Today's Date:

I will remind you the communiqué issued today jointly in Paris and Baghdad:

"The government of the French republic and the government of the Republic of Iraq, desiring to promote and strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between their two countries and peoples, on the basis of mutual respect for their sovereignty and in accordance with the principles of the UN charter, have taken the decision to re-establish diplomatic relations as of July 12, 2004 and to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible.

The two governments are convinced that this decision will contribute to a strengthening of links between France and Iraq and to an intensification of their exchanges in the best interests of the two countries."

We have said repeatedly we want to participate in Iraq's political and economic reconstruction and intensify the bilateral cooperation projects already under way.

We will be conferring with our European partners on these issues. As you know, the general affairs/external relations council in Brussels today will be considering the situation in Iraq with the Iraqi foreign minister who is attending. We will listen carefully to any request for cooperation he may make.

Foreign Minister Michel Barnier is due to speak on these questions in Brussels in the early afternoon.

We expect our Iraqi partners to present proposals. We are in contact with them so as to define the priority areas where we can provide assistance. With respect to diplomatic relations, the accreditation procedures for appointing ambassadors are under way in Paris and Baghdad. We intend that matters should move quickly.