10.2 |
Reconstruction: July 2004 to July 2009
312.
Mr Quarrey
commented to Mr Blair: “… this is OK on what we want the US to
do
with
others, but DFID
seem to have given up on influencing how the US spends its
own
money –
still by far the most important funding source”.179
313.
Mr Blair
saw Mr Quarrey’s note, but did not respond.180
314.
On 7 June,
Mr Blair and President Bush held talks on a range of foreign
policy
issues in
the White House.181
In their
discussion on Iraq, Mr Blair judged that:
“Ultimately,
without an improvement in security, little progress could be
made.”
315.
Sir Nigel
Sheinwald and Sir David Manning met Dr Rice and Mr Hadley on
the
same
day.182
Sir Nigel
and Mr Hadley agreed that:
“ … there
was scope for a major US/EU/UN initiative on developing the ability
of the
international
community to build capacity (governance, judiciary etc) in failing
states
and
post-conflict situations. This was the lesson of the Balkans and
Iraq, and we still
did not
have the means to deal with this. Some sort of international
co-ordination
was
necessary.”
316.
Mr Straw
visited Iraq on 9 June with the EU Troika – Mr Jean
Asselborn
(Presidency),
Mr Javier Solana (EU Common Foreign and Security Policy
High
Representative)
and Ms Benita Ferrero Waldner (EU External Affairs
Commissioner).
The British
Embassy Baghdad reported that the Troika had brought three
main
messages:
•
support for
the political process, and the need for inclusion;
•
the
importance of the Brussels International Conference, as an
opportunity for
Iraq to
engage with the EU and wider donor community; and
•
a shift in
Europe. Europe had been divided over the war but was now
united
in its
desire to help the Iraqi people.183
317.
The Embassy
reported that, under pressure from Mr Straw, Mr Waldner
had told
the Iraqi
Government and the media that the Commission would open an office
in Iraq
“in months
rather than weeks”.
179
Minute
Quarrey to Prime Minister, 3 June 2005, ‘Iraq Update’.
180
Manuscript
comment Blair on Minute Quarrey to Prime Minister, 3 June 2005,
‘Iraq Update’.
181
Letter
Phillipson to Adams, 7 June 2005, ‘Prime Minister’s Talks with
President Bush, 7 June’.
182
Letter
Sheinwald to Adams, 7 June 2005, ‘Dinner with US Secretary of State
and National Security
Adviser: 7
June’.
183
eGram
65/2005 Baghdad to FCO London, 10 June 2005, ‘Visit of the Foreign
Secretary and the EU
Troika, 9
June 2005’.
247