France says doesn't want divided Europe over Iraq

Yahoo News ^ | 1/20/03

[areafiftyone]

PARIS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin described as "a contribution to the debate" Thursday's joint letter by eight European leaders urging support for U.S. President George W. Bush's stand on Iraq.

Speaking to the French upper parliament, the Senate, Villepin also said France did not want to set European countries against each other over Iraq, but sought unity among the international community on the issue.

"It's a contribution to the debate," Villepin said of the letter during question time in the Senate.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and seven others signed the open letter calling on the peace camp -- implicitly France, Germany and Russia -- to line up behind the United States against Iraq.

"We are not trying to set one Europe against another when everyone can see we are defending the same principles -- firmness towards Iraq and a concern to find a solution to the crisis in the framework of the United Nations," Villepin said.

"Our objective is, beyond Europe, the unity of the whole international community."

[areafiftyone]

[Dog]

LMAO!

[John O]

BTTT

[mhking]

Then, all they (and the Germans) need to do is shut up and get on board.

[TontoKowalski]

This is the beginning of the Great French Backpeddle of 2003, as it will be known in the history books.

Germany is too far out on a limb to backpeddle; but I suspect they'll just shut up.

[William McKinley]

"doesn't want divided Europe over Iraq"

Good. Then get on board

[Cyber Liberty]

What's new about this?

It's nothing more complicated than saying, "Let's you and me not fight anymore. Just do things my way."

[William McKinley]

The most hilarious thing with all this is...

If the Germans get on board...

The French would quit and get on board too.

[BOBTHENAILER]

France is preparing to surrender to logic and facts.

Something infinitely more frightening than Iraq's military power.

[Man of the Right]

This is France's first move from the edge of the tree limb.

At the last moment, they will vote with the U.S. The excuse is the only question. Here's excuse #1: European unity.

[hoosiermama]

Yelp! The train's a leavin soon.

[areafiftyone]

I just have this feeling that France is starting to crack. Watch them get on board before the Krauts!

[Sam Cree]

"Our objective is...the unity of the whole international community."

Spoken like a good Marxist.

[Cyber Liberty]

Let us hope.

[Man of the Right]

No, they'll vote with France. Probably the excuse will be the same: European unity.

Schroeder can mutter we don't think war is necessary, we don't agree with pre-emption, and we don't intend to participate in a war even if the Security Council votes it, but we think the issue of European Unity is greater than even peace or war in the Middle East, blah, blah, blah, weasel, weasel, weasel, ingratitude, ingratitude, ingratitude, etc.

[TontoKowalski]

Time will tell. I certainly hope you're right.

[smith288]

[Elenya]

At the last moment, they will vote with the U.S. The excuse is the only question. Here's excuse #1: European unity.

Yep. Ollie North's statements might help too...

I don't know about Germany though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Schroeder's anti-American stand seems to be the only reason he's still in power.

[Wphile]

Good. Then get on board.

Yep. It's appears that France and Germany are outnumbered here! Gotta love it.

[OldFriend]

The Germans and French joined once again!! Collaborators to the end.