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| Europe |
| US on EU-China Arms, EU-Iran, and EU-Russia |
| 2005-04-06 |
| Read the headline pronouncing EU as "ewwww!" US restates its objections to EU policy on China The limits to Washington's bridge-building effort with the European Union were laid bare yesterday when a US official pushed the EU to change policy on China, played down prospects for EU success in talks with Tehran and highlighted internal EU divisions on Russia. On the last day of a European tour, Robert Zoellick, US deputy secretary of state, tried to build on the message of co-operation expressed by President George W. Bush during his visit six weeks ago. But he stepped up criticism of the EU's plans to lift its arms embargo on China even though the move now seems likely to be delayed. "If there ever were a point where there were some conflict or danger and European equipment helped kill American men and women in conflict, that would not be good for the relationship," Mr Zoellick said. The EU had hoped to lift the embargo during the first half of the year, but that seems unlikely because of misgivings by the UK and countries such as Sweden and the Czech Republic. Mr Zoellick's comments came as Joschka Fischer, German foreign minister, said he was "sceptical" about an immediate lifting of the embargo, distancing himself from chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who is determined that the ban be lifted. In an interview with Die Zeit newspaper, Mr Fischer said: "The chancellor knows that I am more sceptical on this issue, like my party [the Greens] and its representatives in parliament." Mr Zoellick also addressed the EU's negotiations with Tehran over Iran's nuclear programme, saying that Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, had "worked very hard to try and adjust our position so we could be more supportive". But he played down the prospect of EU success in the talks. "The fact that Iran is looking towards elections in June . . . creates probably a particularly challenging time." Mr Zoellick noted "the diversity of views in Europe" on Russia. In what appeared to be a reference to France and Germany, he said: "There are some member states that are perhaps more accepting of the established order. There are some that share some of our concerns [on issues such as a Russian free press]." He called for the US and EU to "stand firm", in spite of Russian pressure, on a strong role for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in election observation. Russia has accused the OSCE of fomenting disorder in countries such as Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. |
| Posted by:.com |