Big Three show of unity over Iraq
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Leaders from France, Germany and Britain held a summit Saturday in Berlin to seek common ground over Iraq. CNN's Chris Burns reports. (September 20)
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. White House has reacted optimistically to the "Big Three Talks" out of Berlin which ended with a symbolic show of unity on Iraq.
The leaders of Britain, Germany, and France concluded their one-day summit Saturday which was designed to settle their differences over the post-war transition for the nation.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said after the talks, "Whatever the differences there have been about the conflict, we all want to see a stable Iraq."
But the leaders also acknowledged that they differed on the new U.S.-sponsored U.N. Security Council resolution over how quickly the U.S. should turn over power to Iraq.
French President Jacques Chirac said, "This transfer of sovereignty in our opinion should take place rapidly as possible, in other words, just a matter of months."
A senior U.S. administration official said of the meeting, "We continue to work effectively and productively with other members of the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution that will lead to greater international cooperation in Iraq beyond the 30 countries.
"We share the same goal as the other countries that a peaceful Iraq is in the interest of Iraq, as with all the countries in the world."
The Berlin talks come days before Blair, Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder meet U.S. President George W. Bush at the United Nations in New York.
Bush will meet privately with Chirac and Schroeder, a senior administration official confirmed Saturday.
This will be the first meaningful meeting Bush will have had with Schroeder since the German leader's re-election campaign a year and a half ago, which centered on Schroeder's opposition to US policy in Iraq.
It is part of the U.S. President's effort to win support for a new US-sponsored U.N. Security Council resolution which would create a multinational force in Iraq. The White House is also hoping to attract financial contributions from allies as well.
But Bush said Thursday he did not expect Security Council agreement before he attends the General Assembly meeting.
Both Schroeder and Blair have recognized the need for a transition of power from the U.S. occupying force to Iraqi control.
The German leader said differences on "how to do it and how to get there" still exist within the international community.
"They need to be resolved," he added, pointing to talks at the United Nations.
He said a "more prominent role" should be given to the U.N. and the transition of power to an Iraqi authority "as quickly as possible."
-- CNN Correspondent Chris Burns contributed to this report
Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
