Energy a central issue with Bush, says US diplomat

Apr 20, 2006, 13:25 GMT

Vienna - Energy would be a central topic at the June EU-US summit in Austria, probably including President George W Bush, senior US diplomat Peter H Chase said on Thursday.

In an interview in the newspaper Die Presse, Chase made it clear that Bush's presence had not yet been officially confirmed, but added that US and Austrian officials were already working on possible topics.

Chase, head of the State Department's European Union and Regional Relations Bureau, said he would be very surprised if a joint energy policy was not one of them.

Bush and current EU Council President, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, shared a great interest in secure energy supplies, Chase said.

There was already cooperation between the United States and EU in questions of energy technology, but much more remained to be done, he said.

For instance, alternative natural gas suppliers should be found in North Africa or Central Asia. There must also be work for a better energy infrastructure and alternative energy sources. Austria already had great experience in biological forms of energy, Chase said.

In general, Chase said, issues for the EU and US were continuing efforts for democracy and freedom. There would be talks about help for Ukraine and Belarus, and a common line in the Middle East.

Asked about the Austrian EU presidency's wish to improve the union's relations with Washington, he said there had already been a change after the terrorist bomb attacks in Madrid in 2004, with the deaths of about 200 people.

Since then there had been far better understanding in Europe of America's fight against terrorism. Suddenly it had become clear that this was not Bush's 'private war,' but it affected everyone, Chase said.