US still Britain's most important partner: Miliband

London, July 19: Britain regards the United States as its most important bilateral partner but is also a committed member of the European Union, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in an article published today.

Miliband wrote in Britain's left-leaning weekly magazine New Statesman that ''political reality'' made Washington a key ally, and that the European Union should remodel itself as an ''Environmental Union''.

''The US is the world's largest economy. Engaged, whether on the West Asia peace process or climate change or international development, it has the greatest capacity to do good of any country in the world,'' Miliband said.

''The EU was founded to tackle a threat that no longer exists: conflict within western Europe. If it is to renew its mandate, it needs to find a new raison d'etre including, I believe, a focus on addressing climate change.'' ''Creating an Environmental Union is as big a challenge in the 21st century as peace in Europe was in the 1950s.'' Miliband's appointment last month by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown was widely seen as an attempt to draw a line under the foreign policies of Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, which angered and alienated many voters.

Blair's close relationship with US President George W Bush, derided by many as being too cosy, and his strident support for the war in Iraq contributed to the popularity slump which hastened his departure from office after 10 years.

Battle Of Ideas

Miliband rejected the ''false charge'' that Britain's foreign policy was targeted against any one set of people or countries, and said winning the battle of ideas was a key aim.

''We are right to argue for the urgency of a two-state solution in the West Asia. But we do so because it is right, not to placate al Qaeda,'' he said.

On military intervention, Miliband said it was right to have intervened in Kosovo in 1999 to stop ethnic cleansing. He also said it was right for the United Nations and the African Union to put troops into Darfur to protect civilians there.

On Iraq, he said only: ''The prime minister has made clear that we will fulfil our international obligations to the Iraqi people and we are determined to do so.'' Britain is expected to withdraw 500 of its 5,500 troops from southern Iraq within weeks and then assess how soon it can remove the rest of its forces.

Britain has for several months been training Iraqi forces to take over responsibility for security. Speculation has been rife since Brown took over from Blair three weeks ago that he may try to bring British troops home faster than previously planned.

On the world stage ''Britain acting alone does not possess the power or legitimacy to effect change,'' Miliband said.

Britain should instead leverage its position as a ''global hub''.

He noted the rising influence of countries such as China, India and Russia and said he was a ''strong supporter'' of Turkish accession talks with the European Union.

Reuters>