Bush urges more Iraq support
BRUSSELS, Belgium – President Bush is pressing his agenda for a refurbished trans-Atlantic alliance at back-to-back summits with NATO and the European Union.
He is looking for a commitment on more training aid for postwar Iraq and is expected to argue his case for increasing pressure on Iran to end its nuclear ambitions.
NATO’s 26 members are expected to announce they all will participate in a modest program to train Iraq’s military.
Despite differences over the war, “all nations now have an interest in the success of a free and democratic Iraq,” Bush said ahead of today’s sessions.
The alliance also is expected to emphasize its engagement in Afghanistan and may discuss an eventual NATO role in the Middle East if Israel and the Palestinians reach a peace accord.
Bush was having a breakfast meeting today with his top ally on Iraq, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and then will be attending the twin summits.
Bush opened his fence-mending trip to Europe on Monday with a speech intended for the European people and an elegant dinner he hosted for French President Jacques Chirac, his sharpest Iraq war critic.
Despite the cordial meeting, Bush told Chirac the United States adamantly opposes Europe’s plans to lift its 15-year arms embargo against China, an issue expected to come up at today’s meetings.
The arms ban was imposed shortly after the bloody 1989 Tiananmen Square government crackdown on pro-democracy activists.
Bush aides said that despite improved trade and other relations between the West and China since then, little real progress has been made on human rights in China.
Meanwhile, Bush, who will meet on Thursday in Slovakia with Russian President Vladimir Putin, had some critical words for the Russian leader on Monday, suggesting he is backsliding on democracy.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Vladimir. I intend to keep it that way. But as well, I intend to remind him that if his interests lie west, (the United States and it allies) share values, and those values are important,” Bush said.
He suggested that U.S. support for Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization could be influenced by the extent to which Russia commits itself to “open markets and liberal economies.”
Bush’s mission to mend fences comes after bitter divisions over a global climate treaty, Iraq, Iran’s nuclear program and the international court.
Previewing two issues on today’s agenda, Bush told Syria on Monday to get out of Lebanon and demanded that Iran stop its suspected nuclear weapons program.
But he seemed to indicate the United States isn’t actively considering a military option. While saying nothing is off the table, Bush said, “Iran is … different from Iraq. We’re in the early stages of diplomacy.”