Posted on 07/27/2004 9:17:34 AM PDT by lizol
Powell kicks off whirlwind tour
By Jill McGivering BBC correspondent in Budapest
US Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Budapest to start a week-long visit to Eastern Europe and the Middle East. His first stop in Hungary and the last in Poland are seen partly as thank you gestures from the US towards the allies still contributing troops in Iraq.
Visits to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are due to focus on building regional support for Iraq's interim government.
In Egypt, talks are expected to centre on the progress of the Middle East peace process and Sudan's crisis.
Mr Powell has also announced he will visit the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, towards the end of the week.
Washington's friends
Mr Powell's coming week is a typically frantic diplomatic dash with top-level meetings in a new country every day.
In Hungary and Poland the message may include a warm American thank you. Both countries proved friends to Washington on the war in Iraq and are still contributing troops there.
At the moment, Hungary's 350 personnel are due to pull out of Iraq at the end of this year.
Poland has 2,400 troops - the fourth largest contributor to the coalition. It plans to cut back significantly early next year, but hasn't yet announced a final leaving date.
Public pressure on the Polish leadership has been compounded by the recent kidnappings targeting countries involved with the multinational force.
Mr Powell will be a guest at ceremonies to mark the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw uprising.
Seeking consensus
Iraq will also be at the top of Mr Powell's agenda in the Middle East.
State Department officials say he will be trying to rally regional support for the new government there.
In Cairo, there will also be a focus on the Sudanese crisis and the role Egypt can play in breathing new life into the stalled Middle East peace process.
In Saudi Arabia the war on terrorism, the recent spate of attacks against westerners and President Bush's plans for spreading democratic reform in the Middle East are expected to surface too.
I've been to Budapest, Hungary 2 times in my life - it is a beautiful and historic city overlooking the Danube River...there is a famous church on the hill that I sang in with a Christian group back in '83 and man I'll never forget that wonderful time! I'm glad Powell is thanking our friends for their assistance. The Dems may think we've "gone it alone" but any help should always be appreciated!
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