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Spain Backs Away From Vow To Double Afghanistan Troops
Spain backed away Monday from public assertions that it would double its troop contingent in Afghanistan. "There is nothing decided," Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said in a broadcast interview. Moratinos welcomed comments Sunday from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that he expects the Security Council to adopt a new resolution authorizing the multinational force in Iraq to remain after June 30, the U.S.-set deadline for restoring sovereignty to Iraqis. But Moratinos said it isnât clear what mandate such a force would have nor whether the force would fall under U.N. command - a key condition Spain cited as a reason for recently withdrawing its 1,300 troops in Iraq. The foreign minister said the new Socialist government stood by its decision to bring the troops home, which stemmed from a campaign pledge ahead of general elections last March 14. Asked whether Spain ruled out sending troops back to Iraq, Moratinos said: "In life you can never say never. But letâs say that for now we are not considering it." On Afghanistan, Moratinos said Spain supported the peacekeeping mission there because - unlike that of Iraq - it had a U.N. mandate, was under the command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and had the legitimate mission of fighting terrorism. "Bin Laden is not in Iraq. Bin Laden is in Pakistan or Afghanistan," Moratinos told the Telecinco television network. But the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is only exploring options for possibly increasing its 120-man contingent in Afghanistan. "For now no decision has been made," Moratinos said. Defense Minister Jose Bono had said through an aide March 29 that Spain would double the contingent in August. Posted by: TS(vice girl) 2004-05-03 |
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