Gigatron
05-11-2004, 04:07
http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=5486
Hungary Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said on Wednesday that his country will withdraw its 300 troops from Iraq by March 31 next year.
In a ceremony marking the end of military conscription, the newly appointed prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany, said Hungary is obliged to stay in Iraq untill the country’s January elections, but would withdraw the troops by March.
"To stay there until the elections are held is our duty," Gyurcsany said, referring to elections set for January in Iraq.
"To stay there much longer is impossible. That is why by March 31, 2005, we are withdrawing our troops from Iraq.
"The tools of politics must guarantee stability and security to democratic life in Iraq," Gyurcsany added.
Earlier Hungarian officials said that they would decide on whether troops will stay in Iraq beyond the mandate of its current mission – by the end of December-- until after the U.S. presidential race was over.
President George W. Bush won Tuesday's White House race, with his Democratic opponent John Kerry conceding defeat Wednesday.
"A country that during the (U.S. presidential) campaign says anything for or against with respect to Iraq inevitably gives ammunition for the two candidates to quarrel," Defence Minister Ferenc Juhasz told reporters last week.
"We want to avoid becoming an internal political question in the United States when this is our sovereign decision," he said.
Opinion polls in Hungary showed that the majority of the population opposed joining the U.S. occupation in Iraq.
The conservative opposition in parliament has become increasingly vocal in its opposition during recent months, urging the withdrawal of Hungarian troops.
"If we decide to stay we would create serious domestic political conflict since most people would disagree," Juhasz said.
Also, a defence ministry official told reporters that it would extend the Hungarian mission in Iraq until March 31 to help with preparations for the Iraqi elections.
"We will ask parliament on Monday to extend the mandate of our troops in Iraq until March 31," ministry spokesman Peter Matyuc said.
The United States convinced 32 countries to join its war on Iraq.
However, over the last few months, several allies, including the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Spain, have withdrawn their troops from Iraqi, ending their support to the U.S. occupation to the country, some citing the cost, others concerned about security.
Hungary Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said on Wednesday that his country will withdraw its 300 troops from Iraq by March 31 next year.
In a ceremony marking the end of military conscription, the newly appointed prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany, said Hungary is obliged to stay in Iraq untill the country’s January elections, but would withdraw the troops by March.
"To stay there until the elections are held is our duty," Gyurcsany said, referring to elections set for January in Iraq.
"To stay there much longer is impossible. That is why by March 31, 2005, we are withdrawing our troops from Iraq.
"The tools of politics must guarantee stability and security to democratic life in Iraq," Gyurcsany added.
Earlier Hungarian officials said that they would decide on whether troops will stay in Iraq beyond the mandate of its current mission – by the end of December-- until after the U.S. presidential race was over.
President George W. Bush won Tuesday's White House race, with his Democratic opponent John Kerry conceding defeat Wednesday.
"A country that during the (U.S. presidential) campaign says anything for or against with respect to Iraq inevitably gives ammunition for the two candidates to quarrel," Defence Minister Ferenc Juhasz told reporters last week.
"We want to avoid becoming an internal political question in the United States when this is our sovereign decision," he said.
Opinion polls in Hungary showed that the majority of the population opposed joining the U.S. occupation in Iraq.
The conservative opposition in parliament has become increasingly vocal in its opposition during recent months, urging the withdrawal of Hungarian troops.
"If we decide to stay we would create serious domestic political conflict since most people would disagree," Juhasz said.
Also, a defence ministry official told reporters that it would extend the Hungarian mission in Iraq until March 31 to help with preparations for the Iraqi elections.
"We will ask parliament on Monday to extend the mandate of our troops in Iraq until March 31," ministry spokesman Peter Matyuc said.
The United States convinced 32 countries to join its war on Iraq.
However, over the last few months, several allies, including the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Spain, have withdrawn their troops from Iraqi, ending their support to the U.S. occupation to the country, some citing the cost, others concerned about security.