Blair, Chirac discuss Iraq in "friendly, spontaneous" meeting

ATHENS (AFP) Apr 16, 2003
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac, who locked horns over the US-led war on Iraq, held a "very positive" meeting Wednesday to discuss the post-war future, a spokesman for Blair said.

The "unplanned" meeting took place at the margins of a European Union summit in Athens, and focused on Iraq, the Middle East and EU issues, Blair's spokesman said.

"By chance he (Blair) had a 25-minute meeting with Chirac. It was very friendly, very useful," the spokesman told reporters.

"They were each in the conference building. The prime minister went to get some fresh air. Chirac had the same idea. It was completely spontaneous and unplanned.

"They discussed Iraq, the Middle East and European issues. It was a wide range of topics."

Blair has been US President George W. Bush's staunchest supporter in the Iraq war, while Chirac led fierce opposition to the conflict. But both leaders agree that the United Nations should play a major role in post-war Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE