Europe and US commit to joint Iraq initiative

EUROPE and the United States are set to unveil a joint transatlantic initiative on Iraq during the visit of US President George W Bush later this month.

The new US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, preparing for the President’s trip, held discussions with the European Commission and Nato leaders in Brussels yesterday.

Her visit lasted 40 minutes longer than scheduled and diplomats said the talks went very well. “We have full re-engagement,” said a senior commission source after the meeting in the Berlaymont.