Jacques Chirac, the President of France, stated that he would oppose any United Nations resolution that would allow the United States and Britain to govern Iraq after the war. In his remarks today at the European Union summit in Brussels, Mr. Chirac said that issuing such a resolution would justify the war after it had occurred. Washington and London have not yet presented any resolution to the United Nations Security Council for governing Iraq in the post-war period. France had previously opposed U.S. and British efforts to obtain Security Council approval for the war in Iraq. In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed uncertainty about what Mr. Chirac was referring to in his remarks today. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that the war is ongoing and that the United States and its allies intend to create a better future for the people of Iraq. Mr. Powell mentioned that the time has come for the world to understand that the liberation of Iraq is underway and, according to him, is inevitable.
Jacques Chirac: Opposes Any Resolution Allowing the United States and Britain to Govern Post-War Iraq - 2003-03-21
French President Jacques Chirac opposes any UN resolution that would allow the U.S. and Britain to govern Iraq after the war, arguing it would justify the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell responded, asserting that the war is ongoing and aims to improve Iraq's future. This disagreement highlights the tensions between France and the U.S. regarding the Iraq conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
French President Jacques Chirac opposed any UN resolution that would permit U.S. and British governance of Iraq post-war, arguing it would legitimize the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell responded, emphasizing the ongoing war and the intention to improve Iraq's future.
- Chirac's remarks were made at a European Union summit in Brussels.
- The U.S. and Britain had not yet proposed a resolution to the UN Security Council regarding Iraq's governance.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Iraq War was initiated by the U.S. and its allies based on claims of weapons of mass destruction, leading to widespread international debate about the justification for military action.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%