France criticises 'simplistic' US policy

Europe "has its own views" on helping the Middle East

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine has accused the US Government of pursuing a "simplistic" foreign policy since the 11 September suicide attacks on New York and Washington.

The US had acted without consulting its allies and refused any multilateral negotiations if it thought they would limit its freedom of action, he said.

The US should consult its allies, says Hubert Vedrine

There were particular splits over policy in the Middle East, with Mr Vedrine calling the White House's actions a "tragic mistake".

US Secretary of State Colin Powell denied any attempt to short-change allies, but Mr Vedrine's comments suggest that the post-11 September grace period when European countries refrained from criticising American policy may be over.

France was quick to side with the US after the attacks and supported its right to strike at Afghanistan.

But in recent weeks it has indicated a growing unease with the direction US policy is taking.

We cannot fight terrorism only with military means

Hubert Vedrine

President George W Bush's labelling of Iran, Iraq and North Korea as an "axis of evil" in his State of the Union speech and US statements on the Middle East appear to have provoked the French Government.

"Today we are threatened by a simplistic quality in US policy that reduces all the problems of the world to the struggle against terrorism. It is not properly thought out," Mr Vedrine told French radio.

"We cannot reduce the world's problems to the fight against terrorism alone, although it is essential to fight terrorism.

Root causes

"We cannot fight terrorism only with military means although this is sometimes necessary.

"We must deal with the root causes, the situation of poverty, injustice, humiliation and so on."

Colin Powell said the criticisms "could not be further from the truth"

Mr Vedrine highlighted the differences of opinion across the Atlantic over the handling of the Middle East situation, for which France has recently presented new peace ideas.

"The Europeans have not let themselves be overawed in the last few weeks by the White House's position which backed the very hard line of [Israeli Prime Minister] Ariel Sharon.

"We think this is a mistake, a strategic mistake."

He said Europe had its own position and that ministers from various governments would go to see Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the next few weeks.

"We do not at all intend to cut ties with him," Mr Vedrine said.

Rejected

"In the same way, if the Palestinians were telling us we no longer want to speak with Ariel Sharon because of his past, his positions, his allies, we would say no.

"The Palestinians cannot choose the leader of the Israelis and the Israelis cannot choose the leader of the Palestinians."

Mr Vedrine said the US was guilty of acting solely on its own interpretation and in its own interests.

But that was rejected by Mr Powell during testimony to the US Congress on Wednesday.

"This suggestion that you sometimes see in intellectual circles that the United States is acting unilaterally and not consulting with our European partners simply could not be further from the truth," he said.