Posted on 04/09/2003 5:37:18 PM PDT by Mark
Chretien says no need to call Bush after U.S. troops achieve Baghdad success By LOUISE ELLIOTT
OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Wednesday there's no immediate need for him to call George W. Bush about developments in Baghdad, brushing aside the need to mend fences with the United States.
Chretien maintained that recent critical remarks by Liberal MPs about Bush and about Americans in general have not offended the president, who is still scheduled to visit Ottawa in May. "Sometimes things are said in other nations that are not pleasant, and the president, like other presidents or other prime ministers don't get up every morning to correct them and send telegrams and apologies," he told a news conference.
"He has other things to do in life."
Chretien said the U.S. may be disappointed over Canada's refusal to join the military coalition against Iraq, but he said it was a principled stand. And he said comments by MPs such as Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal, who questioned Bush's abilities as a statesman, would not have preoccupied Bush.
But Chretien seemed to acknowledge there's at least a chance Bush may cancel his visit, a possibility that has attracted growing speculation since U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci spoke out on the MPs' remarks a few weeks ago.
"(Bush is) coming next month and unless he decides to change his mind - I don't know, but the plans are proceeding, and I know that he wants to come to Canada, this I am sure of, and I know we'll have occasion (to talk)."
Chretien said reports that U.S.-Canada relations have soured are exaggerated, and said the U.S. was pleased with Canada's willingness, for example, to send troops and ships to Afghanistan during the Iraq conflict.
"I think that there is quite an exaggeration there," he said.
"The president of the United States knows since a long time, since last summer, what was the position of Canada. When I met him in Detroit, when he decided to go to the United Nations, he knew. I told him again, 'Congratulations, you're seeking approval of the United Nations, and if you get it I'll be with you, and if you don't get it I will not be with you.' "
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