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American Morning

President Bush Faces Criticism Overseas on Global Warming and Missile Defense

Aired June 12, 2001 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to begin with the president overseas and under scrutiny. Mr. Bush arrived in Spain, today, on the first stop of his European trip. This comes amid international criticism of the president's position on global warming and his plans for a missile defense system.

Senior White House correspondent John King is traveling with the president. He joins us now, live, from Madrid.

Good morning or good afternoon, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon. Good morning to you there in Atlanta, Leon.

The president certainly under scrutiny here in Europe, perhaps back in the United States as well, as he makes his first major international trip. A friendly greeting so far here in Spain. Some protests last night because of the Kyoto Global Climate Treaty, you mentioned, but so far, the president enjoying a very warm greeting from officials here.

At this hour, he is at the ranch of the Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. The two leaders having their discussions now. They will actually meet with reporters later today. The president up there discussing issues like trade, discussing his views on the environment -- quite controversial here. Criticism from many European leaders that he will not endorse the Kyoto Treaty on global climate change. That, of course, the treaty designed to reduce the emissions of so- called greenhouse gases.

The president greeted earlier today by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. His trip to Europe here, this stop one, as I said, a relatively friendly stop.

He goes on to meetings with the NATO allies and with European Union leaders. One of the top issues there, skepticism in Europe, especially among the allies, but also by Russia to the U.S. plans for a new high-tech national missile defense. But Mr. Bush saying before he left the United States, he looks forward to an opportunity to look the allies directly in the eye. He says he believes they will find him to be -- quote -- "a trustworthy friend and that his administration will be steady and true." Mr. Bush saying he does not believe these differences are irreconcilable -- that over time he can reach an agreement with the allies, but he's also made clear that he plans to go forward both with alternatives to the Kyoto Treaty and with that missile defense plan.

So as the president begins his trip here, the tougher stops still to come when he goes to the E.U. meeting and the NATO meeting. The president, enjoying his first day here -- quite a beautiful day. He's outside of Madrid at this hour -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thank you. John King, traveling with the president.

The president's European trip takes him to five countries in five days. From Spain, Mr. Bush travels on to Brussels, Belgium, for a NATO summit and then it's on to Sweden and a meeting with the leaders of the European Union. And then from there, President Bush goes to Warsaw, Poland. He will then head to Slovenia and will have his first face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin there.

You can also log onto our Web site for more in-depth coverage of President Bush's European trip. We'll have a report on our Web site on Mr. Bush's national security and his environmental policies as well as some of the skepticism that we are hearing being expressed by other world leaders.

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