Bush seeking EU resolve on Iran, to hear grumbles

Vienna, June 21: US President George W Bush, hoping to capitalise on improving ties with Europe, will urge his key allies today to push ahead with the possibility of sanctions against Iran.

But the U S leader will also face complaints from European Union leaders that his administration remains too heavy-handed in its focus on security.

Bush has yet to regain the confidence of many Europeans after the 2003 war in Iraq.

From the Guantanamo Bay prison to strict U S visa requirements and concern about controls on foreign investment, Europeans are frustrated that the United States is still showing too little consideration towards its trans-Atlantic partners.

''If Europe and America go hand in hand, then I think we can actually achieve something,'' said Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose government holds the rotating EU presidency.

But he kept up Europe's criticism of how prisoners are held without charge at Guantanamo and the abuse of Iraqi detainees.

''We cannot have an area where law does not apply. Under no circumstances can torture be applied ... It needs to be said,'' Schuessel told reporters yesterday before hosting Bush in Vienna for an EU-U S summit.

Also at the summit will be European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso but the leaders of key governments such as Britain, France and Germany were not due to attend.

Washington has said it will join European talks with Tehran that are conditional on Iran giving up uranium enrichment -- a step in the production of nuclear weapons -- in return for an offer of incentives.

Sanctions

But Bush will stress today that the United States and Europe must not ease up on Iran and should ensure that the threat of punishment such as sanctions remains real.

''If Iran does not accept this offer then we return to the U N Security Council. That's all part of the way forward,'' White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters travelling with Bush to Vienna on Air Force One.

Europe's foreign policy chief Javier Solana said as he arrived in Vienna he hoped Iran would move more quickly in responding to the incentives offer.

Bush's attention today may be distracted by signs North Korea was preparing a long-range missile launch.

In a gesture towards the EU's concerns, the United States seemed ready to sign a summit declaration including a reference to respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism.

''Consistent with our common values, we will ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply fully with our international obligations, including human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law,'' said a draft version of the declaration, which was obtained by Reuters.

As well as Iran and security issues, the summit gives the EU and United States a chance to discuss their differences that are blocking a new global trade round and ways of reducing the risk of disruption to energy supplies from key producers like Russia.

They are also likely to agree to start discussing climate change, a success for Brussels after it failed to get Washington to even talk about global warming for several years.

Reuters