Girard

'New Europe' backs EU on Iraq

Doves and hawks: Chirac attacks pro-US nations

Thirteen EU candidate countries endorsed on Tuesday a declaration by
existing members warning Iraq that it had one last chance to disarm.
But a number of Eastern and Central European states hit back furiously
at French President Jacques Chirac who condemned them on Monday for
their pro-US stance.

A Czech minister said France appeared to be bullying the candidate
countries, while Romanian President Ion Iliescu said the French
president's remarks were "inappropriate".

Jacques Chirac should regret such expressions, which are not in the
spirit of friendship and democratic relationships

Romanian President Ion Iliescu

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said: "Poland... also has a
right to decide what is in its own good, and France should in its turn
consider it with respect."

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair backed the small nations, declaring that
all countries should be free to speak their minds.

Chirac warning

He also made clear that he disagreed with the decision by the EU's Greek
presidency to exclude the future members from Monday's emergency summit.


This approach will not help to create unity in the Security Council



Lubomir Ivanov
Bulgarian Deputy FM

It was after the summit in Brussels that Mr Chirac accused the
candidates - who have signed letters backing the US position - of
childish and irresponsible behaviour.

"It is not well-brought-up behaviour. They missed a good opportunity to
keep quiet," he said.

He warned the candidates that their position could be "dangerous"
because the EU's decision to accept 10 new members in 2004 still had to
be ratified by existing members.

He said Romania and Bulgaria - currently due to join the EU in 2007 -
could not have chosen a better way to spoil their chances of joining the
club.

'Old' and 'New' Europe

At Monday's summit, EU leaders bridged some of the gaps dividing them on
policy towards Iraq.

LATEST LETTER SUPPORTING US
Albania

Bulgaria*

Croatia

Estonia*

Latvia*

Lithuania*

Macedonia

Romania*

Slovakia*

Slovenia*

*EU candidate country

The declaration said Iraq must disarm fully and completely, and that
force would be used as a last resort.

It also said war was not inevitable, and that UN weapons inspectors
should be given more time.

The compromise was a synthesis of the more hawkish position taken by the
UK, Spain and Italy, and the dovish position taken by France and
Germany.

Most of the candidate countries have sided with the hawks, prompting US
Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to compare the "New" Europe favourably
with what he called the "Old" Europe.

Among the politicians who lined up to criticise Mr Chirac, Bulgarian
Deputy Foreign Minister Lubomir Ivanov said his remarks would not help
to create unity in the Security Council.

'Condescending'

The chairman of the Hungarian parliament's EU Integration committee,
Istvan Szent-Ivanyi, said: "No-one can oblige us to be silent."

JANUARY'S OPEN LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR US
Czech Republic*

Denmark

Hungary*

Italy
Poland*

Portugal

Spain
United Kingdom

*EU candidate country

Slovak Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan said: "I do not comprehend why Mr
Chirac is not criticising Italy, Spain or Portugal. After all, they said
exactly the same... I do not like it, and I do not think this way of
marking us out is justified."

Estonian foreign ministry spokeswoman Tiina Maiberg told BBC News
Online: "All we would say is that the more plurality of opinion in
Europe, the better it is. Our country and other countries have a right
to express our opinions."

There was also criticism from leading European parliamentarians.

Hans-Georg Poettering, who leads the largest grouping in the parliament,
the centre-right European People's Party said it was dangerous to pit
east against west, and EU against US.

"Were we to define our relationship in such a way that European
integration is seen as something running counter to our relations with
the United States, then we would be jeopardising the future of the
European Union," he said.

Liberal Democrat leader Graham Watson called Mr Chirac's attack
"gratuitous and condescending".


--
Direct access to this group with http://web2news.com
http://web2news.com/?rec.travel.europe

Jim Morris

"Girard" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > 'New Europe' backs EU on Iraq


Sounds like France has a case of "Sour Grapes". Perhaps they should keep
that only for their wines and not threaten their neighbors!

Bj

Maybe Chirac's becoming senile, I should think the french civil service are
aghast at his latest undiplomatic utterances.
BJ
--
(Antispam, drop pants to EMail)
All outgoing Emails checked for Virus with Norton.

Donna Evleth

Dans l'article , "Jim Morris"
a écrit :


    > "Girard" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> 'New Europe' backs EU on Iraq
    > Sounds like France has a case of "Sour Grapes". Perhaps they should keep
    > that only for their wines and not threaten their neighbors!

Please do not say "France" when you mean Chirac. There are some of the
French who were appalled by what Chirac did. In this morning's newspaper
Libération (left), an editorial by Patrick Sabatier opened as follows:

"Who 'lost a good opportunity to shut up?' Answer: Jacques Chirac..."

In my mind, that says it all.

Donna Evleth
    >

Arkadya

France and Bullies in the same sentence? France couldnt bully itself out of a
girl scout meeting.
Never Forgive, Never Forget
9-11-01

Richard Thurston

On 19 Feb 2003 18:57:08 GMT, [email protected] (ARKADYA) wrote:

    >France and Bullies in the same sentence? France couldnt bully itself out of a
    >girl scout meeting.
    >Never Forgive, Never Forget
    > 9-11-01
Suggest you add 'Never, For Crying out Loud, Never Actually Think' to
your posts.

Truth in advertising.


Richard Thurston