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US vows to respect human rights in war on terror
by Michael Adler
Tue Jun 20, 6:21 PM ET
VIENNA (AFP) - US President George W. Bush will pledge to respect human rights in his war on terror, according to the draft of a final statement prepared for an EU-US summit, amid complaints from the Europeans about US treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
The draft of the joint statement by Bush and European Union leaders says: "Consistent with our common values, we will ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply fully with our international obligations, including human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law.
"We attach great importance to our ongoing in-depth dialogue and our common fight against terrorism and our respected domestic and international legal obligations," according to extracts of the text read to AFP.
The text does not specifically mention Guantanamo, which the United States insists is needed in the "war on terror".
But it appears to show that the EU and the United States will be seeking at the summit in Vienna to paper over their differences, the latest in their efforts to achieve reconciliation since they bickered bitterly over the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Bush was greeted on his arrival in Vienna Tuesday by Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schessel, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 25-nation EU. Earlier in the day Schessel had said of Guantanamo: "We can't have an area where law does not apply."
European governments and rights groups have called on the United States to shut down Guantanamo, the US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where hundreds of "terror suspects" have been imprisoned without charge and in legal limbo since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Opponents of the camp have stepped up criticism since three of the camp inmates committed suicide four days ago.
EU states have also criticized the United States over CIA extraordinary rendition flights. The CIA is accused of routing planes carrying prisoners through several European countries, on their way to countries where the prisoners risk being tortured.
Washington insists that all CIA flights are in accordance with US and other nations' laws, particularly those against torture.
US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told reporters in Washington last week that the EU-US summit was "an opportunity to reaffirm the strong relationship between the United States and the European Union."
Among the other bones of contention the draft EU-US text seeks to address is the issue of climate change. The United States has angered its Euroepan partners by refusing to sign the global Kyoto Protocol on curbing emissions of greenhouse gases.
"We will work more closely to address the serious and long-term challenge of climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution and will act with resolve and urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the draft statement says.
The EU and US have already reached a common line on Iran's nuclear ambitions, with Washington saying it is ready to join in EU-led talks with the Islamic republic if Tehran agrees to suspend uranium enrichment.
On Monday, Bush turned up the pressure on Iran, warning of "progressively stronger political and economic sanctions" if Tehran refuses to freeze sensitive nuclear activities in return for international talks.
The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- plus Germany have made the suspension of Iran's nuclear fuel work, which they fear could lead to the development of nuclear weapons, a condition for starting talks.
The EU and the United States are world economic leaders and major partners, with trade worth 1.7 billion dollars (1.3 billion euros) per day.
Transatlantic conflicts, such as counter-claims between aeronautical giants Airbus and Boeing before the World Trade Organization (WTO) that each get unfair subsidies from their governments, affect less than two percent of this commerce.
Bush hopes European leaders will improve their offer to cut farm subsidies trade to help bring about a breakthrough in the stalled WTO trade talks, a White House official said Tuesday.
Bush will Thursday travel on to Budapest for ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising against Soviet-led communist rule.
This drives me just crazy.
by Michael Adler
Tue Jun 20, 6:21 PM ET
VIENNA (AFP) - US President George W. Bush will pledge to respect human rights in his war on terror, according to the draft of a final statement prepared for an EU-US summit, amid complaints from the Europeans about US treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
The draft of the joint statement by Bush and European Union leaders says: "Consistent with our common values, we will ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply fully with our international obligations, including human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law.
"We attach great importance to our ongoing in-depth dialogue and our common fight against terrorism and our respected domestic and international legal obligations," according to extracts of the text read to AFP.
The text does not specifically mention Guantanamo, which the United States insists is needed in the "war on terror".
But it appears to show that the EU and the United States will be seeking at the summit in Vienna to paper over their differences, the latest in their efforts to achieve reconciliation since they bickered bitterly over the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Bush was greeted on his arrival in Vienna Tuesday by Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schessel, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 25-nation EU. Earlier in the day Schessel had said of Guantanamo: "We can't have an area where law does not apply."
European governments and rights groups have called on the United States to shut down Guantanamo, the US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where hundreds of "terror suspects" have been imprisoned without charge and in legal limbo since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Opponents of the camp have stepped up criticism since three of the camp inmates committed suicide four days ago.
EU states have also criticized the United States over CIA extraordinary rendition flights. The CIA is accused of routing planes carrying prisoners through several European countries, on their way to countries where the prisoners risk being tortured.
Washington insists that all CIA flights are in accordance with US and other nations' laws, particularly those against torture.
US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told reporters in Washington last week that the EU-US summit was "an opportunity to reaffirm the strong relationship between the United States and the European Union."
Among the other bones of contention the draft EU-US text seeks to address is the issue of climate change. The United States has angered its Euroepan partners by refusing to sign the global Kyoto Protocol on curbing emissions of greenhouse gases.
"We will work more closely to address the serious and long-term challenge of climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution and will act with resolve and urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the draft statement says.
The EU and US have already reached a common line on Iran's nuclear ambitions, with Washington saying it is ready to join in EU-led talks with the Islamic republic if Tehran agrees to suspend uranium enrichment.
On Monday, Bush turned up the pressure on Iran, warning of "progressively stronger political and economic sanctions" if Tehran refuses to freeze sensitive nuclear activities in return for international talks.
The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- plus Germany have made the suspension of Iran's nuclear fuel work, which they fear could lead to the development of nuclear weapons, a condition for starting talks.
The EU and the United States are world economic leaders and major partners, with trade worth 1.7 billion dollars (1.3 billion euros) per day.
Transatlantic conflicts, such as counter-claims between aeronautical giants Airbus and Boeing before the World Trade Organization (WTO) that each get unfair subsidies from their governments, affect less than two percent of this commerce.
Bush hopes European leaders will improve their offer to cut farm subsidies trade to help bring about a breakthrough in the stalled WTO trade talks, a White House official said Tuesday.
Bush will Thursday travel on to Budapest for ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising against Soviet-led communist rule.
This drives me just crazy.
