France and Belgium snub US with block on NATO’s plan to train officers in Iraq

Report of an informal meeting of European Union Defence Ministers in Noordwijk (The Netherlands) on 17 September 2004. At the meeting France and Belgium were opposed to a plan to open a NATO training academy in Iraq - a move seen as a snub to the US Government and a warning that they do not want to see NATO playing a large role in Iraq.

NATO: Press Release: President of Iraq visits NATO, 14.9.04 http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/09-september/e0914a.htm

---