Arafat congratulates Bush

• Both (Bush or Kerry) will try to strengthen the United States’ hegemony militarily and economically.
— ABUBAKR AL-QIRBI, Foreign Minister, Yemen

• Bush’s methods are wrong, but now by the mistakes he made in the Middle-East, he has more knowledge about the region than Kerry, who needs time and money to reach to Bush’s conclusions… Despite his wrong policies, it will be better for the region if Bush wins.
— MOHAMMAD ALI ABTAHI, an advisor to President Khatami of Iran

• (Between) President Bush and candidate Kerry, there is no significant difference when it comes to their deep and warm support for Israel.
— SILVAN SHALOM, Foreign Minister, Israel

• SILVIO BERLUSCONI, Prime Minister, Italy: ‘‘Bush will continue with the policy that assigns the United States the role of defender and promoter of freedom and democracy.’’

• JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, Prime Minister, Spain: ‘‘I would like to express the desire of the Spanish government to contribute to a relationship based on efficient and constructive cooperation with the government of the United States, with President (George W.) Bush.’’

• EHUD OLMERT, Deputy Prime Minister, Israel: ‘‘Mr Kerry would have been a very friendly President to Israel as he proved to be for a long time in the Senate. Now that Mr Bush is elected, we are very happy and we congratulate the American people for their choice.’’

• ROMANO PRODI, President, European Union: ‘‘I hope his second term will see the United States and the whole world enjoy the political stabilisation and the guarantee of collective security we have all done our utmost to ensure.’’

• MICHAEL HOWARD, Conservative Party leader, Britain: ‘‘I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to President George W. Bush on his re-election victory. We look to the President to be a unifying force for those all over the world who share our determination to defend freedom.’’

• VACLAV KLAUS, President, Czech Republic: ‘‘In tough times (Bush) proved he is the true leader of his nation and American voters appreciated that…President Bush is an undoubted friend of the Czech Republic…(and) symbolises the best American traditions, the attitude to freedom, optimism, individualism, liberal economic environment and conservative values which are also very close to my thinking.’’

• GENNADY ZYUGANOV, Communist Party leader, Russia: ‘‘I see no principal difference for Russia. US Presidents have always been tough in pursuing policies defending their national interests and interests of national business. As far as Bush is concerned, he will continue his global sabre-rattling.’’

• GERHARD SCHROEDER, Chancellor, Germany: ‘‘I will continue the good and close cooperation that we have. This is in the interests of the United States as well as those of Germany and Europe.’’

• JACQUES CHIRAC, President, France: ‘‘Our cooperation, our joint fight against terrorism and our efforts to promote freedom and democracy must continue to develop in a spirit of dialogue, esteem and mutual respect…We will not be able to come up with satisfactory responses to the many challenges we face today without a strong transatlantic partnership.’’

• MOHAMMAD ABULHASAN, Information Minister/government Spokesman, Kuwait: ‘‘We hope that President Bush will now be able to concentrate his efforts on issues like stability and security especially in the Middle East region… On the Arab-Israeli peace process, we hope that he will be able to push it further, resulting in an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the agreements reached in Washington.’’ —Agencies