Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=05/21/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ / UN VOTE

NUMBER=2-303492

BYLINE=LISA BRYANT

DATELINE=PARIS

CONTENT=

///EDS: REISSUED TO REMOVE TIME REFERENCE IN 4TH GRAF OF TEXT///

VOICED AT:

INTRO: French, Russian and German foreign ministers said Wednesday they would back a U-S sponsored resolution to lift United Nations sanctions against Iraq. From

Paris, Lisa Bryant has more on the announcement, made after a meeting between the three in the French capital.

TEXT: French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told reporters in Paris the three countries would back U-S efforts to lift more than a decade of sanctions on Iraq at the United Nations Security Council.

He said the draft U-N resolution was not perfect, but it took into account the concerns

of all three nations. He read a joint statement saying the resolution offered a, quote, tangible and independent role for the United Nations. France, Germany and Russia, Mr. de Villepin said, would now work to seek a consensus backing the text at the Security Council.

The announcement marks a change of heart by three of Europes staunchest opponents

to the war in Iraq. Only Tuesday, French President Jacques Chirac signaled he wanted

the resolution to spell out a greater role for the U-N in post-war Iraq. Paris had earlier called only for suspending sanctions, not lifting them altogether.

Mr. Chirac -- who led international opposition to the war -- had said he was adopting what he called a more pragmatic approach, now that the conflict was over. It was U-S officials who had suggested that the first step toward mending frayed transatlantic relations would be for France and the two other countries to back Washington's resolution to lift U-N sanctions on Iraq.

///START OPT/// Russia and Germany had also backed a more prominent U-N role than what was outlined by the Bush administration. France and Russia are permanent Security Council members wielding a power to veto any Council resolution. Germany currently holds one of the councils rotating seats. ///END OPT///

The announcement by the three comes on the eve of the U-N council vote and a day ahead of a Group of Eight foreign ministers meeting in Paris. U-S Secretary Colin Powell arrives at the French capital Thursday, marking the highest-level visit by a Bush administration official since the war. President Chirac and U-S President George W. Bush are also expected to meet during an early June G-eight summit in Evian, France. (SIGNED)

NEB/LB/MAR/FC