Bush faces Iraq critics in Europe
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-21 21:54

BRUSSELS, Belgium - US President Bush, hoping to thaw relations with European leaders skeptical about U.S. involvement in Iraq and the Middle East, pressed on Monday for greater trans-Atlantic relations. "In a new century, the alliance of America and Europe is the main pillar of our security," he said.

Bush pledged to move forward to long-running conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis and "raise the flag of a free Palestine."

"The world must not rest until there is a just and lasting resolution to this conflict," Bush said.

Belgium Prime Guy Verhofstadt, who introduced Bush, said the U.S.-led invasion was divisive, but with problems in Africa and other parts of the world, "It makes little sense arguing about who was right."

Turning to another volatile spot in the world, Bush called on Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. As Bush spoke, thousands of opposition supporters in Beirut shouted insults at Syria and demanded the resignation of Lebanon's pro-Syrian government, marking a week since the assassination of Rafik Hariri, Lebanon's most prominent politician.

Syria must end its occupation of Lebanon, Bush said to applause.

"The Lebanese people have the right to be free, and the United States and Europe share an interest in an independent, democratic Lebanon," he said, adding that if Syrians stay out of Lebanon's parliamentary elections in the spring, the vote "can be another milestone of liberty."

Bush also continued to push Iran to end its nuclear ambitions. He said the United States was working with European allies Britain, France and Germany in the "early stages of diplomacy." Bush did not, however, note that the United States is not fully backing the Europeans' approach to offer Iran economic and political incentives not to develop nuclear arms.

"The results of this approach now depend largely on Iran," Bush said. "The time has arrived for the Iranian regime to listen to the Iranian people and respect their rights and join in the movement toward liberty that is taking place all around them."

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