PM leads French criticism on Iraq

The Courier Mail (Australia) ^ | March 19,2003 | Staff

[tessalu]

PRIME Minister John Howard has led a scathing attack on France for its strong opposition to war on Iraq as a senior French minister called the criticism of his country "stupid".

Since the Government threw its support behind a US-led strike on Iraq yesterday, a succession of coalition MPs have attacked Paris for threatening to veto a resolution backing war in the United Nations Security Council.

Four months before Jacques Chirac becomes the first French president to visit Australia, Mr Howard said the French were simply trying to capitalise on council divisions to further their own interests.

"I think the stance taken by the French has been completely opportunistic and without any merit at all," Mr Howard told ABC Radio.

"They want the benefits of the American and British military presence to put pressure on the Iraqis to keep the weapons inspectors there.

"But they criticise and oppose the policy which brought the presence of the troops about in the first place."

Federal parliamentary secretary Warren Entsch called the French international vultures, despite strong backing for Paris from China, Russia and Germany.

"When you start to compare (permanent Security Council members), America is the eagle, China is the tiger, Russia is the bear, and in my view France is the vulture," he said.

"It circles around and does nothing for itself, waiting for the opportunity to go and pick the benefits of other peoples' hard work."

France was also condemned in the parliament by several MPs as treacherous, duplicitous, World War II Nazi-collaborators and makers of inferior wine whose talents were restricted to cooking.

French Trade Minister Francois Loos, in Australia for talks with senior ministers including Treasurer Peter Costello and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, dismissed the criticisms as ill-informed.

"It is stupid. There's no other word, it's stupid," he said.

"Our position on Iraq is the same since the beginning and we have conviction on this opinion: that it is dangerous and that (arms) inspections produce effect.

"When you are convinced of something, you cannot negotiate your conviction."

He said France's political beliefs came before economic concerns, including the accusation Paris was only interested in Iraqi oil.

But Mr Loos said he hoped the spat would not have any lasting political fallout, with Mr Chirac's visit still expected to go ahead and France hoping to foster stronger economic links with Australia.

"We have a saying that the caravan passes and the dogs go with it," he said.

He said ministers had not been overly critical of France in private, although Mr Downer said he would have preferred French backing for the US resolution.

Mr Loos said he believed the differences in the Security Council over Iraq would strengthen the UN, helping ensure robust democracy.

"I consider that power is always to be mixed with counter-power, and if you consider that the UN can only exist if they follow the US, they have no sense," he said.

[tessalu]

"When you start to compare (permanent Security Council members), America is the eagle, China is the tiger, Russia is the bear, and in my view France is the vulture," Yes, indeed, the French are International vultures. The whole truth will soon come to light.

[gcruse]

"I weesh for peece on affreyone, aspecialee da USA."