Bush rules out change in stance

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JULY 18. The U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, who arrived here today on his first state visit to Britain, has ruled out a change in his administration's pursuit of the nuclear defence shield programme and its rejection of the Kyoto treaty on climate change - the two issues that have ruffled feathers in Europe. For Britain, however, there was good news: he supported the British Government's efforts to save the Northern Ireland peace process saying the IRA must start disarming.

Mr. Bush would spend two days here before flying out to Genoa for the G-8 Summit where he is expected to face some tough questions both on NMD and the Kyoto treaty. ``We'll have frank discussions, but I will just tell people what I think in a way that is forthright and transparent'', he told the British media in Washington before leaving for Britain. He said he would not let the differences come in the way of the ``larger picture''.

Mr. Bush reiterated that the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty had lost its relevance in the post-Cold War era and he wanted to ``get rid'' of it. ``We need to set it aside. We need to move forward'', he told the BBC arguing that what the world needed now was a defence against ``rogue'' states. In an interview to The Times, he said the threats which the ABM addressed no longer existed. The proposed NMD, he asserted, would create a more peaceful world as the shield would cover the U.S. allies as well. ``We have to have the capacity to shoot somebody's missile down if they threaten us... I firmly believe it's the right thing to do to keep the peace.'' He assured Russia that it had nothing to fear. ``As Russia looks West, she has no enemies, as long as I am President... Russia is no longer our nation's enemy and therefore, we should not view each other with suspicion'', he told the paper.

In Britain, the project has provoked a strong reaction and the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, has been urged not to allow U.S. to use the British intelligence facilities at the Menwith Hill base in North Yorkshire and at Fylingdales. Greenpeace activists invaded the high-security Menwith Hill base recently to pressure the British Government, describing the U.S. missile programme a ``disaster''. There is opposition even within Labour party and the Government to the programme which, it is believed, would lead to acceleration of arms race. The Government, however, has adopted a wait-and-watch policy, saying there is no point getting worked up until details are known. Mr. Bush said he expected the issue to come up during his talks with Mr. Blair and he would explain his administration's position. On the Kyoto treaty, which the U.S. has rejected creating a furore in Europe, he said his administration supported the goals of the treaty - reducing gas emissions which add to global warming - but favoured different means to achieve them.

In his BBC interview, he ruled out any change in his administration's opposition to the treaty. During his stay here he would have an audience with the Queen whom he met once when his father was President. Commentators said Mr. Bush's visit would be a more formal affair than his predecessor, Mr. Bill Clinton's visits.

``The itinerary contrasts sharply with visits by his predecessor. The Blairs and the Clintons were famously relaxed in each other's company and enjoyed dining out at fashionable restaurants'', one newspaper said recalling that on his first visit, Mr. Clinton even sat on a Cabinet meeting.

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Section  : International
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