International

Blair voices concern over trans-Atlantic divide

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON MAY 21. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has asked anti-American voices in Europe and the Europhobics in America to calm down as he stepped in to contain the growing rift between his European neighbours and the U.S. Government on the eve of the U.S. President, George W.Bush's visit to Europe starting tomorrow.

In remarks, seen to reflect his concern over the deepening trans-Atlantic divide over a host of issues ranging from West Asia to the war on terrorism and trade, Mr. Blair suggested that political leaders from both sides meet on a common platform to iron out differences.

He warned that attempts to "pull apart Europe and America" would only benefit the "bad guys" and undermine the campaign against terror.

In an interview to The Times today, Mr. Blair seemed willing to play the mediator as he blamed both sides for the tensions in U.S.-Europe relations. "Perhaps I'm being franker than I should be. I think that there is a certain ambivalence on both sides of the Atlantic...The Europeans want America to take the lead but sometimes, if it does, will criticise it for being unilateralist. The Americans want Europe to take more responsibility, but then when we do it can sometimes look as if we're trying to muscle in or be unhelpful," he said.

Mr. Blair categorically ruled out any change in what is widely regarded as Britain's unquestioning loyalty to Washington and declared that "there's no way Britain is ever going to be anything less than a full friend and partner of America, in Europe, out of Europe, whatever." He defended the U.S. position on Iraq, an issue which Mr. Bush is expected to raise in his talks with European leaders in an attempt to soften their opposition to military action against Baghdad.

He said fears that America would rush into some "precipitous or unthought-through action" either in Afghanistan or Iraq had been proved wrong.

"Now, as I keep saying to people here, they haven't done that, they have acted perfectly sensibly, responsibly and in consultation with international partners," Mr. Blair said even as he sought to correct American misconceptions about Europe. He refuted suggestions in America that Europe was becoming "anti-Semitic'' or that the European support for the Palestinian cause meant that it had gone "soft" on terrorism.

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