Bush to keep up pressure on Iran in Europe

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, June 20 (Reuters) U S President George W Bush headed to Europe today to keep pressure on Iran over its nuclear program even as North Korea threatens to divert his attention by preparing for a long-range missile launch.

Buoyed by a wave of good news after months of grim headlines that damaged him politically, Bush goes to Vienna for an annual US-European Union summit and then to Budapest to mark the 50th anniversary of Hungary's uprising against Soviet rule.

On his 15th trip to Europe since taking office in 2001, Bush will be gone from Washington less than 63 hours, returning home late on Thursday.

In Vienna, he plans to stress that the United States and Europe must stand firm in pressing Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program in order to qualify for an incentives package aimed at containing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

A US-backed package of incentives was offered to Iran early this month, and the United States has said it will join European talks with Iran if it agrees to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

''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 traveling with Bush on Air Force One.

''If their government will take this offer that is before them, it can result in avoiding this crisis, it can result in strengthened relations,'' he said.

Bush believes Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon while Iran says it is only working on a nuclear power program.

Bush's drive for sanctions is opposed by U N Security Council members China and Russia. The White House said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on the need to work together on the issue in a telephone call yesterday.

Bush's task at the summit in Austria, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is to secure European support for sanctions if Iran refuses to suspend enrichment.

NORTH KOREA CHALLENGE North Korea's apparent preparation for a test launch of a missile capable of reaching the United States has given the president a new challenge.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is accompanying Bush on the trip, said a North Korean missile test would be a provocative act that Washington would take seriously.

Hadley said it was not fully clear whether North Korea planned to test a long-range missile.

''It's hard to tell,'' he said. ''They seem to be moving forward toward a launch but the intelligence is not conclusive at this point.'' Hadley said there appeared to to be ''a desire to create a sense of crisis,'' and that the West had tried to convince Pyongyang that ''the kind of attention they would get would not be constructive.'' Bush is likely to face more European pressure to close the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorist suspects after the military announced on June 10 that three detainees had committed suicide.

Bush has fended off calls from allies and rights advocates to close the prison at the remote U S naval base in Cuba by saying he is waiting for a U S Supreme Court decision about the forum for handling detainee cases, which is due by the end of June.

Trade was expected to be discussed. Bush has urged Europe to lower its protections for farmers, a reduction the United States would be prepared to match.

''The president made a very bold offer with respect to agricultural subsidies,'' Hadley said. ''If they can move in that direction, we're going to be in the zone of getting an agreement by the end of the year and I think we will see the president encourage everyone he talks to on this trip not to miss the terrific opportunity.'' REUTERS PM BST0006