Officials from France, Germany, and Russia have criticized the U.S. decision to prevent companies from countries opposed to the war in Iraq from participating in the bidding for Iraq's reconstruction contracts. A spokesperson for the German government stated that the U.S. Defense Department's decision is unacceptable. In Paris, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry mentioned that France is reviewing the legality of this decision. The Russian Foreign Minister stated that all countries should be allowed to participate in contracts that the U.S. puts out to bid. All three countries were major opponents of the war in Iraq. The European Commission stated that it will investigate the legality of the U.S. decision to exclude countries opposed to the war from U.S. government contracts for the reconstruction of the country. The executive branch of the European Union announced on Wednesday that it intends to examine whether such restrictions are compatible with the U.S. commitments to the World Trade Organization. In Washington, a White House spokesperson defended the Pentagon's decision regarding the $19 billion contracts, deeming it appropriate.
Criticism from French, German, and Russian Officials on the U.S. Defense Department's Decision - 2003-12-10
French, German, and Russian officials have criticized the U.S. Defense Department's decision to exclude companies from countries opposed to the Iraq war from reconstruction contracts. This decision raises legal questions and potential conflicts with international trade commitments. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and these European nations regarding the Iraq conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Officials from France, Germany, and Russia criticized the U.S. Defense Department's decision to exclude companies from countries opposed to the Iraq war from reconstruction contracts. The European Commission announced an investigation into the legality of this decision.
- The U.S. is offering $19 billion in contracts for Iraq's reconstruction.
- The decision to exclude certain countries raises legal questions regarding international trade commitments.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Iraq war, initiated by the U.S. in 2003, faced widespread opposition from several countries, particularly in Europe. The reconstruction contracts are seen as a means for the U.S. to exert control over Iraq's post-war recovery.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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