"We all want to see a stable and democratic Iraq and that the transition to democracy occurs as quickly as possible," Blair said

BERLIN, September 20 (IslamONline.net & News Agencies) – In a two-hour trilateral summit to heal bitter diplomatic wounds over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the leaders of Germany, France and Britain joined hands Saturday, September 20, in urging a transfer of power in Iraq "as quickly as possible" and a central role for the United Nations, but failed to hide their differences.

At summit talks in Berlin, the leaders of the three major European powers said they broadly agreed on the need for a rapid transition, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We all want to see a stable and democratic Iraq and that the transition to democracy occurs as quickly as possible," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

"Whatever the positions in the conflict, the entire world has an interest in seeing these things happen. Whatever the differences there are, they can be resolved and I am sure they will be."

He said the fact that discussions were taking place at the U.N. on a possible resolution for post-war Iraq "indicates the agreement on the key role that the U.N. should have."

"It is in everyone's interest that we reach agreement and I believe that we will," said Blair.

But German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac acknowledged that while they agreed on the broad outlines, there were still differences.

Schroeder said there was a "need for discussions," and Chirac said the concerns of London, Paris and Berlin "were not yet completely convergent."

Pressed on that question, the French president said they did not agree "on the modalities (of a transition) and the calendar."

Washington is currently trying to draft a resolution that would share the financial and military burden of Iraq's reconstruction.

France and Germany, which fiercely opposed the war, want a greater U.N. role and a faster transfer of power to Iraqi civilian authorities than Washington appears ready to concede so far.

Nevertheless, Berlin and Paris have shown recent signs of compromise, with the former offering to help train Iraqi police and military and the latter now talking of a "symbolic" transfer of power.

The U.N. must play "a central role" in Iraq, Schroeder emphasized in an article Friday in the New York Times.

But in an interview Saturday in a German daily, he reiterated that Germany was ready to help "so that there is a prospect for stability and democracy in Iraq."

Heal Rifts

The talks aimed at healing Europe's diplomatic wounds over the U.S.-led war on Iraq, which was supported by Britain and staunchly opposed by Germany and France, as well as finding common ground on stabilizing the occupied country.

All three appeared relaxed and at ease with each other as they gathered at Schroeder's offices in Berlin for their first trilateral summit in two years.

Blair, who was the first to arrive, was followed a little later by Chirac.

"It's me again," quipped Chirac, a regular visitor as he was last in Berlin only two days ago for Franco-German government talks.

All three posed for photographs before heading inside for a scheduled two-hour working lunch.

The talks were also due to focus on E.U. reforms, notably a new constitution to underpin the bloc after it expands to 25 members next year and Franco-German aspirations of developing an independent E.U. military capability.

Analysts expect the three leaders to demonstrate some form of public unity on Iraq without radically compromising their positions.

Blair, who likes to see Britain as a transatlantic bridgehead, sees the summit a chance to reconnect with his major European allies.

He is under intense domestic political pressure amid a public inquiry that has put his government's case for war under an unflattering spotlight.

Blair's Labor government this week lost a by-election in a former London stronghold, the first time Labor has lost anywhere in its six years in power.

For Schroeder, the summit underlines Germany's return onto the international stage after it was diplomatically cold-shouldered by Washington.

Next Wednesday, the chancellor will have his first face-to-face talks with U.S. President George W. Bush in nearly 18 months.

As for France, it does not want to see its biggest European ally cozying up to Britain.