http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/01/23/ international1047EST0552.DTL ------ Rumsfeld's `old Europe' comment provokes angry rebuttals in France and Germany GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press Writer Thursday, January 23, 2003 (01-23) 09:50 PST BERLIN (AP) -- German and French officials fired back angrily Thursday at Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's dismissal of their governments as the "old Europe," and said the comments underscored America's arrogance as it prepares for possible war with Iraq. Rumsfeld also said German and French positions had proved to be a "problem" that had not been created by "vast numbers of other countries in Europe. They're not with France and Germany on this. They're with the United States." "We should try to treat each other sensibly," said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. "Our position is not a problem, it is a constructive contribution," he said as he left for a tour of Turkey and the Middle East. The spat erupted after the two European powers on Wednesday unveiled a joint anti-war stance on Iraq, forcing the NATO alliance to delay planning for a possible support role in an Iraqi invasion. Secretary of State Colin Powell seemed eager to cool the rhetoric Thursday, although he acknowledged "there are different ideas right now about how to proceed" against Saddam Hussein. French Finance Minister Francis Mer said he was "profoundly vexed" by Rumsfeld's remarks in Washington on Wednesday. "I wanted to remind everyone that this 'old Europe' has resilience, and is capable of bouncing back," Mer told LCI television. "And it will show it, in time." "If you knew what I feel like telling him, to Mr. Rumsfeld ...," French Ecology Minister Roselyne Bachelot said on Europe-1 radio. She then stopped herself and said the word would be too offensive to use. Martine Aubry, a French Socialist leader and influential former labor minister, said Rumsfeld's comments "show once again a certain arrogance of the United States." German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac were engaged in celebrations marking 40 years of German-French postwar reconciliation as Rumsfeld said their countries represented Europe of the past. "You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't," Rumsfeld said in his remarks. "I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east and there are a lot of new members." Neither Schroeder nor Chirac directly responded to Rumsfeld on Thursday, but the German leader stiffened his position, saying Germany and France would stick to their anti-war stance and "never accept" that war is inevitable. "We are of the opinion that everything must be done to achieve the implementation of the (U.N.) resolution by peaceful means," said Schroeder, speaking alongside Chirac at the chancellery in Berlin. "That is the common position of France and Germany and we will not be diverted from it," Schroeder said. Both countries now are members of the U.N. Security Council, although only France has veto power. Chirac spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said the president considered the debate over war with Iraq as "legitimate" but wants to see it "take place with seriousness and calmness." In a joint appearance with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Powell said the administration awaited the report of inspectors to the United Nations next Monday and said it would consider its next steps at that time. Powell noted that the United Nations "came together and responded to the challenge" that President Bush laid down last fall. "To say never mind now, or walk away from this problem or allow it to be strung out, I think, would be a defeat for the international community and a serious defeat for the United Nations," he said. "I enter into all of these issues with a desire to hear others and recognizing that they have principles that they believe," Powell said. This week at the United Nations, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin hinted at a French veto if the United States tries to push a resolution through the Security Council calling for military action against Baghdad. The Bush administration maintains it does not need a second U.N. resolution in order to wage war against Iraq. Despite Rumsfeld's contention that there was greater support for Washington among newer NATO members east of Germany, only Polish comment Thursday directly supported the U.S. defense secretary's contention. * Tadeusz Iwinski, top foreign policy adviser to Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller: "There is much greater understanding for US administration policy among new NATO members than among old members." He added, however, that "all NATO memebrs are equal and we must not forget that Germany takes over presidency of the Security Council in February and all decisions will be taken under its leadership." Other of the newer NATO members were more circumspect. * Hungarian Defense Minister Ferenc Juhasz: "We must strive by all means for the stabilization of European cooperation. This is where we live. Our culture and our traditions tie us to them (France and Germany)." * Hungarian Foreign Ministery spokesman Tamas Toth: "We would prefer that any military solution be approved by the United Nations and its implementation not be carried out unilaterally." * Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda: "A knife in the hands of a butcher is not dangerous but a knife in the hands of a murderer is. It is therefore important who keeps the weapon." * The Czech Parliament, acting on a U.S. request, has pledged that an anti-chemical unit, now stationed in Kuwait, would participate in a campaign against Iraq if approved by the United Nations or if Saddam's troops launch an attack with weapons of mass destruction. NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson played down differences among the allies. "This is not some sort of bust-up," Robertson said. "It is a disagreement on timing, not on substance." NATO officials said a decision to start the military planning could come next week, depending on the content of the report to the Security Council by U.N. weapons inspectors on Monday.