The Taoiseach Mr Ahern has said while he was not asked to sign a letter signed by eight EU countries expressing support for the US stance on Iraq he agreed with its sentiments.
The letter was published in international newspapers today and was signed by the leaders of Britain, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.
|
|
Outgoing Czech President Vaclav Havel meets the TaoiseachMr Ahern at Prague Castle today.
|
However, France and Germany, critics of the US position, were also not invited to sign, nor was Greece which hold the Presidency of the EU.
In it, the countries affirm: "The transatlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's attempts to threaten world security".
Mr Ahern, who is on a diplomatic visit to the Czech Republic, said while he agreed with the sentiments expressed, said it was inconsistent to send a letter allegedly criticising some members for not having one policy without informing all parties before it was released.
"The Security Council must maintain its credibility by ensuring full compliance with its resolutions. We cannot allow a dictator to systematically violate those resolutions," said the letter.
The letter was published just before British Prime Minister Blair set off to meet Spanish President Mr Jose Maria Aznar before talks with US President George W Bush at Camp David tomorrow for what has been dubbed a final "war council."
A spokesman for Mr Blair said the letter represented a broad European coalition and denied it was a rebuke to the continent's big powers, France and Germany.
"It is clear that the EU is no longer six countries, it is 15 and it will shortly be 25, and it has strength in its unity and its diversity," Mr Blair's spokesman said.
The Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, only learned of the letter from his Hungarian counter part last night , despite having spoken with Mr Blair earlier that day, a Greek foreign ministry spokesman said.
Mr Bush and Mr Blair are expected to align military strategy on Iraq, but agree to wait a few weeks for more UN weapons inspections before launching war. The two leaders talked on the phone on today.
AFP