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| Friday, 5 November 2004 |
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World leaders hail Bush re-election, call to heal divisions over Iraq PARIS, Thursday (AFP) World leaders congratulated US President George W. Bush on his re-election, pledging to heal divisions over issues including Iraq and the Middle East and hailing the poll result as a victory against terrorism. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's staunchest ally in the Iraq war, warmly congratulated the president, saying he hoped the "unique bond" between their two countries would prosper over the next four years. But Blair also said he plans to pressure the United States over the Middle East during Bush's second term, calling peace in that region "the single most pressing political challenge in our world". French President Jacques Chirac, the most vocal critic in the anti-war camp, expressed hope that Bush's second term "will provide an opportunity to reinforce Franco-American friendship" and the transatlantic partnership. He told Bush he believed that the two shared the "ambition to bring peace, security and prosperity to as many people as possible, in a spirit of solidarity." German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who also clashed with Bush over Iraq, voiced hope that his country would continue its "good cooperation" with the United States. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who infuriated the White House by describing the war in Iraq as illegal, said through his spokesman that he was "committed to continuing to work with President Bush and his administration on the whole range of issues facing the United Nations and the world." Several leaders including British PM Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin said Bush's win represented a victory in the US-led war on terror. "We must be relentless in our war against terrorism, and in resolving the conditions and causes on which the terrorists prey," Blair said, adding that everyone "should work with President Bush on this agenda". Australian Prime Minister John Howard echoed Blair's comments after calling Bush personally to congratulate him. Howard has been one of Bush's strongest supporters over the war on terror and the invasion of Iraq. "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," Howard said. Many countries remain worried about Bush's foreign policy and its implications for the Middle East, especially given fears of international terrorism. In Israel, a top foreign policy adviser said: "Israel and the free world has every reason to rejoice over this result." Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in hospital outside Paris, said he hoped Bush's re-election would help jumpstart the Middle East peace process. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said he hoped the new US government "would help to bring peace to the Middle East". Speaking before Bush's re-election was confirmed, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said he wished nothing would change in the role the US-led coalition plays in Iraq, whoever won the election. "Whoever is the winner will be our friend. The United States has liberated us from a dictator and a very long period of war and agony," Allawi told the Italian daily La Repubblica ahead of a visit to Italy Thursday. Asian leaders joined the chorus of congratulation, with China's President Hu Jintao saying he hoped the election result would lead to a strengthening of Sino-US ties. 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," he said, according to Xinhua news agency. The official announcement came after China refused to deny that a stinging article by a former foreign minister criticizing Bush reflected public opinion. Two of the United States' most loyal Asian allies, Japan and South Korea, said they hoped to work closely with Washington on trade and security issues. 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. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi meanwhile said his friendship with Bush 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 said. Japan government spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda expressed hope the second Bush administration would meet promises to cut the twin budget and trade deficits which "pose uncertainty for the global economy and the US economy." In Africa, South African President Thabo Mbeki said he was looking forward to continue working with Bush to fight poverty and underdevelopment in the world's poorest continent. "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," Mbeki was quoted as saying by local news agencies. |
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