PARIS — The United States does not intend to punish France for its opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, but would review joint cooperation "in the light of changed circumstances," Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday.
Powell and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin emerged from a breakfast meeting saying they would like to put the feud over Iraq behind them. Powell added that the United States wants to "work out any remaining sharp edges ... that are still there as a result of this disagreement."
The United States "takes note of those who disagree with you," Powell said. "And if it is appropriate to draw some conclusions and consequences follow those conclusions, then that's the way it is."
He called France's vote at the United Nations to lift sanctions against Iraq "a step in the right direction."
After breakfast, Powell and the foreign ministers of the world's top industrialized nations wrapped up two days of talks in preparation for the annual Group of Eight meeting being held in France next month.
In a joint statement, the ministers said they supported India-Pakistan talks and said warlords in Afghanistan must disarm and submit to the central goverment's authority. They urged North Korea to begin the "full, prompt, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement" of its nuclear program, and suggested that talks started in Beijing in April also include South Korea, Japan and Russia.
They also cited Iran's nuclear program as "a cause of concern," and urged Iran to allay those worries by signing and implementing another protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
On Thursday, Powell told reporters that France's refusal to join in the war against Iraq did not deal a death blow to relations, but the dispute could not be forgotten.
"I would not say we have punished France," Powell said. "There has been a review of some activities that take place between the United States and France, some of the military activities" which might be reduced.
De Villepin said the United States and France should try to reduce their differences. He said relations had been good but sometimes heated, and France is trying to resolve the issue. He noted that President Bush spoke by telephone Thursday with French President Jacques Chirac, mainly about the annual Group of Eight summit. Bush joins the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia for the June 1-3 summit in the French town of Evian.
In an interview with TF1 television Thursday, Powell said the United States will have to "see if certain changes are necessary" in its relations with France.
"We would have preferred that France be at our side in the liberation of Iraq and not be critical and opposed to us," he said. "But because we are friends and allies for so many years, such a disagreement won't end the alliance or the friendship."
Powell and the foreign ministers were reviewing Iraqi reconstruction, the war on terrorism, Iran and North Korea, where nuclear programs are an issue, and advancing the Middle East peace process.
Powell held his news conference in a mansion where the Marquis de Lafayette, returning from the American Revolution, met Queen Marie Antoinette to plead the American cause.
As Powell was speaking, the U.N. Security Council by a 14-0 vote approved a resolution backing the U.S.-led administration of Iraq and lifting sanctions.
"It's a wonderful day for the Iraqi people," Powell said. "Now they can see the benefits of liberation as other nations come to help with restoring stability, peacekeeping operations and reconstruction."
He said the resolution would make it easier for other nations to join in Iraqi reconstruction, peacekeeping activities, and repairing roads, plants, and other public works that fell into disrepair during 30 years of Saddam Hussein's rule.
The resolution, Powell said, will give the United Nations a vital role in Iraq through the presence of a special representative, who will help in the transition to a civilian administration.
Powell said the ministers would review the international war on terrorism and how to combat drug smuggling from Central Asia.