Global Policy Forum

By Kirk Semple

Germany, France and Russia, three of the most vocal opponents of the war in Iraq, reunited in the Security Council on Friday to urge an international conference for the country, much like the conference for Afghanistan in 2001. The three countries also demanded that the United States and Britain ensure that the political transition in Iraq involve all nonviolent elements of Iraqi society, as well as neighboring countries, and that the United Nations be involved throughout. As they spoke publicly with one voice today, the antiwar trio on the Security Council appeared emboldened by the recent American decision to speed up the transfer of power to the Iraqis, a strategy they have long championed.

The proposal, which echoes the Bonn meeting that produced a transitional administration for Afghanistan, was first floated earlier this week by Foreign Minister Igor S. Ivanov of Russia. The ambassadors of Russia, Germany and France said Friday that such an event could bring together a spectrum of Iraqi groups, along with Iraq's neighbors and other international participants.

The American envoy, John D. Negroponte, said that the Americans and British would study the proposal, and insisted that "efforts are going to be made to ensure the largest possible degree of inclusiveness" in the political process. He and his British colleague, Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, urged the other Council members to await instructions from the Iraqi Governing Council. That group is to send a letter to the Security Council by Dec. 15 detailing its plans for drafting a constitution and holding elections.

Security Council diplomats say they expect the letter to provide guidelines for international involvement, including for the United Nations. Still, a common theme sounded at the meeting on Friday was a need to involve all aspects of Iraqi society, as well as Iraq's neighbors. Gunter Pleuger, Germany's ambassador to the United Nations, said that considering the terrorist violence in Iraq and elsewhere, "it is imperative to create an international order based on cooperation and inclusiveness with the United Nations as its center, and I think that is the way to a stable Iraq."

Secretary General Kofi Annan suggested privately to Council members on Thursday that they form a group of neighboring countries to accompany the process. The group would include the six countries bordering Iraq, as well as Egypt and the five permanent Security Council members, officials here said.

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