Iraq PM Shrugs Off US as Sarko Cozies Up

In his first visit to Baghdad, French prez seeks oil, influence

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 11, 2009 8:23 AM CST

(Newser) – French prez Nicolas Sarkozy, whose predecessor led international opposition to the Iraq war, paid a surprise visit to Baghdad yesterday in an attempt to raise his country's profile in the region. Sarkozy met with PM Nouri al-Maliki, who used a joint news conference to slap at recent US pressure to reach political reconciliation. "The time for putting pressure on Iraq is over," said Maliki, who added he wanted to strengthen his ties to other Western powers.

Sarkozy's overture to the Iraqi leadership comes as the world's major oil companies, including the French giant Total, are angling for contracts in Iraq. After his meeting, Sarkozy told reporters that a delegation of French corporate leaders would visit Iraq in the coming weeks. Maliki noted that France has a history of business involvement dating back to the Saddam Hussein era.

[Images (3)]

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on his first trip to Iraq, urged other European leaders Tuesday to follow his lead and rebuild ties with the country that were frayed by the US-led war. (AP Photo/Iraqi Government, HO)

Nouri al-Maliki used a press conference with French president Nicolas Sarkozy to chide the United States. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy laughs during a joint press conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, unseen, in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed, Pool)

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Iraq, which had many enemies, now has many friends, and that is all because of the direction of the National Unity Government. - Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi prime minister, at a press conference with Nicolas Sarkozy

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Iraq PM Shrugs Off US as Sarko Cozies Up