Date:22/03/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/03/22/stories/2003032201781500.htm

International

Iraq casts shadow over E.U. summit

By Batuk Gathani

Brussels March 21. Friday's summit of the15 European Union heads of Government is widely rated as the "frostiest" of its kind in background of the current British-French rancour, which spoiled the mood at summit dinner hosted by Greece.

Earlier in the evening, devoid of any bonhomie, the French President, Jacques Chirac and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, met and shook hands at the heavily guarded European Council of Ministers building.

The British delegates were angry when Mr. Chirac vetoed any reference to U.N. resolution 1441. The outbreak of the Iraq war has underscored Europe's bitter divisions over the issue. Last night on his arrival, Mr. Blair looked haggard and said nothing. The two leaders were seated "diagonally opposite'' at the working dinner last night attended by all 15 heads of Government. Mr. Blair talked amiably with the "pro-war'' Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, while Mr. Chirac talked with the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, who has consistently supported the "no-war'' option. However, apart from the formal "coldness", the French and British leaders, according to an E.U official, "did not cross the boundaries of civilised behaviour.'' The general mood at the E.U. summit was described as "frosty".

The E.U. heads agreed to an uneasy truce in their bitter disagreement over the Iraq war and agreed to pull together to arrange a package of humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people.

They deliberately left the issue whether the use of military force by Britain and U.S. was justified.

The communiqué was issued after policy experts of the 15 countries worked for hours to thrash out differences in text over Iraq. In final communiqué, at the French insistence, the word "military conflict'' replaced "war".