Old Europe's nightmare comes true

By CATHERINE FIELD


PARIS - With few exceptions, European leaders had ached for a change in the White House after nearly four stormy years of George W. Bush.

So his re-election required many acrobatic displays of diplomacy. The finest wordsmiths were called in to find ways to congratulate Bush while urging him to make multilateralism and fence-mending with Europe the hallmarks of his second term.

"The [transatlantic] bonds of friendship and co-operation are vital to maintaining peace in the world on the basis of multilaterally shared principles and values," declared the president of the European Union executive commission, Romano Prodi.

Said EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana: "Together, Europe and the United States face many critical challenges ... As in the past, our best hope for success lies in common action."

In his first term, Bush pushed through America-first policies that outraged many Europeans, ranging from abandoning the United Nations' Kyoto Protocol on global warming to new US subsidies for farmers and steelmakers, the Iraq war and his one-sided support for Israel.

Even his closest ally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, was unable to rustle up much warmth on Bush's victory. He described it neutrally as "an event of genuine significance right around the world", particularly for Britain and America, which had "a unique bond through our shared history and tradition".

He called on Bush, although without naming him, to heal wounds.

"A world that is fractured and uncertain must be brought together," Blair said. "The need to revitalise the Middle East peace process is the single most pressing political challenge in our world today."

The leaders of Italy and Poland, which joined Britain in supporting the US attack on Iraq, believed that Bush's re-election held advantages for them.

"The continuation of Bush in American politics makes things easier for us," said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. "As for international policy, Bush will continue with the policy that assigns the US the role of defender and promoter of freedom and democracy."

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said "further co-operation" was good news.

France chose to emphasise the uncontested outcome of the elections and the areas where it could work with Washington.

President Jacques Chirac, who has been vilified by the right-wing US media, expressed his "heartiest congratulations".

"It is in a spirit of dialogue, esteem and mutual respect that our co-operation must continue to evolve, our common fight against terrorism and the joint actions which we are engaged in to promote liberty and democracy must continue to develop."

Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said America and Europe had to "rebuild, to reform" transatlantic relations. "The Americans cannot think they can build, direct and inspire the world all by themselves."

Germany, too, put the emphasis on turning the page.

"I can only hope a re-elected President Bush moves towards the Europeans with his rhetoric, gestures and substance," said Karsten Voigt, Government point-man for ties with the US.

Interior Minister Otto Schily said: "We have differences over Iraq, but we're not looking back now, we're looking to the future."

Government MP Hans-Ulrich Klose said: "The biggest challenge now on both sides of the Atlantic is to hold strategic debates over the Iranian nuclear question and the Middle East in general.

"Iraq has shown the Americans that they need partners."

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapatero, a Socialist who ousted a pro-Bush conservative, sent a bland message expressing the desire for a relationship "based on efficient and constructive co-operation".

Looking to the future, the US Ambassador to the EU, Rockwell Schnabel, insisted that the Bush II Administration wanted to heal divisions.

"You're going to see a US that is interested in listening to your concerns, that is going to be dealing with you, coming from humility and coming from respect."

Those soothing words roused immediate doubts.

Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson predicted that Bush would not change and the EU-US tensions would continue.

"Sweden and Europe will continue to criticise Bush the same way as before. But I do not believe that he will be more willing to listen to it."

Despairing at any change from a President lampooned in Europe as blinkered and nationalistic, some commentators predicted that the EU would further distance itself from America, politically and culturally.

The French daily Le Monde predicted: "George W. Bush could be Europe's greatest unifier."