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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Refuses Kyoto, Europe Concerned

Aired July 29, 2001 - 07:11   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: The Bush administration's refusal to sign global warming and germ warfare treaties and some other international proposals is raising concerns among U.S. allies. More on that now from CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Italy last week, European allies urged President Bush to reconsider his opposition to the Kyoto Treaty, to combat global warming. He's refused.

The next day in Germany, it was the world against the United States. One hundred seventy-eight countries voted to implement the treaty. Only one country, the U.S. opposed.

PAULA DOBRIANSKY, U.S. UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE: the Bush administration takes the issue of climate change very seriously. And we will not advocate our responsibilities.

WALLACE: Two days later, the same story, the U.S. rejected a draft agreement to enforce the biological weapons convention, disappointing many allies including Australia.

ALEXANDER DOWNER, AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: It's those countries, which have had reservations about it and will hide behind the American decision.

WALLACE: It is the rejection of the Kyoto Treaty and the Biological Arms Protocol combined with opposition to the Anti- Ballistic Missile Treaty , U.N. proposals to curb trade in small arms and an international criminal court that has also fired up the administration's critics in the United States, including Senate majority leader, Tom Daschle, who accuses Mr. Bush of pursuing an isolationist approach.

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: By isolating yourself, we minimize ourselves.

WALLACE: And for the Bush administration, Daschle says, that could have implications for the future.

DASCHLE: I think we are going to pay dearly in terms of the international prestige as we cope with the circumstances that now exist for us.

WALLACE: But the White House says it is working with allies on issues such as global warming, missile defense and free trade while at the same time, aides say the president is not afraid to go it alone.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The other issues, the president will be proud to stand tall and strong to represent America in a world that doesn't always see things the American way.

WALLACE (on-camera): Secretary of State Colin Powell recently said that over time, people will see the U.S. is not -- quote -- unilateralist but deeply engaged. The question is will the world community have a different perception.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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