Provincial elections were “very successful”- Sarkozy

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday hailed the provincial council elections that took place in Iraq on January 31 as “very successful.” During a joint press conference with President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad today, Sarkozi reiterated his government’s support for the national reconciliation project in Iraq. Earlier today, Sarkozy arrived in Baghdad on a state visit and was received by Talabani and a number of Iraqi officials. Sarkozy’s visit to Baghdad is the first since he came into office in May 2007. On November 17, 2007, Talabani paid a visit to France, where he was received by Sarkozy at the Elysee, the French presidential palace. France had strong relations with Iraq before the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime. It was a main trade partner for Iraq, which supplied the former regime with weapons. It was one of the opponents of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. SS (P) 1