France defends anti-war stance

France today defended its opposition to the Iraq war, despite a warning by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that Paris would face consequences for its stance.

Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said France would continue to uphold its principles, whatever the cost.

France was a top opponent of US military action against Saddam Hussein, and threatened to use its veto on the UN Security Council to stop any resolution authorising war.

“Throughout the Iraq crisis, France, along with a very large majority of the international community, acted in conformity with its convictions and its principles to defend international law,” de Villepin said.

“It will continue to do so in all circumstances,” de Villepin, who was in Turkey today, said in response to Powell’s remarks.

On Tuesday, Powell said France would face consequences for opposing the United States.

“We have to look at all aspects of our relationship with France in light of this,” Powell said.

Asked whether France would face consequences for its anti-war position, Powell said “yes,” but did not elaborate.

Commenting on the pre-war debate toward a second UN resolution in the Iraq crisis, Powell said,

“We didn’t believe that France was playing a helpful role. There’s no secret about that.”

Political experts have said the rift between some European countries, such as France and Germany, and the United States over the Iraq crisis could lead to a long stretch of icy relations.

Though French President Jacques Chirac’s anti-war stance won him huge support at home, he has been working to mend frayed relations with the United States.

French government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope said Powell’s comment “in no way corresponds to the reality of our relations with the United States, as witnessed by the recent phone conversation between President Chirac and President Bush.”

Following a meeting with Chirac today, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso expressed concern about the tension between Paris and Washington.

“It’s normal that there are differences in point of view,” Durao Barroso said. “But I regret everything that becomes a dialectic of confrontation. I don’t think it’s positive.”

In a surprise move on Tuesday, France proposed immediately suspending United Nations sanctions that target Iraqi civilians, a move that falls short of the U.S. wish to totally lift sanctions.

France also is pushing for a return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq – a move the United States opposes.