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American Morning

President Bush Meets With Spanish Prime Minister

Aired June 12, 2001 - 13:18   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is introducing himself to Europe today and promising to be a trustworthy friend. The first stop on Mr. Bush's first official visit to the European continent is Spain, where a short time ago he held a news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

"I look forward to making my case", the president said, "on such controversial topics as global warming and missile defense."

We get more from CNN senior White House correspondent John King. He's in Madrid -- hello, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.

Well, a very friendly reception for the president here -- as you mentioned, stop one on his initial foray, as president, to Europe -- but still a very public discussion of the considerable differences between Washington and most of the major European allies on environmental issues and on security issues like missile defense -- on missile defense, Mr. Bush saying that he is prepared to make his case here to the allies that we must amend the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

That would be required if the United States is to go ahead and continue the testing Mr. Bush says is absolutely necessary to develop a new missile defense system.

Now, the European allies aren't sure that's a wise policy. Russia has voiced great skepticism. Mr. Bush says he knows there's opposition. He knows there's a great deal of skepticism. But he says, as he moves on from Spain to European Union meetings and NATO meetings, he will look the allies in the face, and at the end of the trip, the Russian president in the face, and make his case that that ABM treaty is a relic of the past.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our intent is to make the world more peaceful, not more dangerous. Our intent is to bring stability into the world. And freedom-loving people must recognize the true threats that face democracies in the 21st century. The days of the Cold War have ended. And so must the Cold War mentality, as far as I'm concerned. (END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, the environment: another issue where there are major disagreements between Mr. Bush and most of the allies -- the European Union a strong supporter of the Kyoto Treaty on global warming. That would call for mandatory reductions in the emissions of so-called greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Mr. Bush opposes it. He said it would hurt the U.S. economically. He also says it's unfair because major developing nations like India and China have not agreed to the protocol.

The Spanish prime minister, standing next to Mr. Bush, said he disagreed with the president. He believed it was the right policy -- but still, in a sign of politeness and the diplomacy that lies ahead, the prime minister also saying this is the president's first trip to Europe, making these consultations, very difficult, are just beginnings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE MARIA AZNAR, PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN (through translator): As is the case on many issues that we have dealt with, we have not always been in agreement. But that precisely is always the case at meetings like these. We try to agree. We try to find meeting points on those issues where interpretations perhaps are not always the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Mr. Bush trying to make some friends as he heads again into those additional discussions on all these very difficult issues, so he took a little time while here in Madrid to pay tribute to the growing Spanish economy, the growing role of Spain in the world and in the NATO Alliance, as well as to thank this country for hosting several U.S. military installations -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: John, a bit of a different subject here: a day after the McVeigh execution, any reaction there over the death penalty?

KING: Well, one of the Spanish journalists tried to turn the tables on the president, if you will. The journalist said to Mr. Bush: You are trying to change minds here about missile defense. You are trying to change minds here about the Kyoto compact. Would you be open to changing your mind in consultation with European leaders about the death penalty?

Mr. Bush saying: No, that he respected those who opposed the death penalty, but he made his case (AUDIO GAP) the issues that democracies debate, Mr. Bush saying it was his personal opinion, and in his view, the will of the vast majority of the American people that the United States continue to have capital punishment -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our John King, live in Madrid, thank you.

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