Strasbourg, 24/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe reacted strongly to the American criticisms of the stance taken by Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder in favour of a peaceful settlement to the Iraqi crisis. "Some have gone as far as declaring that the two countries are isolated in their opposition to another war in Iraq and that a majority of European countries, especially the 'new Europe, whose centre of gravity has moved from the west to the east', back the military option pursued by the United States", he regrets without mentioning Mr. Rumsfeld. "Such claims are unfounded. We are not divided over Iraq", says Scheider, recalling that last September, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted, a resolution through an overwhelming majority, calling on the 44 members of the Council of Europe and the observers (including the United States: Ed.) to try to avoid any further war with Iraq.