Bush To Begin Eight-Day Visit to Europe

By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr.

President Bush will begin an eight-day visit to Europe that will focus on strengthening U.S.-European ties across an array of global issues.

"The trip will spotlight the historic U.S. role in supporting the transition from a divided, economically depressed Europe after World War II to a prosperous Europe which is increasingly whole, free and at peace," National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley says.

Bush will travel to Europe from June 9 to 16, participating in the annual U.S.-European Union Summit being held in Brdo, Slovenia, June 10 and then in bilateral meetings in Berlin, Rome, the Vatican, Paris, London and Northern Ireland, says White House press secretary Dana Perino.

Bush's stop in Slovenia is his second since 2001, when he met with then-Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time. His planned trip to the Vatican comes two months after Pope Benedict XVI visited Washington. He will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy June 13-14 at the Elysee presidential palace.

Underscoring the U.S. commitment to the growth and prosperity of Europe, Hadley says that this trip, likely to be Bush's last to Europe before leaving office in January 2009, coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift. "The United States has supported European integration because we need a strong Europe to partner with us in advancing freedom and prosperity around the world," he said at a June 4 White House briefing.

The president and first lady Laura Bush will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of post-World War II Europe and the Berlin Airlift, which helped to resolve a serious crisis of the early Cold War during the multinational occupation of Germany following the war.

U.S. officials say the summit will include three bundles of issues: freedom and democracy; global security; and economic and environmental issues.

Bush will discuss with European leaders at the summit and in one-on-one meetings how best to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. There is soon to be a new proposal of incentives for Iran from the EU3-plus-3, referring to an offer made by Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia, the United States and the European Union's high representative, Hadley says.

The world leaders also will be discussing imposing greater sanctions under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1803, Hadley said.

"The leaders will discuss how to advance peace in the Middle East, support the Israeli and Palestinian peace efforts, and strengthen the Palestinian security sector and their own economic development initiatives," Hadley said.

Lebanon figures heavily in the discussions, he said. Global leaders will try to determine how best to support the evolution of democracy in Lebanon, its legitimate governmental institutions, and enforcement of existing U.N. Security Council resolutions, which call for disarmament of armed militias, he said.

Hadley said Bush will work with European leaders to encourage a democratic Serbia to move toward the European mainstream, and support an independent, multiethnic and democratic Kosovo. "These steps will accelerate the integration of the western Balkans into the institutions of Europe, and are critical for ensuing the peace and stability in that part of the world," he said.

Stabilizing the western Balkans is regarded by the trans-Atlantic nations as a crucial step in bolstering long-term European security.

In addition, Bush plans to discuss continuing efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and Iraq, securing their democracies, fighting common enemies and promoting common interests throughout the region, Hadley said.

"They will talk about enhancing European energy security by taking concrete steps to diversify the sources and routes of energy into Europe," he noted. (See "U.S., Europe Need Collective Energy Security Strategy ( http://www.america.gov/st/econ-english/2008/May/20080530170946liameruoy0.919903.html?CP.rss=true ).")

The meetings also will give Bush an opportunity to discuss with his European counterparts efforts to achieve breakthroughs in three areas: the major economies process dealing with global climate, the Doha Round of economic trade talks, and the world food crisis, Hadley said.

"A number of these issues will be discussed at the upcoming [Group of Eight] world leaders' summit in Japan, and they will be a subject of the Transatlantic Economic Council," Hadley said.

"The president will stress opportunities for working together through the major-economies process, to encourage certain developed and developing countries to do two things: one, to agree on a long-term emissions reduction goal, and to commit that their own midterm plans and goals to limit greenhouse gas emissions will be part of a new, internationally binding climate change agreement."

The United States is willing to undertake internationally binding emissions commitments as long as all major industrialized economies and major developing economies are willing to do the same, Hadley said.

Part of this trip, Hadley said, will be devoted to consulting with European leaders in advance of the G8 Summit in July, stressing the need for all members to follow through on their previous commitments. These include enhancing development and fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria, particularly in Africa. "The president will also be asking the EU and our G8 partners to join us in two new initiatives that can save more lives - working to train health workers, especially in Africa, and treating those suffering from seven major neglected tropical diseases," he said.

Bush committed $350 million in February to this effort, Hadley said, and he will urge U.S. partners to join the effort.

On the world food crisis, Bush wants to advance a three-pronged strategy that provides assistance to countries vulnerable to food price increases, assists countries capable of rapidly increasing food production, and promotes trade liberalization and increased use of advanced agricultural technology to increase the food supply, Hadley said.

Source: U.S. Department of State

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com