| powerclown |
11-03-2004 07:27 PM |
World Leaders Reaction to Bush Re-Election
The world weighs in:
Quote:
AFRICA
South African President Thabo Mbeki has congratulated US President George W Bush on his re-election, saying he is looking forward to continuing working with Bush to fight poverty and underdevelopment in the world's poorest continent. "The president is congratulating President George W Bush on his re-election and is congratulating the American people and government on staging yet another successful election," Mbeki's spokesman Bheki Khumalo said. "We hope for renewed support for and interest in Africa and the developing world, reform of world institutions and an era of multilateralism marked by social progress for all."
AUSTRALIA
Prime Minister John Howard said the re-election of close ally U.S. President George W. Bush was a victory for the fight against terrorism. ``This was a strong reaffirmation of his leadership of the United States in its fight against world terrorism,'' Howard told reporters in Sydney. ``I congratulate President Bush on a quite remarkable win.''
``This is a wonderful personal victory for a person who I like and who I believe has given strong and resolute leadership to his country and through the position he occupies to the anti-terrorist cause and the cause of freedom around the world,'' said Howard, who had a 10-minute telephone conversation with the president after his victory speech.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer -- an Iraq war ally -- had predicted a Bush win. He said: "We've had a very good relationship with them (Bush administration) for the last four years and I'm sure we'll be able to keep building on that over the next four," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Australia is also one of Bush's strongest allies in the war on terrorism.
"From our point of view, the Bush administration is a known quantity,'' Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio."We've had a very good relationship with them for the last four years and I'm sure we'll be able to keep building on that over the next four.''
BRITAIN
British Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated US President George W Bush on his re-election, pledging to work with him in the war on terrorism and in revitalising the Middle East peace process.
"President Bush's re-election comes at a critical time. A world that is fractured, divided, and uncertain must be brought together to fight this global terrorism, in all its forms, and to recognize that it will not be defeated by military might alone but also by demonstrating the strength of our common values. He said the world must come together "by bringing freedom...to Afghanistan. By pursuing with the same energy peace the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. By accepting it is our duty to combat poverty and injustice on the continent of Africa and elsewhere in the world."
"We must be relentless in our war against terrorism and in resolving the conditions [on which] the terrorists prey. We should work with President Bush on this agenda. It is one which all nations of goodwill can surely agree," Mr. Blair said
While underlining the need to be "relentless" in the war on terrorism, Blair also touched on broader international agenda, stressing the need to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa and elsewhere and to work for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
CANADA
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said he would be telephoning US President George W Bush to congratulate him on his re-election but would also raise some bilateral problems between the two countries. Speaking to reporters after meeting with his Liberal Party members of parliament, Martin said he would specifically be raising US restrictions on the imports of Canadian softwood lumber and beef.
"I would like to get down to discussing things of concern to us," said Martin. "I intend to raise a number of issues." The prime minister also said that Canada would beef up its efforts to influence members of the United States Congress.
"A great number of problems we face," he said, "such as mad cow, softwood lumber, is in the Senate, in Congress."
In his discussion with Bush, Martin said he would be raising multilateral issues, as well, especially "the need for a new multilateralism" - an apparent reference to Bush's tendency in his first term to act alone, without securing United Nations support.
CHINA
China's President Hu Jintao has congratulated US President George W. Bush on his election victory, saying he hoped they could work together to push forward Sino-US ties, state news reported.
Hu sent a congratulatory message to Bush who won a tightly-contested vote to take his second term in office, Xinhua news agency said.
"Both China and the United States are great countries and share a wide range of common interests and basis for cooperation," Hu said.
"I look forward to continuing to work together with you to further promote the development of the constructive cooperative relations between China and the United States" to benefit the people of the two countries and rest of the world, he said in his message.
China and the United States have made "significant progress in cooperation in various fields, bringing substantial benefits to both countries and playing a positive role in promoting peace and development in Asia Pacific and rest of the world," it continued.
CUBA
The prospect of another four years of President George W Bush in the White House brought sadness and anxiety to Cubans feeling the pinch of tightened US sanctions.
President Fidel Castro's government said it was unfazed by the re-election of Bush, who has vowed to keep up pressure to free the island of the leader he has called a "tyrant."
"We expected this. It's all the same, Bush or Kerry. We will continue forward," Industry Minister Yadira Garcia, a member of the ruling Communist Party political bureau, told Reuters.
DENMARK
Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen appealed for "a fresh start for the trans-Atlantic partnership" but held firm with Bush on Iraq. Denmark has 501 troops in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra. "We will stay there as long as needed so the Iraqis can be helped to become masters in their own homes," he said.
EGYPT
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, one of America's staunchest Arab allies, issued a statement saying he hoped that Mr. Bush would dedicate himself to "a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East by establishing a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel" while also securing Iraq and ridding the region of nuclear weapons, a reference intended to draw attention to Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal.
