Chirac expresses reservation over US call for NATO in Iraq

French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday expressed "strong" reservations over the US call for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to play a role in post-transition Iraq.

"I do not think that it is NATO's job to intervene in Iraq. Moreover, I do not have the feeling that it would be either timelyor necessarily well understood," Chirac said at a press conference at the Sea Island, the venue of the G-8 summit. A simultaneous video press conference was also available at Savannah where the International Media Center of the G-8 summit is located.

"I see myself with strong reservations on this initiative," Chirac said.

However, any NATO role in Iraq was possible "only if the sovereign Iraqi government explicitly expresses its intention," Chirac said.

Chirac also stressed that the Iraqi government must be "totally sovereign" and "independent."

Earlier Wednesday, US President George W. Bush said NATO shouldplay a role in Iraq after the power handover scheduled for June 30.

"We believe NATO ought to stay involved. We will work with our NATO friends to at least continue the role that now exists and hopefully expand it somewhat," Bush said.

Currently some 15 NATO members have dispatched troops to Iraq but France and Germany, two key members of the military alliance, have said they will not send any troops to Iraq.

Source: Xinhua