|
U.S. Allies Warn U.S. Against "Iraq Adventure"
BERLIN,
Feb. 18 (IslamOnline and News Agencies) - The German government Monday warned
the United States against an "adventure" in Iraq and stressed the
importance of preserving the international coalition against terrorism, as U.S.
President George W. Bush defended his statement that “all options are open”
regarding North Korea, Iraq and Iran – whom he described as “an axis of
evil”.
"The
federal [German] government cannot imagine that the United States government has
an interest in engaging in an adventure," chief government spokesman
Uwe-Karsten Heye told journalists in Berlin.
Heye
added that it was "appropriate and makes sense that the international
coalition against terrorism is preserved... The federal government's efforts are
directed to this end," he said, describing this aim as important.
The
spokesman's words recalled those of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder a week after
the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon
near Washington D.C. However, he pledged "undivided support" for the
fight against terrorism.
"Germany
is ready for risks, including military ones, but not for adventures,"
Schroeder said at the time. He also insisted on the right of the allies to be
informed and consulted about U.S. plans.
The
Bush Administration has repeatedly implied that Iraq may be a target in its
so-called “war on terrorism”, but the international community has warned
against such actions, warning the U.S. against targeting any countries not
directly related to the events of September 11. Additionally, the League of Arab
States and Arab and Muslim countries have also warned that any action against
Iraq would not be condoned and that the U.S. would lose vital support in the
region.
Heye
said Monday that when the Chancellor visited Washington earlier this month, he
obtained from President Bush an assurance there was "no concrete plan
against Iraq," Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
"There
is nothing to add to this assurance," Heye said.
He
also said that President Bush had assured the Chancellor that Germany would be
consulted about its plans. "The German government expects this to be the
case," Heye added.
Asked
if the German government had any evidence of Iraqi involvement in terrorist
networks, Heye said, "No, and the federal government will not take part in
this theoretical debate."
On
the other hand, the German government spokesman said it would be
"useful" if United Nations observers could enter Iraq again to check
for weapons of mass destruction.
"We
expect further pressure to be brought to bear on Iraq in this direction,"
he said.
Asked
whether Chancellor Schroeder agreed with German Foreign Minister Joschka
Fischer's views on the Iraq issue, Heye said, "You may presume that there
is agreement on this question in the federal government."
Senior
weapons inspectors from the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM)
have repeatedly stated that Iraq possesses no weapons of mass destruction. Iraq
has, thus, forbidden weapons inspectors from entering the country. However
Fischer
a week ago sharply criticized Bush's "axis of evil" remarks about
Iran, Iraq and North Korea. He told Die Welt newspaper that the concept of such
an axis "gets us nowhere."
Meanwhile,
Bush said Monday during a trip to Tokyo, Japan that all options are on the table
to deal with Iraq, Iran and North Korea. He dismissed the chilly reception by
U.S. allies to his "axis of evil" rhetoric at the start of his Asian
tour.
Speaking
next to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Bush told reporters, "I
will keep all options on the table.”
Bush
stated the same intention to IslamOnline during a meeting at the White House
with King Abdallah of Jordan earlier this month.
"We
want to resolve all issues peacefully, whether it be Iraq, Iran or North
Korea," said Bush, who has lumped those countries together in what he has
termed as the "axis of evil," in language that has riled U.S. allies.
The
U.S. President renewed his pledge to thwart terrorist groups who want to
"mate up" with regimes hoping to acquire weapons of mass destruction
and said "nations will come with us" if the U.S.-led war on terrorism
is extended.
"People
who love freedom understand that we cannot allow nations that aren't
transparent, nations with a terrible history, nations that are so dictatorial
they're willing to starve their people, we can't allow them to mate up with
terrorist organizations," Bush said.
Asked
about French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine's criticism of the "axis"
concept as "simplistic," Bush said, "I understand what happens in
the international arena; people say things.”
"But
the leaders I've talked to understand, exactly, what needs to happen,” he
added. "They understand that our commitment is not just in
Afghanistan, that history has given us a unique opportunity to defend freedom
... I'm confident nations will come with us."
Meanwhile,
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Monday urged Iran to do more to promote
stability in Central Asia and claimed Tehran was not doing enough to stop
terrorism, a Japanese official said, news agencies reported.
Powell
held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi following a summit
meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President George W. Bush.
Powell
told Kawaguchi that Iran's efforts against terrorism, smuggling and the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction were not sufficient, a Japanese
foreign ministry official said, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported.
Powell
said that Iran had played an active role in Afghan reconstruction meetings in
Bonn and Tokyo but could do more to promote stability in the region, the
official said.
Tokyo
has maintained friendly ties with Iran.
Kawaguchi
told Powell that Tokyo would continue to back President Mohammad Khatami's
reform and maintain dialogue with Teheran, the official said. 
|
