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Bush pushes for support against Iran at EU summit
The US president opened his last summit with the European Union in Slovenia on Tuesday.
- AP
- Published: 12:46 June 10, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
- This is Bush's final tour of Europe before he leaves office.
Brdo Pi Kranju, Slovenia: US President George W Bush opened his last summit with the European Union on Tuesday with a long list of trans-Atlantic issues on his plate including Iran's nuclear ambitions, Afghanistan's woes, climate change and Mideast peace.
The agenda is broad for a summit that lasts less than a day, leaving doubts about what could be accomplished. There's also trade, rising world food prices, soaring gasoline costs, Lebanon and Kosovo's independence. But Tehran's nuclear program and global warming are two of the top concerns.
Bush started out by letting it slip that he won't be back to Europe again as president.
Meeting separately with Slovenian President Danilo Turk and Prime Minister Janez Jansa at Brdo Castle in the tiny town of Kranj before the US-EU summit, Bush praised the beauty of this small Central European nation.
"My first trip to Europe as president began in Slovenia, and my last trip as president to Europe ...," Bush said, his thought trailing off.
The president is trying to get Britain, Germany and France on board on Iran with a package of new penalties and incentives aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Bush wants the next package of UN sanctions to be tougher than the last.
Before leaving the castle to fly to Berlin for a social dinner with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bush is taking in an exhibition of white Lipizzaner horses, known for their elegant strutting. During his weeklong stay in Europe, he also is going to Italy, France, London and Belfast.
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