Blair: Wake up, Europe

2004-11-05 07:57

London - European leaders must emerge from their "state of denial" and wake up to the reality of George W Bush's re-election as United States president, British Prime Minister Tony Blair told Friday's edition of The Times newspaper.

In the interview conducted before he left for a European summit in Brussels, Blair appealed for reviving co-operation between the United States and the countries that opposed the war in Iraq. France and Germany have been among the most outspoken opponents.

"The election has happened. America has spoken. The rest of the world should listen," Blair said.

"It is important that America listens to the rest of the world too. But the fact is that President Bush is there for four years. He is there because the American people have chosen to elect him," he was quoted as saying.

"Some people are in a sort of state of denial," Blair said without saying whom he meant. But he predicted they will soon be in a "more receptive mood."

Blair vowed he will take his role as a bridge between the two continents even more seriously than before, saying Britain is "uniquely placed" because of its "immensely strong" alliance with the United States to mark out the common ground for agreement.

The Middle East peace process, the Iraqi elections in January, Iran, Afghanistan and even climate change will be the key areas where progress must be made, he was quoted as saying.

Blair said he went to bed early on Tuesday night thinking that Senator John Kerry had won, on the basis of the early exit polls, and woke up to find that Bush had been re-elected, according to The Times.

He dismissed the idea that he or Britain should receive some kind of reward from Bush for backing him in the war against terrorism and Iraq. - AFP

- SAPA