UNITED NATIONS: The cryptic remarks by US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld about “old Europe” as against the new Europe perceived by him figured in the UN Security Council on Friday as it debated the issues of war and peace in Iraq. Mr Rumsfeld had noted couple of weeks ago that France and Germany who opposed the US push toward a war against Iraq to disarm it were part of “old Europe” while war supporters which included former east European communist nations represented the new Europe. In his statement on Friday at the Security Council French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin said, “The message comes to you today from an old country, France, from a continent like mine, Europe, that has known war, occupation and barbarity. “An old country that does not forget and knows everything it owes to the freedom fighters who came from America and elsewhere,” he said.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, an outspoken US ally took up the theme as he responded to De-Villepin’s remarks. “Mr President, I speak on behalf of a very old country...” he began and was interrupted by laughter. He added a punch line: “... founded in 1066 by the French.” Normans invading from France conquered Britain in 1066.

When US Secretary Colin Powell spoke, he said: “I’m very pleased to be here as the secretary of state of a relatively new country on the face of the earth,” as Council members broke into a smile. “But I think I can take some credit sitting here as being the representative of the oldest democracy that is assembled here around this table. Proud of that,” he said. The repartees broke the tension in the Council chambers in which US and Britain found themselves isolated from the overwhelming majority of the members who supported peace and inspection process rather than rush to war.