The Hindu : International : Europeans call for a fresh start

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 04, 2004

International

International

Europeans call for a fresh start

By Jamie Wilson

Most governments around the world reacted to the news of George W. Bush's re-election with a diplomatic straight bat. France, Germany and other European countries pledged to work with the new administration, while there were typically divided views in the Middle East.

The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin — just about the only world leaders to welcome the result before John Kerry conceded — said Mr. Bush's victory would strengthen the United States and benefit their countries. Mr. Putin hailed Mr. Bush as a "predictable partner" and said the American people had not given in to the threats of international terrorists. Mr. Berlusconi said Mr. Bush would "keep up that policy that gives the U.S. the role of promoting freedom in the world."

In Germany, where relations with the U.S. were strained by Gerhard Schroeder's opposition to the Iraq war, a Foreign Ministry official said he hoped Mr. Bush would seize the chance for a fresh start with Europe, but ruled out Germany sending troops to the West Asia.

Karsten Voigt said the President would do well to "approach the Europeans ... and say, let us sit down and talk about where we have common interests."

The French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, also talked of rebuilding relations: "We have lots to do on current crises: Iraq, the Middle East, Iran, the challenges of the African continent, to rebuild, to renovate transatlantic relations."

In Israel the result was effectively welcomed by the Government.

Arafat's greetings

The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, congratulated Mr. Bush and called on him to help in the immediate implementation of the road map for peace and to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. An aide said Mr. Arafat hoped the second term would be an opportunity to secure peace and "guarantee the just national rights of the Palestinian people."

But Leila Shahid, the Palestinian envoy to Paris, said she was worried at the prospect of a second term because Mr. Bush had conducted "a policy of war."

Perhaps surprisingly, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, an adviser to Iran's President, Mohammad Khatami, said a Bush victory was preferable despite his "wrong policies." Mr. Abtahi added: `By the mistakes he made in the Middle East he has more knowledge about the region than Kerry, who needs time and money to reach Bush's conclusions."

The President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski, seemed thrilled at the prospect of a second Bush presidency. "Terrorism has to be rejected in today's world and in this respect George Bush is a very decisive leader who is right, simply right," he said.

"From Poland's perspective continued cooperation with George Bush is really good news."

Canberra upbeat

Australia's Government, one of Mr. Bush's staunchest allies and among the first to join the U.S.-led military coalition in his "war on terror," was upbeat. The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said:

"We've had a very good relationship with [the Bush administration] for the last four years and I'm sure we'll be able to keep building on that over the next four."

In Indonesia, however, the Muslim leader, Syafii Maarif, called Mr. Bush's win "a catastrophe," adding: "Bush has made a mess of the world over the last four years." — © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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