Iraq welcomes Western ambassadors

updated 10:31 a.m. ET June 29, 2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Ambassadors from the United States, Australia and Denmark presented credentials to President Ghazi al-Yawer on Tuesday, marking the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iraq and the three coalition countries.

The United States has had no diplomatic relations with Iraq since 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, Australian Ambassador Neil Mules and Danish Ambassador Torben Gettermann presented credentials separately during a ceremony in an interim government buildings in the heavily-guarded Green Zone.

All three countries maintain troops in Iraq.

“Yesterday’s restoration of full sovereignty to Iraq cleared the way for establishment of normal diplomatic relations between two free, independent nations,” Negroponte said in a statement.

“I brought President al-Yawer President Bush’s greetings and shared with him the guidance President Bush has given me,” the statement said.

The ceremonies, attended by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, marked the first official event organized by the new government.

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