After meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Adam Rotfeld, Rice praised Poland's role as a US ally and a member of the European Union and thanked Poland for its support in Iraq.

BEIJING, Feb. 6 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has expressed her understanding for Poland's decision to reduce its troops in Iraq.

    She said that the change does not indicate that Poland is reducing its support to Iraq, when she paid a visit the country on Saturday.

    The Polish government has cut its troops in Iraq from 2,500 to 1,700 starting this February.

    After meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Adam Rotfeld, Rice praised Poland's role as a US ally and a member of the European Union and thanked Poland for its support in Iraq.

    She also said the difference between the US and the EU is not in values but in ways of dealing with specific problems. She pointed out that there is an opportunity for the US and EU to cooperate and exert greater influnce in world affairs.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)