BELGIUM: A Belgian military aircraft loaded with EU aid to Iraq remained stranded near Brussels last night after US authorities failed to give it permission to land in Baghdad, writes Denis Staunton, European Correspondent.
A European Commission spokesman insisted that the Americans wanted the plane to come to Baghdad but had been unable so far to arrange a flight path.
"The Americans are trying to do their best to make this happen. That doesn't mean the security situation on the ground isn't very difficult," he said.
The Belgian air force C-130, which must now remain at Melsbroek military airport outside Brussels until Tuesday, is loaded with surgical equipment, vaccines, essential drugs and anaesthetics, oxygen, syringes, operating tables and communications equipment.
It is also carrying supplies for pre-natal care and general equipment needed to run hospitals.
The Commissioner in charge of humanitarian aid, Mr Poul Nielsen, is due to visit Baghdad on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine how the EU can help to alleviate the problems faced by Iraqi civilians.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Rhodes yesterday discussed the role of the UN in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said that there was agreement on the need for an interim administration to be endorsed by the UN but that there was no question of the organisation taking the lead role in establishing democratic institutions.
The Greek Foreign Minister, Mr George Papandreou, who is chairing a two-day meeting of ministers from the EU and 10 acceding countries, said that European diplomats would soon be back in Baghdad.
"We agreed, all 25 countries, to give the order for the return of the chargés d'affaires of our countries to Iraq. In a next phase we will see how this will be done", he said.