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Europe Hopes for More Amenable Bush
As President Bush edged close to an election victory against Sen. John Kerry, France, Germany and other European countries he alienated during his first four years promised Wednesday to work with the new U.S. administration. Some European leaders expressed hope that Bush would reach out to the continent in his second term. But others gloomily forecast no major tack in White House policy and continued trans-Atlantic bickering.Markets reacted with relief to the end of the long, contentious race and the likelihood of a Bush win. Stock markets rallied across Europe and Asia, oil prices surged and the U.S. dollar was modestly higher Wednesday. "We have lots to do on current crises: Iraq, the Middle East, Iran, the challenges of the African continent, to rebuild, to renovate the trans-Atlantic relationship," French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said on RTL radio. "This is a new step that starts at a very important moment for the world." With the vote in Ohio still too close to call, European leaders were holding back from openly congratulating a winner. But they said they would work with the new White House _ even as it appeared that Bush would win a second term. Posted by: Fred 2004-11-03 |
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