More on that value-based common foreign policy

Both the International Herald Tribune and the Pakistani Daily Times report that Javier Solana, the EU’s Lord High Executioner of Common Foreign Policy, made a statement about the fighting around and inside the Red Mosque in Pakistan.

It seems that Señor Solana is disturbed by what has been going on, as Pakistan is rather an important country and what happens there may well affect developments in Afghanistan. This is undoubtedly true but are we to understand that the EU through its designated spokesman is merely disturbed by the fighting, which just sort of happened?

It would seem so:

"The EU position is that we are gravely concerned because Pakistan is an important country," Solana said after talks with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"Also, because the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan is fundamental for peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, where many European countries have deployed troops," Solana said.

Right. We are not taking sides. That would be value-free.

The Australians are taking a somewhat more robust view:

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downs said his country is concerned with extremism in Pakistan but backs President Musharraf’s efforts to overcome the menace.

Well, I am glad we have moved beyond that old-fashioned, valueless foreign policy.

COMMENT THREAD