My goodness, all of the uproar that the US Representatives would dare change restrictions on imported water and wine. All of the uproar that we would move our soldiers out of Germany.
Well, France plays the game too!
East Europeans Reject French Criticism of their Backing US on Iraq
VOA News
18 Feb 2003, 14:59 UTC
East European leaders are hitting back at French President Jacques Chirac for his sharp criticism of their support for the U.S. stand on possible military action against Iraq.
The French leader sharply criticized the East Europeans, calling them ill-behaved in backing the U.S. determination to disarm Iraq by force if necessary.
Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Adam Rotfeld told public radio that France has the right to its opinion, while Poland can decide what is in its own good. Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondr called Mr. Chirac's comments an apparent effort to bully European Union candidate states.
President Chirac said it would have been better if the candidates had kept quiet. He indicated that such actions could undermine their chances of E.U. entry. The French leader made his comments at the conclusion of Monday's emergency E.U. summit in Brussels on Iraq.
Two open letters signed by E.U. candidate countries earlier this month supported the U.S. stand on Iraq.
Mr. Chirac singled out Bulgaria and Romania, saying their stand endangers their chances for E.U. entry in 2007.
But leading officials of the two countries downplayed the importance of the attack. Romanian President Ion Iliescu called the comments inappropriate. In Sofia, Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Ivanov called the comments a sign of French nervousness ahead of a United Nations Security Council debate on the Iraq issue.
In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair also defended the right of candidate states to express their views on Iraq. He warned that those trying to pull Europe and America apart are playing a dangerous game.
Meanwhile, representatives of the 13 candidate states, meeting in Brussels, endorsed the declaration adopted by top E.U. leaders Monday warning Iraq it has one last chance to disarm.
A statement from the European summit in Brussels did not rule out the use of force if Baghdad does not comply with U.N. orders.
The European summit said U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq must be given all the time the Security Council thinks they need, and added that war would be a last resort if Iraq does not cooperate.
Well, France plays the game too!
East Europeans Reject French Criticism of their Backing US on Iraq
VOA News
18 Feb 2003, 14:59 UTC
East European leaders are hitting back at French President Jacques Chirac for his sharp criticism of their support for the U.S. stand on possible military action against Iraq.
The French leader sharply criticized the East Europeans, calling them ill-behaved in backing the U.S. determination to disarm Iraq by force if necessary.
Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Adam Rotfeld told public radio that France has the right to its opinion, while Poland can decide what is in its own good. Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondr called Mr. Chirac's comments an apparent effort to bully European Union candidate states.
President Chirac said it would have been better if the candidates had kept quiet. He indicated that such actions could undermine their chances of E.U. entry. The French leader made his comments at the conclusion of Monday's emergency E.U. summit in Brussels on Iraq.
Two open letters signed by E.U. candidate countries earlier this month supported the U.S. stand on Iraq.
Mr. Chirac singled out Bulgaria and Romania, saying their stand endangers their chances for E.U. entry in 2007.
But leading officials of the two countries downplayed the importance of the attack. Romanian President Ion Iliescu called the comments inappropriate. In Sofia, Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Ivanov called the comments a sign of French nervousness ahead of a United Nations Security Council debate on the Iraq issue.
In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair also defended the right of candidate states to express their views on Iraq. He warned that those trying to pull Europe and America apart are playing a dangerous game.
Meanwhile, representatives of the 13 candidate states, meeting in Brussels, endorsed the declaration adopted by top E.U. leaders Monday warning Iraq it has one last chance to disarm.
A statement from the European summit in Brussels did not rule out the use of force if Baghdad does not comply with U.N. orders.
The European summit said U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq must be given all the time the Security Council thinks they need, and added that war would be a last resort if Iraq does not cooperate.