Portugal will not declare war on Iraq
Portugal is not going to declare war on Baghdad, nor will it send troops or participate in any military operations. (Photo: Jan Oberg) Portugal will not participate militarily in an attack on Iraq, according to the Portuguese Prime Minister, Jose Manuel Durão Barroso.
This announcement coincides with the release of a US State Department list of 30 countries that have pledged support over a war with Iraq. Portugal was not one of the named countries.
During a parliamentary debate Tuesday, Mr Durão Barroso guaranteed that support given to George Bush was solely "political" and that Portugal is "not going to declare war on Iraq, nor will it send troops or participate in any military operations."
Allowing the use of airbase Portugal will however allow the use of its airbase at Lajes in the Azores, which hosted the "summit of war" on Sunday. Supporting the US, the prime minister said, will provide Portugal with greater stability and security in the fight against terrorism.
The Portuguese opposition parties have announced that they are going to table a motion of censure over the Government's position and handling of the situation. They have accused the prime minister of violating the constitution, of turning the country into a terrorist target and of disregarding the position of President Jorge Sampaio.
The President is due to make a statement regarding impending military action. Opponents to the prime minister are hoping that the President will declare that war against Iraq is illegitimate and some privately wish that he will threaten to dissolve Parliament, though this is unlikely.
Gulf of opinion Support for Mr Durão Barroso from his own party has been virtually unanimous, unlike his counterparts in Spain and Great Britain. And answering his critics, the prime minister accused the opposition of trying to start an internal war between the political parties. He went on to add that relations between the government and the President, "had probably not been better between since 25 April 1974," (the day of Portuguese independence, after the death of Salazar.)
However there has been a gulf of opinion between Mr Durão Barroso and President Jorge Sampaio.
Mr Sampaio has argued that a war against Iraq without UN Security Council approval would risk seriously undermining the legitimacy of the UN and stated that unilateral actions by Washington would put the future of the United Nations at risk. He also said that the crisis had uncovered acute differences within the internal unity of the European Union, which could damage the creation of a European foreign policy.
Spain providing 900 soldiers for post-war peace keeping Meanwhile, the Spanish prime minister, José Maria Aznar has announced that Spain would not send troops to fight against Iraq, but would instead provide 900 soldiers to be used for post-war peace keeping and humanitarian duties.
It has also offered to provide three ships, including the hospital-ship Galicia. Like Portugal, it would allow its bases to be used by US and UK forces. Spain was only one of two countries holding a rotating seat on the UN Security Council to support the US and the UK.
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Written by James Keighley Edited by Honor Mahony