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American Morning

President Bush Faces Diplomatic Battle at NATO

Aired June 13, 2001 - 11:16   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 in the midst of a diplomatic battle at NATO headquarters in Belgium. The president is trying to sell his missile defense plan to skeptical allies.

CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett is live from Brussels with the latest on that -- Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the president brought his agenda for missile defense to the NATO headquarters here in Brussels, talked considerably with his NATO allies on the topic.

But as so often happens to U.S. presidents, the developments in the Middle East intruded a bit on his agenda here. And the president took time after the formal meetings here in Brussels with NATO allies to talk about this signed agreement that the Palestinians and the Israelis have reached to create what the administration calls a blueprint for a cease-fire.

Now, the president did not describe this as any significant breakthrough. In fact, he said it was the very first step that both the Israelis and the Palestinians have to take to move toward what may, at some point down the road, be an atmosphere where peace talks could actually occur. But he said nevertheless he was encouraged by this one minor developments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm encouraged that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed to a cease- fire plan. And I am proud of America's role in helping to achieve it. Today, on my flight from Spain to here, I talked to CIA Director George Tenet, who was -- has worked very hard to bring the parties together. He is cautiously optimistic about the agreement that's been signed.

Our country recognizes that an end to violence is a necessary first step toward implementing the Mitchell Committee report and a resumption of real negotiations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: Now, back to the president's agenda here in Brussels: This is his debut on the European stage. And he met face-to-face with the other 18 NATO allies, posed for a group picture with them. That's a traditional part of the procedure here at NATO headquarters.

And in his conversations in private meetings and over lunch, the president said he was encouraged by what he described as a new receptivity many European leaders have to the idea of a missile defense system not only for the United States, but for Europe and quite possibly for Russia as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I'm encouraged that in today's meeting, we saw a new receptivity towards missile defense as part of a new strategic framework to address the changing threats of our world. As one of our close allies noted, the world is changing around us. And NATO's great strength has been a willingness to adapt and move forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: White House officials tells us that during those private meetings, the president has received some very encouraging comments about his missile defense ideas from Hungary, Italy, Britain, Poland and Spain.

But that does not mean there is anything approaching a consensus among NATO allies about how to proceed on this very controversial subject. As a matter of fact, protesters have taken to the streets here in Brussels in rather large numbers. The protests have been civil, well organized. But, nevertheless, they have been here: protesters complaining about the missile defense system and other parts of the U.S. agenda brought here by President Bush.

The president is likely to encounter even more protests as he moves on from Brussels tomorrow for meetings with E.U. leaders on economic and trade matters in Sweden -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Major Garrett, we'll continue to follow the president as he tests his diplomatic skills. Thanks so much.

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