HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- Prodi warns that Iraq war could strain
alliance
Ian Black in
Brussels
Wednesday May 1, 2002 The Guardian America must avoid taking action on
Iraq that would damage the global anti-terrorist coalition, Romano Prodi, the
European commission president, warned yesterday.
Speaking in advance of tomorrow's EU-US summit, the first since the September
11 attacks, he said it was vital for these "mature and serious partners" to work
together for a more stable world. But Chris Patten, the EU external relations
commissioner, expressed concern about Washington giving in to a "unilateralist
temptation" in trade, arms control and the environment.
Although Iraq is not formally on the agenda of the Washington talks, at which
Europe will be led by Jose Maria Aznar, the Spanish prime minister, and the US
by President George Bush, the two sides are unable to agree on the need for
military action to overthrow President Saddam Hussein.
Mr Prodi, anxious to avoid a public row on an issue where Britain is close to
the American position, only hinted at the possible damage to transatlantic
relations.
"Obviously one should bear in mind the consequences that this would have on
the global set-up," he said. "The coalition the United States put together after
September 11 has been a great example of political intelligence, and it is quite
clear that it is so precious that we should do nothing to harm it."
He did not attempt to conceal the EU's anger at the ongoing row over the huge
tariffs Mr Bush slapped on foreign steel imports to protect America's failing
industry in response to domestic political pressure.
"I cannot over-emphasise how disappointed we are," the European commission
president said. He insisted that the EU had no choice but to threaten to impose
€377m (£234m) worth of sanctions on US products from next month. The episode
raised questions about Washington's commitment to the rules of the World Trade
Organisation, he added.
He sought to underline Europe's contribution to the fight against global
terrorism, which has seen enhanced transatlantic police, judicial and financial
cooperation since the al-Qaida attacks.
Later this week the EU is expected to decide that the Kurdish Workers' party,
the PKK, will be added to the list of banned organisations whose assets can be
frozen.
EU justice ministers last week approved a mandate to negotiate extradition
and judicial cooperation agreements with the US. But there are differences on
the death penalty and the use of military tribunals to try foreign terrorist
suspects.
However, it is clear that European solidarity is threatened by resentment of
America's go-it-alone instincts.
Mr Patten told the English-Speaking Union at Guildhall in London: "America's
overwhelming pre-eminence has generated increasing pressure within the US to
abandon her internationalist past in favour of an unapologetic pursuit of
national interest, imposing her will unilaterally and resisting outside
obligations that might constrain her freedom of action."
On the Middle East, which is likely to be the main subject of the one-day
summit, Mr Prodi signalled that he wanted Mr Bush to do more to rein in the
Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon.
He said Washington's efforts to defuse the latest wave of Israeli-Palestinian
violence would not succeed unless there were negotiations under the aegis of the
so-called Quartet - the US, EU, Russia and the United Nations.
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