Blair Plays Down Differences Before Meeting Bush

British Prime Minister Tony Blair tried to play down differences around the controversial U.S. missile scheme and climate policies on Thursday before meeting visiting U.S. President George W. Bush.

The prime minister's spokesman said Blair told his Cabinet at its weekly meeting he understood the U.S. concerns about the proliferation of mass destruction weapons behind its missile defense scheme but had not yet decided whether Britain should get involved.

He said Blair welcomed the U.S. approach to consult with its allies and with Russia before going ahead with any missile defense scheme.

Speaking of U.S. early-warning radar facilities at Fylingdales in northern England, which could be involved in the U.S. missile scheme, the spokesman said, "Although Fylingdales already had a tracking role for 30 years, there were no decisions for us to take at this stage on whether that needed to be extended."

Referring to the Kyoto treaty on global warming which Bush has rejected, the spokesman said the prime minister told cabinet members that "there was a difference of views with the United States and we agree to disagree."

"What is important is to keep the lines of communication open with the United States as they coordinate their policy review," Blair said.

Later Thursday, Bush is scheduled to go to Chequers, Blair's home court, in central England, where the two are expected to discuss the controversial missile defense program and the U.S. rejection of the Kyoto treaty.

Blair told MPs at Wednesday's session of prime minister's questions that "what is important is that the U.S. administration has agreed that the end of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is important and right and we are now debating the means."

Blair said Britain remained committed to the Kyoto agreement and he hoped to "bridge the gap" on the issue.

Bush arrived in England Wednesday evening on his first official visit to Britain and is scheduled to travel to the G8 summit in Genoa, Italy on Friday.

Blair, Bush Underline U.S.-UK Special Relationship

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and visiting U.S. President George W. Bush emphasized the special relationship between their two countries here on Thursday ahead of Friday's Group of Eight summit.

The two leaders were speaking at a joint press conference at RFA Halton near the prime minister's country as Bush continued his first official visit to Britain.

The two men spoke in glowing terms about the strength of the bond between America and Britain, which Blair called "a very strong relationship, a very special one".

Bush added: "America and Great Britain have got a special relationship. We have both pledged to keep the relationship as special as possible."

And they warned anti-capitalism protesters not to disrupt the G8 summit talks, which they said would benefit the Third World nations, in an apparent referring to fears of a repeat of the anti- capitalist protests which marred the Gothenburg summit last month.

Blair said: "I have no doubt that there will be people there making their protests."

"But I hope they do so peacefully because the things we are discussing at this summit in terms of global trade, in terms of the developing world, are things that are of huge importance not just to the most prosperous parts of the world but also to some of the poorest countries of the world," he added.






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