Visiting French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier confirmed here on Tuesday that his country will restore diplomatic relations with Iraq soon, adding that the French attache is already in Baghdad.

"I announced the day after the transfer of sovereignty took effect in Baghdad (on June 28) that we were ready to re-establish diplomatic relations," Barnier told reporters after meeting his Greek counterpart Petros Molyviatis.

"Our head of diplomatic mission (in Iraq) was received yesterday by (Iraqi interim Prime Minister) Iyad Allawi and thingswill unfold very quickly," Barnier said.

The French minister reaffirmed that his government would provide technical assistance but would not send any French soldiers to Iraq.

France will be "present in the process of Iraq's political and economic reconstruction alongside our other European partners," hesaid.

The two ministers also discussed the issue of the EU Constitution as well as the Middle East, Iraq, the Balkans and Cyprus.

Barnier, who is on a 24-hour working visit to Greece, emphasized that Europe is faced with a major challenge since the EU constitution concerns how Europe with 25 member states will operate.

He stressed that all member states must realize that if the constitutional treaty is not ratified there is no constitution.

"The dialogue began in Europe a decade ago and the goal is not only an economically-united Europe, but a politically-united Europe as well. This is why foreign policy and a consistent stanceon various issues are necessary," he added.

Source: Xinhua