France, Iraq to Re-Establish Relations

The AP is reporting that France and Iraq will renew diplomatic ties shortly.

After a 13-year interruption, France and Iraq (news - web sites) intend to re-establish diplomatic relations within the next few days, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday.

Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi met Monday with Bernard Bajolet, France's highest diplomatic representative in Iraq, and discussed restoration of ties that Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) broke off in 1991 during the Gulf War (news - web sites), a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

"Mr. Allawi said he wanted to do it as fast as possible so that France can participate in the reconstruction of Iraq," the spokesman said. "We welcomed that very positively."

France, always there for the Francs. Nevertheless, this is a good move for the fledgling Iraqi government and its efforts to establish legitimacy.