Bush in Brussels

Bush seeks backing for ‘new Iraq’
US President George W Bush is to urge European nations to give greater support to the new Iraqi government – “the world’s newest democracy”.
In a speech in Brussels, Mr Bush will dismiss the transatlantic rift over the Iraq war as a “passing disagreement”.

The speech to EU and Nato leaders comes at the start of the US president’s five-day visit to Europe.

Divisions also remain over Iran’s nuclear programme, EU plans to end the China arms embargo, and global warming.

BUSH ITINERARY
Monday: Talks with Belgian leaders, then gives speech on transatlantic relations. Dinner with French President Jacques Chirac
Tuesday: Breakfast with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Meets Ukrainian and Italian leaders at Nato HQ, then meets EU leaders
Wednesday: Leaves Brussels for Germany. News conference with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Mainz, then meets US troops in Wiesbaden
Thursday: Gives speech in Slovak capital, Bratislava, meets Russian President Vladimir Putin

In Brussels, Mr Bush will host a private dinner with French President Jacques Chirac, one of the most outspoken critics of the US-led Iraq war.

He will meet German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder – another critic of the Iraq war – in the German city of Mainz on Wednesday.

Excerpts of Mr Bush’s speech in Brussels, in which he strikes a conciliatory tone, were released to the media.

“As past debates fade, and great duties become clear, let us begin a new era of transatlantic unity,” he will say.

“No temporary debate, no passing disagreement of governments, no power on earth will ever divide us.”

On Iraq, he will say: “Now is the time for the established democracies to give tangible political, economic and security assistance to the world’s newest democracy…

“All nations now have an interest in the success of a free and democratic Iraq, which will fight terror, be a beacon of freedom, and be a source of true stability in the region.”
He will continue: “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.”

Despite Mr Bush’s charm offensive, there are too many issues dividing the US from much of Europe to enable peace to be declared on all fronts, the BBC News website’s world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says.

Nevertheless, he adds, there will be efforts towards finding a way forward on some of these problems, though some of this is papering over the differences.

The US president will also hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Slovak capital Bratislava, where he is expected to express concerns about a series of moves seen in the West as setbacks for Russian democracy.

Demonstrations

A huge security operation has been put in place for Mr Bush’s five-day trip.

Some 2,500 Belgian police and 250 US secret agents are being deployed in Brussels.

Parts of the Belgian capital had been turned into a no-go zone before Mr Bush’s plane landed in the city airport on Sunday evening.

Thousands of protesters are expected to stage rallies during Mr Bush’s first foreign tour since his second term in office began in January.

On Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in central Brussels, carrying signs reading: “Bush is not welcome.”