8 European states publish support of US

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Eight European leaders voiced deep gratitude to the United States on Thursday and wrote that U.S.-European ties "must not become a casualty" of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's attempts to "threaten world security."\nIn an indirect reference to opposition by France, Germany and Russia to U.S. plans to disarm Iraq militarily, the leaders of Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark used an op-ed article to thank the United States for "bravery and generosity" in ensuring peace in Europe.\nThe article, signed by seven prime ministers and one president, was published in Thursday's the Wall Street Journal's American, European and Asian editions, The Times of London and other European newspapers.\nKaren Miller Pensiero, a Wall Street Journal spokeswoman, said the article originated with the newspaper's request to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his Spanish courterpart, Jose Aznar, for the op-ed piece outlining their support for the U.S. position on Iraq.\nShe said the two leaders then contacted the other Europeans and sought their views, resulting in the opinion piece that carried all eight signatures.\nA spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair was quick to dismiss suggestions Thursday that the article deepened a dispute between European nations and France and Germany, which staunchly oppose a war with Iraq if not sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council.\nFrance and Germany "are in a slightly different place" on the Iraq debate, said the spokesman, who demanded anonymity. "They are, of course, entitled to their view."\nStill, the article recalled U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's recent, and controversial, characterization of France and Germany as representing an "old Europe" out of sync with the rest of the expanding European Union and NATO.\nIn his comments last week, Rumsfeld said the rest of Europe, including those countries of the former communist East, largely supported the United States.\nHungary, one of the signers, refused to comment further Thursday. Greece -- which currently holds the EU presidency -- said the letter did not reflect an official EU position.\nBut while an Athens spokesman said Greece was not asked to sign the editorial, he said Greece did not disagree with its contents.\nThe Journal noted the op-ed article in its lead front-page story that said it was a sign of "further shifting (of) the global political calculus toward support for war."\nThe letter said Europe must remain solidly behind the effort to disarm Iraq:\n"We must remain united in insisting that his (Saddam's) regime be disarmed. The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity," the article said.