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Date Posted: 17:44:27 06/25/04 Fri GMT
Author: Lynn
Subject: Shannon: Busn in Ireland for EU - U.S. summit (NYTimes)


June 25, 2004

Bush in Ireland for EU - U.S. Summit
By REUTERS

Filed at 5:40 p.m. ET

SHANNON, Ireland (Reuters) - President Bush flew into Ireland Friday for a summit with European Union leaders which has sparked protests and rekindled anger over American policy in Iraq and the Middle East.

Bush landed at Shannon Airport, on Ireland's west coast, and was whisked 10 miles up the road to the fairytale setting of Dromoland Castle, a 16th century turreted mansion set in secluded woodland in County Clare.

There, he and first lady Laura Bush -- on the first U.S. presidential trip to Ireland since the Clintons visited in 1995 -- were welcomed by Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

The two men strolled around the lush gardens of the castle in conversation before returning to the building under the shelter of umbrellas as a light shower fell.

Bush was due to spend the night at the castle, where he will meet EU leaders Saturday to discuss a range of primarily political issues such as Iraq, the Middle East, counter-terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

The visit has sparked protests in a country where visiting U.S. presidents, from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan, have traditionally been feted due to their Irish ancestry and the strong historical links between the two nations.

Some 10,000 people marched through Dublin Friday night to voice their opposition to Bush, and a smaller protest of around 600 people was staged at Shannon, although demonstrators were kept well away from the presidential entourage.

The focus of the protests is U.S. policy in Iraq and Ireland's own role in the war there. Ahern's government has been heavily criticized at home for allowing U.S. jets to refuel at Shannon en route to the Middle East.

IRAQ ARGUMENT IS DEAD

But the Irish prime minister says the rift between Europe and the United States, so deep 15 months ago when the U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq, has been bridged by the recent signing of U.N. Resolution 1546, which provides for U.N. members to support the coalition in the Gulf.

``Whatever the arguments of last year, those arguments are dead,'' Ahern told Irish state television RTE shortly before Bush landed.

However, EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, who will be at Saturday's meeting, insisted the bloc's role in reconstruction in Iraq and planning for elections would be limited if security did not improve.

``All of us are worried that violence could lead to Iraq flying apart in the next few months,'' Patten told U.S. reporters in Ireland.

The Americans are looking for a commitment from NATO countries to help train Iraqi security forces after the handover of power in Iraq next week.

Washington will try to wring such a commitment from NATO leaders at a summit in Istanbul, Turkey, next week. Bush will fly to Turkey directly from Ireland.

EU and U.S. leaders aim to sign deals on seven issues: Iraq, the Middle East, Sudan, counter-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, the fight against HIV/AIDS and the strengthening of the transatlantic economic partnership.

Bush will be accompanied by Secretary of State Colin Powell, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, while the EU side will be headed by Ahern, European Commission President Romano Prodi and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Some 6,000 Irish police and troops, backed by fixed-wing planes, helicopters, ships and surface-to-air missiles, have been deployed to protect the president.

The Dublin march was orderly but feelings ran high.

``The Irish government has no right to be spending our taxes on entertaining a warmonger like Bush,'' one of the marchers, Dubliner Sarah O'Kane, told Reuters. ``It's a disgrace.''

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