ATHENS -- The rift between the United States and "Old Europe" over the Iraq war was the biggest cause for concern among Japanese participants at a Japan-Europe symposium held here recently.
There were reasons behind the Japanese fears. In an unprecedented diplomatic maneuver, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in March confirmed Japan's full support for the U.S.-led military campaign against the regime of Saddam Hussein.
The schism between the U.S. and European powerhouses such as France and Germany put Japan in an awkward position in light of its postwar diplomatic platform -- the maintenance of good relations with the U.S., reliance on American help, cooperation with the international community, and the enhancement of the role of the United Nations.