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Baghdad - Iraq and France already have trade relations arms of government since Saddam Hussein. No wonder if the country had rejected the U.S. request to send troops to Iraq.

French relations with Iraq have been stranded since long. During the Saddam Hussein government, France is a major arms supplier that has been ongoing since the 1980s.

Previous French and Iraqi officials have also been talking to possible re-sale of military equipment, including helicopter spare parts and weapons.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy also ask the European countries to rebuild relations with Iraq. Sarkozy also praised the election that took place in the relatively peaceful Iraq. "We want to encourage all European countries untuik come (to Iraq). This is part of the interest of Europe to support the coupled hand and peace," Sarkozy said.

In the first visit to Iraq Tuesday yesterday, Sarkozy a meeting with President Jalal Talabani. In pembicaraannya, Sarkozy promised political and economic support pascapemilu Iraq.

"Election-held sangata very successful. France believed that Iraq was united and the world need a strong Iraq," said Sarkozy in a press conference with Talabani as quoted Associated Press, Wednesday (11/2/2009).

Sarkozy said his side wanted to rebuild relations with Iraq that has been built with great difficulty by preceding the former president Jacque Chirac. Chirac had rejected the U.S. request for military assistance when the invasion overthrow Saddam Hussein in 2003 ago.

At that time, France had become a U.S. citizen gunjingan not even a bit of U.S. calls for boycott of French products.

Sarkozy visits accompanied Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Kouchner itself is the first French government official who visited Iraq, which in August 2007. Kouchner said at the time, that open the back side of the relationship and to contemplate the future. Kouchner visited Iraq back in June 2008.