Mubarak called on Bush to use his second term to stop acting unilaterally and work more closely with the EU to achieve peace in the Middle East. "We hope Mr. Bush's new administration, together with the EU, can bring influence to bear to arrive at a peaceful development in the region," he said.
FRANCE
French President Jacques Chirac congratulated Bush "in the name of France and for my own personal part."
"It is in a spirit of dialogue, esteem and mutual respect that our co-operation must continue to evolve, our common fight against terrorism and the joint actions which we are engaged in to promote liberty and democracy must continue to develop," Chirac said.
"We can only find satisfactory solutions to the numerous challenges with which we are confronted today through a close trans-Atlantic partnership," he added.
Chirac's office released a congratulatory letter sent by the president to his U.S. counterpart, addressed to "Dear George."
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier called the election the start of "a new stage."
"We are going to work with the new U.S. administration that is formed," he said. "We have many things to do, both on the current crises -- in Iraq, the Middle East, Iran, the fate of the African continent -- and to renovate the transatlantic relationship."
GERMANY
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today greeted the news that US President George W Bush had been re-elected with a pledge that his country would continue its "good cooperation" with the United States.
Schroeder said cooperation between Germany and the United States was in both countries' favour.
Schröder, told Mr. Bush in a telegram that the world faces challenges from international terrorism, the danger of unconventional weapons, and regional crises, "but also poverty, climate change and epidemics which threaten our security and our stability." "These challenges can only be faced together," the German leader stated, offering renewed cooperation.
A senior German official, Karsten Voigt, had earlier reiterated the government's steadfast position that Germany would not contribute any troops to peacekeeping efforts in Iraq, although it was training police and military officers outside the war-torn country.
German Interior Minister Otto Schily said Washington would continue to be "a very important partner, if not the most important one." "We had differences over Iraq, but we're not looking back now -- we're looking to the future," he said. Germany was one of the strongest opponents to the Iraq war, along with France.
IRAN
Iranian state radio commented today that President George W. Bush's reelection may be good news for his supporters, "particularly the Zionists," but it will not serve U.S. interests.
According to the report, the gap between the United States and the international community will widen if the White House continues with "its unilateral policies." The commentary went on to accuse the Bush administration of warmongering and hegemony, and advised the White House to work on confidence building.
Mohammad Mohammadi, Iranian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee deputy speaker, warned America was headed for international and economic ruin unless Bush is more careful in his second term," the ISNA reported.
But Mohammad Ali Abtahi, an adviser to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, said a Bush victory was "preferable" despite his "wrong policies."
IRAQ
Iraqi interim prime minister Ayed Allawi said it will remain a friend of the United States and would have done so no matter who won the election.
"We will always be grateful to America for what it has done, and what it continues to do," Mr. Allawi told an Italian newspaper on Wednesday.
IRELAND
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern sent his "warmest congratulations" to US President George W Bush after he was re-elected in a tight election race.
Ahern, who hosted an EU-US summit during Ireland's presidency of the EU earlier this year, said it was important to maintain a strong transatlantic relationship and to "work together across the range of issues that face the international community at this time".
The United States had always been a firm supporter of the Northern Ireland peace process, he added.
"The contribution which people of Irish heritage have made to the United States and the strong tradition of friendship and goodwill between us is a source of enormous pride to us," the Irish leader said.
"Today, as our connections and links continue to expand in a broad range of areas of mutual interest, I look forward to working with the president to ensure that these continue to develop and flourish in the years ahead.”
ISRAEL
The re-election of US President George W Bush is a victory for a "relentless fight against terrorism," a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said.
Sharon and Bush forged close ties during the US president's first term. Bush lent his support to Sharon's plan of unilateral disengagement - a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements by 2005.
Sharon has said he also won the president's support for holding on to chunks of the West Bank in a future peace deal.
Bush's victory is a victory "to the American people who decided to choose democracy, hope and a relentless fight against terrorism," said Sharon's top adviser, Raanan Gissin.
"It's an even bigger victory for the people of the Middle East, where there will be another four years of a president determined to bring the people of this forsaken region a ray of hope, freedom and ... democracy," he told The Associated Press.
ITALY
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was in Moscow, said Bush's reelection would "make our life easier." He said that "Bush will keep up that policy that gives the United States the role of promoting freedom in the world." He added that Bush's victory would help maintain close ties between the United States and Italy.
President Carlo Ciampi reaffirmed the need for renewing "the spirit of transatlantic solidarity " because "terrorism is far from weakened."
"Italy is at the side of the United States in ...the struggle gainst the common enemy, in the determination to work together for the security of our nations and the stability of world ordert," he said in his message to Bush.
JAPAN
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday welcomed the re-election of George W. Bush, saying his friendship with the US president would lead to a stronger alliance between the countries.
"I want to develop Japan-US ties further by giving importance to the confidence and friendship I have built with President Bush," Koizumi told reporters.
Koizumi was among the first world leaders to voice support for US-led strikes on Iraq and came under opposition fire last month for openly backing Bush's re-election bid over John Kerry.
