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To: electra who wrote (542)	1/25/2004 5:22:45 AM
From: maceng2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1417

Thanks for the compliment. Some euro news.. ========================================================== news.ft.com Cheney seeks to mend fences in Davos By Guy de Jonquières and Charles Pretzlik in Davos Published: January 24 2004 16:06 \| Last Updated: January 24 2004 16:06 Dick Cheney, US vice-president, on Saturday sought to reduce transatlantic tensions created by the Iraq war. He called on Europe to join the US in tackling international terrorism by promoting the spread of freedom and democracy in the Middle East. However, he strongly defended the Iraq invasion, saying that when diplomacy failed to achieve change, democratic nations must be ready to use force. He praised European allies' contributions to peacekeeping in Iraq but said they must strengthen their overall defence capabilities. The address by the normally reclusive vice-president to the World Economic Forum in Davos was widely viewed as an attempt by President George W. Bush’s administration to mend fences with traditional US allies at a moment when it is seeking international help with the reconstruction of Iraq. Some observers also saw Mr Cheney's visit as an attempt by Mr Bush to ensure that continued foreign policy differences with Europe did not cloud his re-election campaign. Mr Cheney's effort met a mixed response among participants at the Davos meeting. Lord Puttnam, the British film producer, said the speech "lacked generosity of spirit. As a bridge-building exercise, I don't think it did much at all." Asked if he thought the attempt to ease transatlantic tensions was a success, George Soros, the investor and philanthropist, replied "Not with me. I take exception to [Mr Cheney's] posturing of fear." But the message struck a chord with some Europeans in the elite audience. Klaus Zumwinkel, chairman of Deutsche Post, described it as "a wonderful speech" inspired by the ideals of freedom enshrined in the US constitution. Mr Cheney called for a strengthening of the close transatlantic cooperation that had, since the Second World War, succeeded in restoring peace and stability to Europe, establishing the United Nations and spreading internationally the principles of freedom, democracy and justice. The international community must "confront the ideologies of violence at their source by promoting democracy in the Middle East and beyond." Self-government was an effective way of turning people against violence by encouraging freedom, justice and democracy. "Our forward strategy for freedom commits us to support those who work and sacrifice for reform across the greater Middle East. We call upon our democratic friends and allies everywhere, and in particular in Europe, to join us in this effort," he said. He noted that Europe's own experience and recent history in Asia, Africa and Latin America belied claims that Islamic culture and beliefs were incompatible with freedom and democracy: "Those claims are condescending and they are false." Mr Cheney said democracy was starting to take hold in Iraq and that there were encouraging signs of reforms in Arab countries including Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He urged Europe to unite with the US in supporting "legitimate demands" by Iranians for greater freedom. He praised recent international efforts to combat the proliferation of deadly weapons and called for them to be stepped up. "The risks of inaction are impossible to overstate," he said, adding that international terrorist groups were determined to acquire chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons.