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US allies cautious on Bush call for Iraq funds
Tokyo, Sept 08: With doubts still deep and concerns high, there was no rush from Washington`s foreign allies to answer President George W. Bush`s call today for money to help fund his Iraq policy.
Tokyo, Sept 08: With doubts still deep and concerns high, there was no rush from Washington's foreign allies to answer President George W. Bush's call today for money to help fund his Iraq policy.
Japan, normally a quick backer of Washington, offered
only a lukewarm response.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, busy kicking off a campaign for re-election as head of the country's ruling party, had no immediate response to the speech.
"It has always been the position of the Japanese government that it is willing to assist as well as contribute to humanitarian efforts," Koizumi spokesman Yu Kameoka told.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it had no immediate reaction to Bush's speech.
However, a ministry official noted that South Korea has already dispatched 675 non-combat troops to help reconstruct Iraq. The military engineers and medics were sent to Syria and Iraq in April and May, he said.
"There has been no request from the United States for further assistance from US," said another official at the ministry of foreign affairs and trade. "Our position is that we will look into it once the request is made." Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, busy kicking off a campaign for re-election as head of the country's ruling party, had no immediate response to the speech.
"It has always been the position of the Japanese government that it is willing to assist as well as contribute to humanitarian efforts," Koizumi spokesman Yu Kameoka told.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it had no immediate reaction to Bush's speech.
However, a ministry official noted that South Korea has already dispatched 675 non-combat troops to help reconstruct Iraq. The military engineers and medics were sent to Syria and Iraq in April and May, he said.
"There has been no request from the United States for further assistance from US," said another official at the ministry of foreign affairs and trade. "Our position is that we will look into it once the request is made." Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Bureau Report