USA: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REACTS TO SPAIN'S DECISION TO WITHDRAW 1,400 TROOPS FROM IRAQ

Record ID: 584917

  • Title: USA: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REACTS TO SPAIN'S DECISION TO WITHDRAW 1,400 TROOPS FROM IRAQ
  • Date: 19th April 2004
  • Summary: (W6) WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (APRIl 19, 2004) (POOL) 1. WS: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S SPOKESMAN RICHARD BOUCHER WALKING INTO BRIEFING ROOM 0.05 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S SPOKESMAN RICHARD BOUCHER SAYING "The Spanish announcement, the Spanish withdrawal was not unexpected. We have been talking about it, they have been talking about it for some time. It was a campaign promise, something they said they were going to carry through on and it didn't look like the kind of U.N. resolution that was possible was the kind that they had said might lead them to stay. I think we were surprised a little bit by the abruptness of their announcement. We regret that they made such an abrupt announcement of their decision to withdraw. As you know the president talked to Prime Minister Zapatero today and certainly we hope that the government of Spain will withdraw its troops in a co-ordinated fashion, in an orderly manner that permits the close co-ordination with other calition forces so that there is not any defecit of any kind on the ground. I would say as well that we recognize that Spain is committed to fighting the war on terrorism that we recognize the many commitments Spain has made in fighting the war on terrorism and we look forward to continuing to work with Spain and co-ordinate with Spain on the fight against terrorism." 1.16 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2004 13:00
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  • Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA7OHYMWKH4G4VBH36RNM6PEBCZ
  • Story Text: The U.S. State Department gives its reaction to the
    announcement of Spanish troops withdrawal from Iraq.


    U.S. State department spokesman Richard Boucher
    responded on Monday (April 19, 2004) to Spain's
    announcement that it would withdraw 1,400 troops from Iraq.

    "We regret that they made such an abrupt announcement
    of their decision to withdraw," Boucher told reporters.

    Boucher went on to say that while the announcement was
    surprising, Spain's decision was not unexpected. "They have
    been talking about it for some time. It was a campaign
    promise," Boucher said.

    Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's
    Socialists took office at the weekend after winning an
    upset election victory three days after the March 11
    bombings of four packed Madrid trains killed 191 people.

    Spain's new government has pledged to remain at the
    forefront of the fight against international terrorism
    despite its surprise decision to pull the country's troops
    from Iraq as soon as possible.

    According to Boucher, the president expressed regret on
    Monday (April 19) to Zapatero regarding the decision to
    withdraw troops from Iraq and warned Madrid against taking
    further actions that could give "false comfort to
    terrorists."

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