The United States has sought clarification from Spain of remarks by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero which suggested other countries should follow Madrid's example and pull out their troops from Iraq.
| Actually changing sides, are we? |
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said on Tuesday that Washington had requested a transcript of remarks Zapatero made last week during a trip to Tunisia, in the latest sign of strained ties between the NATO allies. Zapatero expressed concern over escalating violence in Iraq, defended his decision to withdraw Spain's troops and said prospects would improve if more allies followed suit. "They asked for clarification and requested the exact transcript of the text," Moratinos said in a television interview, referring to Washington's response to the remarks. "Once we had sent a transcript, then consequently both sides agreed to work together in the fight against terrorism and demonstrate our solidarity in this common struggle," he said.
| Oh? Did the Spaniards back down? Or are we being polite? |
The minister said Zapatero's remarks were in line with Madrid's calls for more active diplomacy to defuse international conflicts which inspire terrorism -- a top priority for Spain after train bombings by Islamic militants in Madrid killed 191 people in March. "What the prime minister wanted to suggest was that to resolve conflicts in general, and the situation in Iraq in particular, we need more politics and less military intervention," Moratinos said.
| More talk and a lot less action, y'mean? |
Zapatero, who won power three days after the March bombings, angered President Bush's government by immediately withdrawing troops from the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. Since then, the Socialist leader has repeatedly stressed his desire to refocus Spain's foreign policy toward Europe and away from the previous government's close alliance with Washington. He sealed a new alliance with Iraq war critics France and Germany with a tripartite meeting in Madrid on Monday. The three nations pledged to increase defense cooperation and push for closer European integration. |