France, Germany Seek Changes In Iraq Resolution

UN Security Council 28 May 2004 -- The leaders of France and Germany have called for changes to the draft UN Security Council resolution on Iraq proposed by the United States and United Kingdom.
French President Jacques Chirac said the U.S.-U.K. proposal needs what he called "serious improvement."

Chirac said the still-to-be-named interim Iraqi government due to take power on 30 June should exercise sovereignty in all fields -- political, economic, security, diplomatic, and over Iraq's oil and gas resources.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, which currently sits with France on the Security Council, also called for a "real transfer" of sovereignty to Iraqis.

Schroeder, however, joined the United States in opposing setting January 2005 as the date for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in Iraq.

(Reuters/AFP/dpa)