On April 16, 2003, Blair tried to mend his relations with President Chirac of France and Chancellor Schroeder of Germany. He asked them, as well as Russia, to support an agreement on the UN role in post-war Iraq. There was a formal agreement but they still have different opinions on many related points.
At a meeting of the European Union Heads of State and of Governments on April 16 and 17, 2003, a lot of time and effort was spent to try to reconciliate Britain with its opponents at the UN Security Council. Everything seemed to work well and a compromise was found as usual. However at the end of the second day, it became known that the US wanted the UN Security Council to lift the sanctions against Iraq, arguing that Saddam Hussein's regime was out. This could lead to another diplomatic standoff as Russia and the EU suggested they would reject the suggestion unless the UN was given a central role in any post-war administration of Iraq. Russia added that the sanctions could only be lifted after a team of international inspectors verified that Iraq was free of weapons of mass destruction. At the same meeting the EU offered Russia and Ukraine to open closer relations. These two countries are too big to join the EU.
On April 22, 2003, France proposed that the UN lift all the sanctions against Iraq although the UN inspectors have not declared the country free of weapons of mass destruction. This brings France closer to the American position (President Bush already asked for their lifting). This would leave Russia alone to argue the opposite. Suspending but not ending the sanctions would require that the oil revenues should still be spent by something similar to the oil for food programme. Probably nothing will happen until June 3, when the present programme expires. The Pentagon does not want it to be renewed. By taking this position France is showing that they are not always opposed to the Americans. France wants to reduce the Iraqi people's suffering but, at the same time, it also wants to give a greater role for the UN and to enhances French bargaining power in pushing for an extension of the oil for food programme that is bringing money to some French firms.
On April 25, 2003, the Bush administration revealed that it is preparing a draft Security Council resolution that would reduce the United Nations to a marginal role in Iraq while the US would be running the country. This document could create another split in the Security Council when it is presented at the beginning of May. It is a defeat for Tony Blair in his attempt to push the USA towards a more multilateral approach to solving post-war problems. It is very strange because at their meeting in Belfast this month Bush had agreed that the UN had to have a "vital" role in the reconstruction. This draft resolution calls for the lifting of the sanctions and recognise the US-led coalition as the principal authority in the country until an interim government is formed. The UN should, according to Washington, nominates a special coordinator who would, alongside others, advise the American administrator, Jay Garner. A former Shell Oil executive, Phillip Carroll, would manage the Iraqi oil industry. This is obviously a Pentagon victory over the State Department, not to mention Britain. Phillip Carroll is expected to restructure the Iraqi oil industry on the model of a US corporation with a chairman, a chief executive and a board of 15 international advisers.
The discussion on a new UN Security Council resolution entered in an active phase on May 8, 2003. The US, Britain and Spain are asking to stop the sanctions against Iraq, to be authorised to use the oil revenues to finance the reconstruction of the devastated country under their only control, to lift restrictions on foreign governments and companies doing business there, and to phase out the oil-for-food programme. France and Russia oppose the plan, call for the return of the UN inspectors to Iraq and a stronger role for the UN in the reconstruction of the country. Now any contract to buy Iraqi oil, or to sell the country any non-military goods must be approved by the UN; in the future the US and Britain would replace the UN. The new resolution would only give the UN a seat on an international advisory board together with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Russia strongly opposes the plan saying that the sanctions cannot be lifted before Iraq has been declared free of weapons of mass destruction by the UN inspectors. The US is opposed to the return of the UN inspectors in Iraq and have their own already there. The US, on its own, is already suspending many of the sanctions it imposed in 1991 allowing US companies to export some goods there. Once again, why ask the UN authorisation when you do what you want anyway?
President Jacques Chirac said on May 19, 2003, that France would abstain from supporting the new resolution presented to the UN Security Council by the USA, Britain and Spain if the UN was not given a bigger role in running post-war Iraq. In addition to France, Russia and China also have strong reservations about it and could veto the resolution although it is not probable. On May 21 we were told that the Americans are making concessions, softening their draft resolution, in the hope that the UN Security Council will adopt it authorising de facto the occupation of Iraq by the Americans and the British. France, China, Russia and Germany should be pleased of the higher role given to the UN and Russia would also recover all or part of the money they invested in the Iraqi oil industry at the time of Saddam Hussein's regime. Under this new draft resolution the UN's oil for food programme would be suppressed within the next six months and an international body will monitor the oil revenue.
On May 22, 2003, the UN Security Council voted to lift the sanctions against
Iraq. France and Germany, together with 12 other countries, voted for the
resolution 1483 that also authorises the USA and Britain to rule Iraq and
manage its oil industry until an Iraqi government comes to power. Syria
did not take part in the vote.