Clinton talks trade, defense with EU leaders at Portuguese summit

U.S. President Clinton at the summit Wednesday with Secretary of State Albright and Richard Morningstar, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union

May 31, 2000
Web posted at: 10:32 a.m. EDT (1432 GMT)

In this story: Missile defense system criticized Small 'irritants' about trade RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

LISBON, Portugal -- Trade and security issues dominated the agenda Wednesday as U.S. President Bill Clinton met with European leaders at a summit outside the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.

The president sat down with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres, whose country now holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, and EU Commission President Romano Prodi. Among those with Clinton at the 18th-century Queluz Palace was U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Besides reviewing trade issues such as disputes over beef, bananas and tax laws, the leaders also discussed the health crisis in the developing world.

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Missile defense system criticized

Clinton also heard stiff criticism over a national missile defense system that the United States is considering.

European leaders fear such a system would upset the delicate balance of power now in place among nuclear nations. They worry, too, that if the United States creates a network of missiles that could shoot down incoming warheads, Europe would become more vulnerable to aggressors.

The administration hopes it can limit at least public criticism by Europe of the defense system in advance of Clinton's meeting this weekend with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia views a missile defense system as a major change to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. If Putin senses strong objection from Europe, administration officials say, he could use that to bolster his position with Clinton.

Clinton, who only has about six months left in office, is expected to decide whether to deploy the missile defense system before U.S. elections in November.

Guterres, the Portuguese prime minister, briefed Clinton on Tuesday about a recent meeting he had with Putin. Guterres said Putin has not softened his opposition to changing the ABM treaty or allowing the U.S. to deploy the missile defense system.

During Wednesday's talks, Clinton was expected to raise his own concerns about plans for a European security force that would operate independently of the NATO alliance now in place.

Clinton arrived early Tuesday in Lisbon for a state visit. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is scheduled to arrive early on Thursday for a private meeting with the American president. The men are expected to review Israel's sputtering peace talks with the Palestinians.

Barak and Clinton were originally set to meet in Berlin on Thursday afternoon, but the meeting was changed to Lisbon to allow Barak to return to Jerusalem in time for a ceremony marking Jerusalem Unification Day, the day Israel captured Arab East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

Small 'irritants' about trade

Trade is a frequent debate point between the United States and Europe, who between them account for about 50 percent of all international trade. Authorities expected no major breakthroughs from Wednesday's brief summit.

Still, administration officials characterized the issues as small "irritants."

U.S. and European officials have been highly critical of each other in discussing trade battles in recent months, but when formal meetings take place, they try to be more positive about the relationship.

A communique being prepared for the end of Wednesday's meeting was to highlight new joint U.S.-EU pledges to combat AIDS and other infectious diseases, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, several U.S. officials said.

Senior White House Correspondent John King and The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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