Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=7/27/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=SOLANA/HUNGARY (L-only)

NUMBER=2-317820

BYLINE=STEFAN BOS

DATELINE=BUDAPEST

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Solana urges U.S. to Take E.U. More Seriously

INTRO: The European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana has urged the United States to take the Union more seriously on issues such as Iraq. He also said his organization plans to compete with Washington in key areas such as trade and development. Mr. Solana made his remarks Tuesday in

Budapest, shortly after American Secretary of State

Colin Powell tried to shore up support for the U.S.

policy in Iraq. Stefan Bos reports from Budapest.

TEXT: Speaking at the annual meeting of Hungarian ambassadors and other officials, Mr. Solana, wihout mentioning the United States by name suggested that the big military power seems at times out of touch with the international community.

Mr. Solana said the fight against terrorism that began after the September 11th-2001 terrorist attacks in the United States cannot be won by the military alone.

///SOLANA ACT///

I do not think that the big problems of the world

today have to be solved militarily. If you think that

terrorism is going to be defeated through military

action you are mistaken. Because terrorism will not be

defeated (by military action alone), but by the exchange of intelligence, information and corporation of like minded countries

///END ACT///

Mr. Solana said the United States should

realize that while there were disagreements over

Iraq, Europeans were among the first to serve as

peacekeepers in Afghanistan after the overthrow of the

Taleban regime, which was harboring the Osama bin-Laden-led

terrorist organization.

The E.U. Foreign policy chief added the Union

remains concerned about some of America's domestic policies and its lack of respect for international law.

///SOLANA ACT///

We disagree about the death penalty. We disagree

about the International Tribunal(s). We disagree about all these things linked to multilateralism in which we believe and (in which) they believe less. And to a certain extend the big military power may probably think that it is not

necessary (to have) the rule based societies. But for

us we believe that the rule based societies are

fundamental.

///END ACT///

Mr. Solana's comments came just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told the same meeting he realized that the opinion polls in Europe are not very favorable towards the Bush administration's foreign policy.

But Mr. Powell predicted that the mood in Europe

would change once democracy has taken hold in Iraq and

elections are held there.

E.U. Foreign Policy Chief Solana suggested another way

to improve TransAtlantic relations is when Washington

takes the 25-member state Union more seriously.

Mr. Solana stressed that the E.U., the world's largest

single market, can compete with America in several

areas.

///SOLANA ACT///

We want to continue to compete (in the area of)

humanitarian aid. We want to continue competing

and sharing, (in the area) of trade.

///END ACT///

Mr. Solana says it is time for both U.S. and E.U. leaders to realize that they need each other more than ever. (Signed)

NEB/SB/PT