Paris Shares Moscow's View on United Nations' Role in Settling iraq Problem

Paris shares Moscow's view on the main role the United Nations must play in settling the Iraq problem. At a press conference in Paris on Friday, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin noted the coincidence of the positions of Russia and France on this matter. As regards the present situation in Iraq, the French foreign minister said the occupation forces in Iraq should now bear responsibility for security in Iraq.

The goal of extreme importance today is the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity and the restoration of the sovereignty over Iraq by its people, stressed De Villepin. He invited Iraq's neighbours to refrain from taking any steps which would further complicate the situation in the region.

Asked whether Russia, France, Germany, Syria or another country may not be allowed to be involved in the post-war rehabilitation of the Iraqi economy, Dominique de Villepin said that Iraq is no Eldorado, no pie which the United States can divide as it likes.