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http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=1033464771nL01538190&Section=Countries&page=Iraq&channel=All%20Iraq%20News&objectid=2240355D-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C NATO's Robertson hails French defence budget boost -NATO member countries know they have to increase defence budgets if they want to maintain their influence with the United States, whose more extensive military spending threatened to leave the alliance "badly unbalanced," he said. - PARIS, Oct 1 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary General George Robertson praised France on Tuesday for boosting its defence budget, saying the billion-euro-a-year increase was an example for other European countries to follow. Robertson, speaking after meeting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin in Paris, called the move "a very wise decision" that put pressure on other NATO members to help restore a balance between Europe and the United States. He said his talks with Villepin also touched on Iraq, saying NATO was interested in the progress of a planned United Nations Security Council resolution about Baghdad's weapons programme, but added this was not an issue for NATO at this time. On France's defence spending, which the new centre-right government has increased for the next five years, Robertson told Reuters: "It has proved a very wise decision for France, but also a good lead for the European countries who need to do more in order to tackle the threats of the future." NATO member countries know they have to increase defence budgets if they want to maintain their influence with the United States, whose more extensive military spending threatened to leave the alliance "badly unbalanced," he said. "The pressure is on, but not all countries have yet responded to that," Robertson said. "We talked about the Iraq situation, but this is not yet in NATO's court," he said. "Clearly we are interested in what is happening in terms of the resolution but this matter is in the hands of the United Nations." Robertson said the United States is briefing NATO regularly on its thinking about Iraq. "No requests have been made and therefore it lies in the hands of the United Nations to make a decision on it," he said. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
