Rop Regrets Chirac's Criticism of EU Candidates about Support for the U.S.

Brussels, 18 February - Slovenian Prime Minister Anton Rop regrets that the French president criticized the EU candidate countries for backing the U.S. policy on Iraq with the Vilnius declaration. "Jacques Chirac's statement is rather unusual, and I regret it was made because it is not in the democratic spirit present among EU members and candidates," said Rop during his visit to Brussels on Tuesday.