PARIS: One of the first major consequences of the re-election on Sunday by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Germany could very well be a decision by Europe to mellow somewhat its position on a US-led allied invasion of Iraq.
The possibility of a change is, in any case, the reading French diplomats have been making of the exchange of communications made since Sunday by the leaders of France and Germany, a change that will certainly be developed, say advisers to Chirac, during a tete-a- tete meeting that is to take place ‘very soon’ in Paris.
And this, in spite of the publication on Monday by British Prime Minister Tony Blair of a ‘White Paper’ which offers “proofs” of Iraq’s capabilities with regard to so-called arms of “massive destruction.”
Although the French president had not hidden his desire for a win by Edmund Stoiber — whom he considered to be potentially more pro- French than Chancellor Schroeder has been known to be — Chirac chose nevertheless to be the first European leader to congratulate Schroeder on his re- electoral win. It was a message which was not only handwritten — a sign of extreme courtesy, but also addressed Schroeder with the familiar “tu,” another form of courtesy that Chirac hardly ever uses with anybody, be it family or close friends.
Whether the newly-reelected German chancellor will want for Germany to play a role with France any more central than it has played until now is anybody’s guess, but Chirac looks destined to have to eat humble pie on another issue — the EU’s agricultural policies.
The other major subject of the proposed meeting will be Iraq, and the European Union’s response to the growing pressure being brought to bear by President George W. Bush, most recently through Britain, for the EU to take part in a forthcoming allied operation.
During a telephone conversation the other day between the French and Germand leaders, Schroeder is understood to have reiterated not only his distrust of Bush, but also the firm stand he intends to take against any European involvement in a possible US strike against Saddam Hussein.
The chancellor had vowed that he “would change nothing” with regard to his refusal to take part in a US-led attack, even if it were done with the support of the United Nations.