As the Department has stated before, in order to avoid any misunderstandings, it is our policy to coordinate and clarify matters through the appropriate diplomatic channels.

The US Embassy in Manila has informed the Department that the answer of the Spokesperson of the US Department of State refers only to states that continue to maintain troops in Iraq.  It was merely a statement of fact that a specific number of countries have troops in Iraq while other countries do not.  The US Embassy has clarified that the answer was not intended to mean that the countries that supported the principles and objectives of the Coalition and who contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq but who have no troops in Iraq are no longer considered as part of the Coalition.
 
As stated earlier, all further actions regarding Iraq by the Coalition and by other members of the International community are to be governed by United Nations Security Council resolution 1546, a resolution that was proposed by the United States and which was adopted by consensus during the Philippine Presidency of the UN Security Council last June. END.