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Bush wins European support in nuclear standoffs with North Korea, Iran JENNIFER LOVEN - AP June 23, 2006 President George W. Bush on Wednesday won a robust endorsement from European leaders for his tough approach to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea, despite transatlantic differences on Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and trade. European Union leaders emerged from a summit with Bush in Vienna to back U.S. demands that North Korea abandon a long-range missile test and that Iran quit what the U.S. leader called foot dragging in responding to a western plan aimed at getting it to suspend uranium enrichment activity. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that his country will respond to the proposal by mid-August. Bush was cool to the time frame. "It shouldn't take the Iranians that long to analyze what is a reasonable deal," he said. "We'll come to the table when they verifiably suspend. Period." The summit host, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel - whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 25-country EU - said Iran should agree to the proposal as soon as possible. "This is the carrot. Take it," Schuessel said. On North Korea, Schuessel agreed with Bush that the communist country faces further isolation from the international community if it test fires a long-range missile believed capable of reaching U.S. soil. "It should make people nervous when non-transparent regimes who have announced they have nuclear warheads, fire missiles," Bush said. "This is not the way you conduct business in the world." Schuessel said Europe would support the U.S. against North Korea if it test fires the missile. "If that happens, there will be a strong statement and a strong answer from the international community. And Europe will be part of it. There's no doubt," said Schuessel, who appeared with Bush and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to address reporters. There were a host of other issues on the U.S.-EU agenda. On terrorism, Bush thanked the Europeans for their support in Afghanistan and Iraq, while acknowledging past disputes about the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. "I can understand the differences . . . but what's past is past and what's ahead is a hopeful democracy in the Middle East," he said. Across the EU, mounting discontent over the U.S. detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the war in Iraq and the purported existence of secret CIA terror prisons in Eastern Europe have threatened to eclipse the talks. Bush acknowledged European concerns about the 460 detainees held at the U.S. facility in Cuba because of their suspected ties to al-Qaida and the Taliban. But he said the group includes some dangerous people who need to be brought to justice. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com "I understand their concerns," Bush said. "I'd like to end Guantanamo. I'd like it to be over with." Barroso said the leaders also discussed with Bush a way to reach a balanced conclusion to a global trade deal. The United States is among 149 countries trying to finish the international round of trade talks known as the Doha Round, named after the city in Qatar where they began. Negotiators have missed several deadlines. There are disagreements over cutting farm barriers in Europe, the United States and other rich countries. Major developing countries, such as India and Brazil, also are refusing to significantly reduce trade barriers that protect their manufacturing and service industries. "After the good exchange of views we had today during this summit, I'm convinced - I'm really convinced that it's possible to have a successful outcome of the Doha talks," Barroso said. While Bush scores low on popularity polls among the public in Europe, Schuessel rose to his defence. "I think it's grotesque to say that America is a threat to the peace in the world compared with North Korea, Iran, a lot of countries," Schuessel said. Still, anti-Bush sentiment was prevalent. About 1,200 students chanting "Bush Go Home!" rallied at a train station to protest his visit to the capital, where 1,000 police officers were assigned solely to deal with demonstrators. Another 2,000 officers patrolled the city. Leading the students was Cindy Sheehan, an American who lost her son in Iraq and energized the anti-war movement last summer with a protest outside Bush's Texas ranch. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Bush wins European support in nuclear standoffs with North Korea, Iran

JENNIFER LOVEN - AP
June 23, 2006

World President George W. Bush on Wednesday won a robust endorsement from European leaders for his tough approach to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea, despite transatlantic differences on Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and trade.

European Union leaders emerged from a summit with Bush in Vienna to back U.S. demands that North Korea abandon a long-range missile test and that Iran quit what the U.S. leader called foot dragging in responding to a western plan aimed at getting it to suspend uranium enrichment activity.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that his country will respond to the proposal by mid-August.

Bush was cool to the time frame. "It shouldn't take the Iranians that long to analyze what is a reasonable deal," he said. "We'll come to the table when they verifiably suspend. Period."

The summit host, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel - whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 25-country EU - said Iran should agree to the proposal as soon as possible.

"This is the carrot. Take it," Schuessel said.

On North Korea, Schuessel agreed with Bush that the communist country faces further isolation from the international community if it test fires a long-range missile believed capable of reaching U.S. soil.

"It should make people nervous when non-transparent regimes who have announced they have nuclear warheads, fire missiles," Bush said. "This is not the way you conduct business in the world."

Schuessel said Europe would support the U.S. against North Korea if it test fires the missile.

"If that happens, there will be a strong statement and a strong answer from the international community. And Europe will be part of it. There's no doubt," said Schuessel, who appeared with Bush and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to address reporters.

There were a host of other issues on the U.S.-EU agenda.

On terrorism, Bush thanked the Europeans for their support in Afghanistan and Iraq, while acknowledging past disputes about the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"I can understand the differences . . . but what's past is past and what's ahead is a hopeful democracy in the Middle East," he said.

Across the EU, mounting discontent over the U.S. detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the war in Iraq and the purported existence of secret CIA terror prisons in Eastern Europe have threatened to eclipse the talks.

Bush acknowledged European concerns about the 460 detainees held at the U.S. facility in Cuba because of their suspected ties to al-Qaida and the Taliban. But he said the group includes some dangerous people who need to be brought to justice.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

"I understand their concerns," Bush said. "I'd like to end Guantanamo. I'd like it to be over with."

Barroso said the leaders also discussed with Bush a way to reach a balanced conclusion to a global trade deal. The United States is among 149 countries trying to finish the international round of trade talks known as the Doha Round, named after the city in Qatar where they began.

Negotiators have missed several deadlines. There are disagreements over cutting farm barriers in Europe, the United States and other rich countries.

Major developing countries, such as India and Brazil, also are refusing to significantly reduce trade barriers that protect their manufacturing and service industries.

"After the good exchange of views we had today during this summit, I'm convinced - I'm really convinced that it's possible to have a successful outcome of the Doha talks," Barroso said.

While Bush scores low on popularity polls among the public in Europe, Schuessel rose to his defence.

"I think it's grotesque to say that America is a threat to the peace in the world compared with North Korea, Iran, a lot of countries," Schuessel said.

Still, anti-Bush sentiment was prevalent.

About 1,200 students chanting "Bush Go Home!" rallied at a train station to protest his visit to the capital, where 1,000 police officers were assigned solely to deal with demonstrators. Another 2,000 officers patrolled the city.

Leading the students was Cindy Sheehan, an American who lost her son in Iraq and energized the anti-war movement last summer with a protest outside Bush's Texas ranch.

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