government of national unity.
``He (Kouchner) was right to go to Baghdad and led this trip remarkably,'' Sarkozy said. ``I work with him in full confidence.''
In an Aug. 24 interview posted on Newsweek's Web site, Kouchner said ``many people believe that the prime minister ought to be changed'' and that ``the government is not functioning.''
Al-Maliki demanded an apology from the French government at a news conference in Baghdad yesterday. Kouchner apologized today on RTL radio.
``I was very polite and apologized,'' Kouchner said after the president's speech. ``Maybe I shouldn't have said it straight away. Maybe I should have said that `people' have told me that he is going to leave, because he is going to.''