S
Stephen Baker
Guest
From today's Daily Telegraph:
How the world reacted (Filed: 20/03/2003)
Turkey: President Ahmet Necdet Sezer questioned the legitimacy of military action against Iraq.
He said: "The United Nations Security Council process on Iraq should have been allowed to finish. I
do not find it right that the US behaved unilaterally before that process ended."
His comments added weight to the parliamentary opposition ahead of a vote later in the day on a
resolution to allow US warplanes to use Turkish airspace for Iraq attacks.
France: President Jacques Chirac said that he hopes military action will not lead to a "humanitarian
catastrophe."
He said: "France regrets this action undertaken without the approval of the UN. It hopes that
operations will be as rapid and as victim-free as possible and does not lead to a humanitarian
catastrophe."
Germany: Joschka Fischer, foreign minister, said Germany was dismayed by the start of the military
campaign and offered humanitarian help to the Iraqi population.
He said: "This is grim news as war is always the worst of all solutions. We hope that the fighting
will be ended as quickly as possible. On no account, should weapons of mass destruction be used."
Russia: President Vladimir Putin called on the US to stop the attacks, calling the campaign a
"serious political mistake".
Portugal: Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso reaffirmed Portugal's strong backing for the US,
but said that no Portuguese troops would take part in the war.
He said: "Portugal reaffirms its support to its allies, with whom it shares the values of freedom
and democracy, and hopes that this action will be over as soon as possible and will carry out all
its objectives."
South Korea: President Roh Moo-Hyun pledged his government's support for the war, pledging to send
non-combat troops and aid for refugees.
He said in a televised statement: "I believe that to support the US efforts benefits our national
interest," His spokesman said the country has also stepped up security measures against North Korea.
Spain: Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar convened a crisis cabinet meeting. He has supported the US
and Britain, despite massive public opposition.
Indonesia: President Megawati Sukarnoputri said the government of the world's most populous Muslim
nation fiercely opposed the attacks and called for an urgent UN meeting.
Iran: Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi called the attack "unjustifiable and illegitimate" but said it
would not take sides. He added: "A new round of efforts in order to reduce the horrible and
extensive consequences of the war must start."
Japan: Yasushi Akashi, special peace envoy to Sri Lanka, said the country wanted to help the
reconstruction of Iraq and assist refugees while not directly supporting the war effort.
Israel: Israelis, who faced Scud missiles in the 1991 Gulf War, have been told to carry
government-issued gas masks. US Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon 90 minutes before the strikes began.
Belgium: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said he deplored the strikes and denounced the flouting of
international law.
Cambodia: Foreign Minister Hor Namhong expressed "regret" that military action could not have been
avoided and warned that the action would lead to further American political isolation and increased
acts of terrorism.
India: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called a meeting of senior ministers shortly after the
strikes began.
Nato: Nato allies are meeting to discuss the war. The alliance does not have a direct military role
in the conflict, but has sent specialist units to help boost the defenses of Turkey, the only Nato
member to border Iraq.
How the world reacted (Filed: 20/03/2003)
Turkey: President Ahmet Necdet Sezer questioned the legitimacy of military action against Iraq.
He said: "The United Nations Security Council process on Iraq should have been allowed to finish. I
do not find it right that the US behaved unilaterally before that process ended."
His comments added weight to the parliamentary opposition ahead of a vote later in the day on a
resolution to allow US warplanes to use Turkish airspace for Iraq attacks.
France: President Jacques Chirac said that he hopes military action will not lead to a "humanitarian
catastrophe."
He said: "France regrets this action undertaken without the approval of the UN. It hopes that
operations will be as rapid and as victim-free as possible and does not lead to a humanitarian
catastrophe."
Germany: Joschka Fischer, foreign minister, said Germany was dismayed by the start of the military
campaign and offered humanitarian help to the Iraqi population.
He said: "This is grim news as war is always the worst of all solutions. We hope that the fighting
will be ended as quickly as possible. On no account, should weapons of mass destruction be used."
Russia: President Vladimir Putin called on the US to stop the attacks, calling the campaign a
"serious political mistake".
Portugal: Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso reaffirmed Portugal's strong backing for the US,
but said that no Portuguese troops would take part in the war.
He said: "Portugal reaffirms its support to its allies, with whom it shares the values of freedom
and democracy, and hopes that this action will be over as soon as possible and will carry out all
its objectives."
South Korea: President Roh Moo-Hyun pledged his government's support for the war, pledging to send
non-combat troops and aid for refugees.
He said in a televised statement: "I believe that to support the US efforts benefits our national
interest," His spokesman said the country has also stepped up security measures against North Korea.
Spain: Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar convened a crisis cabinet meeting. He has supported the US
and Britain, despite massive public opposition.
Indonesia: President Megawati Sukarnoputri said the government of the world's most populous Muslim
nation fiercely opposed the attacks and called for an urgent UN meeting.
Iran: Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi called the attack "unjustifiable and illegitimate" but said it
would not take sides. He added: "A new round of efforts in order to reduce the horrible and
extensive consequences of the war must start."
Japan: Yasushi Akashi, special peace envoy to Sri Lanka, said the country wanted to help the
reconstruction of Iraq and assist refugees while not directly supporting the war effort.
Israel: Israelis, who faced Scud missiles in the 1991 Gulf War, have been told to carry
government-issued gas masks. US Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon 90 minutes before the strikes began.
Belgium: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said he deplored the strikes and denounced the flouting of
international law.
Cambodia: Foreign Minister Hor Namhong expressed "regret" that military action could not have been
avoided and warned that the action would lead to further American political isolation and increased
acts of terrorism.
India: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called a meeting of senior ministers shortly after the
strikes began.
Nato: Nato allies are meeting to discuss the war. The alliance does not have a direct military role
in the conflict, but has sent specialist units to help boost the defenses of Turkey, the only Nato
member to border Iraq.
