EU Envoys Heading to Mideast to Seek Support Against Terrorists

Voice of America, September 23, 2001

The European Union is sending its top officials to Pakistan and the Middle East in an attempt to bring the Muslim world aboard the U.S. led coalition against international terrorism in the wake of the attacks on New York and Washington.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten and Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, begin their mission to six countries on Monday.

The Spanish Foreign Minister Joseph Pique, whose country will chair the E.U. next year will also accompany the group.

The four to five-day mission will start off in Pakistan, one of only two countries that recognizes Taleban rule in Afghanistan.

The United States has demanded that the Taleban surrender Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect behind the September 11 attacks or face military attacks.

The EU delegation will also visit Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

The group will try to persuade leaders that the U.S.-led coalition is directed against terrorists, not Muslims or Arabs.

During a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Sunday, six Arab Gulf states of the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged their support for international efforts to find and bring to justice those behind the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. They did not say if they will allow the United States to use their military facilities.

Meanwhile, the Philippines says it is permitting U.S. military planes to refuel on its territory as part of its contribution to the U.S. military preparations for a possible strike against terrorists believed to be responsible for the attacks.

A Philippine Air Force spokesman, Colonel Horacio Lapinid, says under an existing treaty, the United States has "blanket authority" to fly over Philippine air space anytime, and that it only needs prior coordination with the foreign office.

Last Thursday, three F-18 Hornet fighter jets from the U.S. military base in Kadena, Japan refueled in the Cebu airbase.

In related developments, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is on his way to Washington to offer his government's full support to President Bush in the war on terrorism. He will reportedly propose that Japan's Self-Defense Forces provide logistical support for the U.S. operation.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien is also to meet with President Bush on Monday. Britain's Foreign Secretary travels to Tehran for talks Monday. He is expected to convey a message from Washington that the Bush administration is willing to work with Iran to fight terrorism.

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