JORDAN
Jordanian government spokeswoman Asma Khader warned the U.S. cannot continue on its present course in the Middle East. "There is a need for a change in U.S. policy toward reactivating the peace process and achieving progress that saves bloodshed of innocent victims and ends Israel's heavy-handed policies toward Palestinians."
Khader's view was echoed by Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri who said: "We urge the new U.S, administration to reconsider its positions. Until they do so we will continue to regard the U.S. administration as hostile to our Arab and Muslim causes."
KENYA
"We are going to see more dictatorship on an international scale," said Kenyan vice president Moody Awori. "We are going to see more extremism come out of there. We are going to see even more isolationism where America will not bother about the United Nations. To me that is a very sad affair."
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark today congratulated US President George W Bush on his re-election.
Bush's win means "pretty much business as usual," Clark said.
"I feel very confident of working with the (new) Bush administration," Clark told Radio Pacific in her first comments on the election outcome. "Over the past four years I've struck up a very good personal relationship with the president."
New Zealand had opposed the war in Iraq, though it did send troops to help with the reconstruction.
Asked whether she was surprised that partners in the coalition - including Australian Prime Minister John Howard - had been re-elected with stronger mandates, Clark said: "Where you have strong leaders, as both Mr Howard and George Bush are, and they communicate a conviction about what they are doing, people will back them."
PALESTINE
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat congratulated US President George W Bush on his winning a second term and hoped he would help bring peace to the Middle East, an aide said.
"President Arafat wishes President Bush success in his second term and congratulates him for winning the confidence of the American people," senior aide Mohammad Rashid said in Paris, where the 75-year-old leader is undergoing medical tests.
"He hopes that Bush's second term will be an important opportunity for Bush to secure the requirements for peace in the Middle East and to guarantee the just national rights of the Palestinian people."
Palestinian leaders made similar comments. "Now that the president is not under this (election) pressure maybe he'll be more forthcoming in terms of a more balanced approach to this conflict," Palestinian Labor Minister Ghassan Khatib said.
POLAND
Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that, for his country, four more years with Bush is "really good news." He said "further cooperation with George W. Bush is good news" that would mean the continuation of strong cooperation on international issues such as the fight against terrorism.
PORTUGAL
"The Americans have made a clear choice," Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Monteiro told national news agency Lusa. "For Portugal there is no change. We would work with any US administration although with this one we have come to establish a very close working relationship."
ROMANIA
Romanian President Ion Iliescu said prior to today's announcement of U.S. President George W. Bush's reelection that a Bush victory "would somehow mean a victory for Romania as well, because it would ensure the continuity of a beneficial relationship" between the two countries, Mediafax reported.
Iliescu also said during his visit to the Romanian town of Barlad today that Romania 's experience with the current administration "is good."
RUSSIA
Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed a Bush victory.
"Bush has proved to be a firm politician, a man of strong character. He is a consistent, reliable and predictable partner," Putin said.
"I can only feel joy that the American people did not allow itself to be intimidated, and made the most sensible decision," Putin said at a Kremlin news conference after talks with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. "I am convinced that international terrorism gave itself the goal of not allowing the re-election of Bush. The statement by bin Laden in the final stages of the pre-election campaign is the best confirmation of this," Putin said.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun sent a personal message of congratulations to Bush.
"President Roh expressed satisfaction over the past two years of South Korean-US ties and expected both states to keep working together for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the world," a spokesman said.
In a separate statement, Roh's office identified the North Korean nuclear standoff as a key issue for closer cooperation between Seoul and Washington.
"The government will cooperate more closely with the US administration for a peaceful settlement to the North Korean nuclear issue and peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia," the statement said.
SPAIN
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero who pulled Spanish troops out of Iraq following the Madrid bombings looked forward to mending fences. "I would like to express the desire of the Spanish government to contribute to a relationship based on efficient and constructive cooperation with the government of the United States, with President (George W.) Bush."
SWEDEN
Sweden's Prime Minister Goeran Persson said the close vote "was not unexpected.... But it was a divided nation that went to the polls." "It is an incumbent president in a situation where a great part of the nation experiences that it is in war with terrorism," Persson said.
"The economy is moving in the right direction. These two issues together should have given Bush a clear victory. Despite this, it was very narrow. This shows that the U.S. is divided."
``We need to improve the trans-Atlantic relationship,'' Persson said yesterday in Stockholm. ``France and Germany will not change their position on the war. It may be time for a fresh start, to give the relationship a new shot. The U.S. has elected him and we have to cooperate.''
U.N.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan congratulated Bush on his re-election and "pledged his commitment to working with the U.S. leader on the whole range of issues facing the United Nations and the world," a U.N. spokesman said in a statement.
The spokesman said Annan paid tribute to American voters who turned out in record numbers in an "impressive demonstration of democracy" and lauded Sen. John Kerry for "his prompt and statesmanlike decision to accept the outcome.”
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