Bush’s keynote address seeks European support

DESPITE many of his lines failing to get the expected round of applause in Brussels yesterday, diplomats and commentators believed US President George W Bush hit many right notes in his keynote address.

At the start of his four-day trip to Europe he notably failed to mention EU plans to lift its arms embargo with China. The US has been particularly critical of this and has been trying to dissuade the EU from making this move.

Mr Bush is hoping for greater co-operation in Iraq and Afghanistan and today will attend meetings in NATO headquarters and with the EU.

The heads of EU governments will present him with an action plan that will see most European countries contributing to the reconstruction of Iraq.

Ireland's contribution will be the services of one garda officer to help at the preparation stage of a training scheme for Iraqi senior justice officials from July.

NATO will also offer help with army personnel but it will fall far short of what the US would like as many NATO members feel they are already overstretched in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the classical surroundings of the Brussels Concert Noble, before a selected audience of diplomats and business leaders, Mr Bush used many of the phrases people have come to associate with him.

He received polite applause a number of times but when he paused for a response to some references to liberty and freedom he was met with silence.

Mr Bush said: "Our greatest opportunity, and our immediate goal, is peace in the Middle East. We seek peace between Israel and Palestine for its own sake. We also know that a free and peaceful Palestine can add to the momentum of reform throughout the broader Middle East," he said.

He touched on a number of areas that EU leaders have been concentrating on as points of agreement between Europe and the US as they work to downplay and minimise differences.

Mr Bush in his speech said: "America supports a strong Europe because we need a strong partner in the hard work of advancing freedom in the world."

He reserved criticism for Russia the topic which the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern raises with him at today's meeting when he warned of the need to protect democratic values.

Fraser Cameron of the European Policy Centre observed: "His remarks on Russia were stronger than anything he has previously said on the subject. It will give President (Vladimir) Putin some food for thought before their meeting on Thursday in Bratislava."