EU, Bush recommit to good ties - but differences remain

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 11/6/04 | Raf Casert - AP

[NormsRevenge]

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union and the United States recommitted themselves to a smooth trans-Atlantic relationship Friday and hoped the second term of President Bush would no longer be marred by nasty political and trade disputes.

But French President Jacques Chirac, wary of Washington's global economic and political clout, said it was imperative for Europe to boost its standing so that the world can become "multi-polar."

"It is evident that Europe, now more than ever, must strengthen its unity and dynamism when faced with this great world power," Chirac said at the end of a two-day summit. "More than ever we must reinforce Europe politically and economically."

Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch prime minister who chaired the meeting of 25 EU leaders, made a telephone call to Bush after hosting the summit of government leaders and congratulated him on his re-election.

"We share the same values," said Balkenende. "We want to fight terrorism, problems in parts of the world, poverty - all the issues make it necessary to work together."

Bush and Balkenende stressed the importance of joint efforts to combat terrorism and the AIDS epidemic.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also spoke with Bush by phone Friday to offer his congratulations.

"We were both of the opinion that what matters now is to look forward," Schroeder told reporters, adding that relations between Germany and the United States were "fully intact" despite the fallout over the war in Iraq.

At their summit, EU leaders offered to put differences aside and issued a statement saying: "Our deep political, economic and cultural ties make us each other's natural and indispensable partners."

Even Chirac - the most vocal European opponent of the U.S.-led war in Iraq - also underlined his country's close historic and cultural ties with the United States.

"The areas of agreement are infinitely bigger than the areas of disagreement," Chirac told reporters.

[nothernlights]

Chirac surely is bi polar.Please supply the meds.

[planekT]

They will attack us. With spitballs.

BWAHHAHAHAHAHA

[nothernlights]

The areas of agreement are infinitely bigger then the areas of disagreement" Yes,Yes, all agree that the french stink literally and otherwise.

[Ginifer]

Chirac is so delusional that he actually thinks he's "important'. He's so irrelevant...just like his good friends Arafat and Sadam Hussein.