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February 25, 2005

Europe and America: a new era?

"Good morning old Europe, this is the new George Bush". The smiling George Bush sitting next to Jacques Chirac and taking pictures with Jean-Claude Juncker came to "sell" his new image: the image of a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. Most of all, George Bush's visit to Brussels was an invitation to European leaders for a reconciliation, to erase argues of the past and work together for "advancing freedom and peace in the world" and especially the Middle-East. George Bush emphazised the necessity for Europeans and Americans to stay united, despite the differences, on the path for peace, putting the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a priority. On Iran, George W. Bush encouraged the European Union to make sure that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons.

However, President Bush was more firm talking about the Syrian presence in Lebanon. Bush asked Syria to end its occupation of Lebanon. A good point for Bush. Indeed, the death in an explosion in Beiruth of former Lebanese Prime minister, Rafik Hariri, a personnal friend to President Jacques Chirac, made France and the U.S agree on the Syrian issue, at least. Definitely a good start for the new French-American relations.

Le Monde: Avec l'Europe, Bush veut faire la paix au Proche-Orient

BBC: Bush to Europe: Let's be partners

Posted February 25, 2005 09:36 AM

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