East Europeans to Declare Support for Bush on Iraq

ABC News ^ | 2/4/03

[areafiftyone]

BUCHAREST, Romania (Reuters) - Up to 10 east European countries are preparing a declaration of support for President Bush's drive to disarm Iraq, government officials said Tuesday.

Officials in Romania, Bulgaria and the Baltics said NATO candidate countries were working on the wording of the document, to be issued in the United States after Secretary of State Colin Powell's speech to the U.N. Security Council Wednesday.

The latest show of support from east Europe, grateful for American patronage during its fight against communism and Washington's strong support for expanding NATO, comes on the heels of a similar statement by eight European leaders.

A Romanian Foreign Ministry official told Reuters the declaration of the so-called Vilnius 10 would be announced in the United States. A Bulgarian Foreign Ministry official added: "It is expected that it will be announced tomorrow at the end of the U.N. Security Council session."

The Vilnius 10, a group of nations set up in 2000 to seek NATO membership, includes the seven new alliance members Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as hopefuls Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.

The declaration underlines east Europe's continuing belief that Washington remains the main guarantor of their security. Many countries in the region have already offered the United States assistance for a possible military strike on Iraq.

Bulgaria said Tuesday it had received an official U.S. request to provide its airspace in case of war and specialized troops.

In Lithuania, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the idea of a joint statement had been discussed for some time but said the final go-ahead hinged on Powell.

"Everything depends on Powell's speech," she said.

Powell is to address the Security Council at 1530 GMT on Wednesday, and has said he will show Iraq is concealing banned weapons programs from U.N. arms inspectors.

The United States has threatened war if Iraq fails to disarm of weapons of mass destruction and is massing military forces in the Gulf. Iraq denies having such weapons.

France and Germany insist Iraq must be disarmed peacefully but eight European countries -- including several European Union members -- issued a statement last week supporting U.S. policy. The leaders of the Czech Republic, Britain, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain published a joint article backing Bush and appealing for unity.

Andrejs Pildegovis, a foreign policy advisor to Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, told Reuters: "We think the link between Europe and the United States should not be weakened by the Iraq crisis."

[Democratshavenobrains]

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as hopefuls Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.

No offense to these countries whatsoever, but whenever I hear these names I kinda think of the Marx's Brothers movie Duck Soup about the country called Freedonia - Maybe I need some more meds!!

Its the "Axis of countries that end in A"

[The G Man]

NEW EUROPE ROCKS!!!!

[dfwgator]

Gee, you'd think that would stop all of this "US cannot go it alone" crap.

[elhombrelibre]

They'll pretend it never happened; it's an old leftist technique.

[The Vast Right Wing]

Viva Nueva Europa!!

[Little Bill]

To have been a slave and then taste freedom must be a wonderous thing.

[Califelephant]

Imagine this: it's several years into the future, there's another world conflict, and this news announcement comes across the wires: ."...today, the leaders of Iraq, Iran, and North Korea declared their unconditional support for the United States as the US prepares to use armed force in ..."

And we'll be saying, "Thank you, GW Bush!"

[Democratshavenobrains]

I do wish Monoco and Liechtenstein would come to a decision.

[The Vast Right Wing]

If they publish their letter in the Wall Steet Journal, it'll be a twofer. Snub Old Europe and Snub the Old Gray Lady.

[VaBthang4]

The Reagan Legacy
We did it the right way

[goodnesswins]

Thanks for the ping....tomorrow I'll post the ALLIES FOR FREEDOM flags.....hopefully (after they come out with their statement) with 10 more countries added to make it 30 countries!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[areafiftyone]

I actually adore the Marx Brothers movies. But these countries are really Kewl! They are the REAL Europe!

[Kip Lange]

Its the "Axis of countries that end in A"

"Axis of 'Ias'" sounds better to be. :-)

[Kip Lange]

Me. Better to *me*. Axis of Typos conspiring against me, sorry.

[Man of the Right]

As goes Germany, so goes France. The rest of Europe is with us.

[Contra]

Yes, we may not have to go it along indeed. Who needs those loosers Germany and France?

[KC_Conspirator]

The Reagan Legacy

Boy, you got that right. They remember what it was like to be chained and terrorized by despots.

[Stultis]

The Reagan Legacy.

Indeed! You could have written five thousand words and not delivered a better or more accurate analysis.

[colorado tanker]

The even funnier part of this is that in today's statement, Chirac pointedly left his options open, so that France might weasel out on the Axis of Weasels.