Meeting Between President Bush and Tony Blair in Northern Ireland - 2003-04-07

President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair meet in Northern Ireland to discuss the war in Iraq, the situation in the Middle East, and the peace process in Northern Ireland. British officials say that the speed of events on the battlefields in Iraq has given a sense of urgency to the meeting between the leaders of the two countries. This is the third time Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair have met in the past three weeks, and this time the administration of Iraq and its reconstruction is at the top of their agenda. It appears that Mr. Blair is more interested in the role of the United Nations in post-war Iraq than Mr. Bush. Geoff Hoon, the UK Defense Secretary, says that Afghanistan is a good example of UN intervention that Britain also desires. In Afghanistan, the UN took charge of humanitarian aid and oversaw the establishment of a temporary government after the fall of the Taliban. However, Paul Wolfowitz, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, said on Sunday that the Afghan model will not be applied in Iraq. The issue of UN intervention in Iraq is of great importance to Mr. Blair, who is trying to improve US-European relations. France, Germany, and Russia opposed this war but are now calling for the UN to administer Iraq. Mr. Blair's spokesman has tried to downplay this disagreement, stating that discussions are currently focused on a transitional period of about ninety days, during which retired General Jay Garner will manage Iraq. After that, a temporary government led by Iraqis is expected to take over, followed by a legitimate Iraqi government. President Bush and Mr. Blair will also discuss the Middle East peace process. Mr. Blair has long been calling for the release of Mr. Bush's plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately establish a Palestinian state. The political deadlock in Northern Ireland is also on the agenda for the two leaders. Bertie Ahern, the Prime Minister of Ireland, is expected to join the discussions on Tuesday. Mr. Blair's spokesman says that President Bush will once again reiterate the US government's commitment to supporting the Northern Ireland peace agreement that was approved in 1998. Mr. Blair is seeking to find a final solution to the issues in Northern Ireland before the elections next month and the formation of a new government in that troubled region.