WASHINGTON – French President Jacques Chirac has pledged his country’s full support for the U.S. fight against terrorism, calling it a conflict against those who would destroy the dignity of man.
Mr. Chirac also said he will consider sending French troops to fight alongside U.S. soldiers in the war against terrorism.
President Bush and Mr. Chirac met at the White House late Tuesday as the United States stepped up its drive to forge an international coalition against terrorism. Mr. Bush said everyone who loves freedom must join in the fight with the United States and France.
Mr. Chirac was the first world leader to meet with President Bush since last week’s disaster. Mr. Bush meets Wednesday with Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, and on Thursday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
South Korean Foreign Minister Hang Seung Soo met U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Tuesday and pledged his country’s full cooperation with the United States.
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Germany and Italy are expected to meet with Secretary Powell over the next few days. China says military action against terrorists should get the approval of the U.N. Security Council.
The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud Faisal, is expected in Washington Wednesday. U.S. officials say his country’s cooperation may be crucial because some of the hijackers were Saudi citizens or were traveling with Saudi documents. Saudi Arabia is also the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the attacks.
Meanwhile, European Union leaders will hold a summit Friday in Brussels to discuss anti-terrorism measures and show their solidarity with the United States. On the eve of Friday’s summit, Secretary Powell is scheduled to meet in Washington with a high-level E.U. delegation led by Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel.
Secretary Powell says the global anti-terrorism coalition will conduct a campaign with many different aspects – legal, political, diplomatic, intelligence-gathering and military. He says everyone realizes this challenge is one that goes far beyond America.
