BRUSSELS, March 20 - European Union president Greece said on Thursday that relations between Europe and the United States were in crisis after Washington launched a war on Iraq without United Nations backing. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou told an emergency debate in the European Parliament, hours after U.S.-led strikes on Baghdad began: "We have been and are still going through a significant crisis. Nobody can doubt that." Regretting the disarmament of Iraq had not been achieved peacefully, he called for a "frank and open dialogue" to try to overcome transatlantic differences and ensure the United Nations regained its place in managing international crises.
It was vital that the United Nations played a central role in the post-war reconstruction and political order in Iraq. "We all regret that we haven't been able to solve this problem in the international community in a united way and peacefully," Papandreou said. The 15 EU leaders were due to start a summit in Brussels later on Thursday overshadowed by deep divisions on Iraq. Britain, Spain and Italy strongly back the United States in taking military action while France and Germany have led the anti-war camp at the United Nations. European Commission President Romano Prodi deplored the divisions and urged European leaders in a statement to speak with a single voice and do more for their own defence to be less dependent on the United States.
"Whatever the outcome of the war, there can be no denying this is a bad time for the (EU) Common Foreign and Security Policy, for the European Union as a whole, for the authority of the U.N., for NATO, and for transatlantic relations," he said. "Europe can make an effective contribution to peace in the world only if its nations pull together within the European Union...It is not in our interest to continue relying on others when it comes to defending our values militarily." Papandreou said EU leaders should discuss how to ease the humanitarian plight of the Iraqi people and preserve the stability of the Middle East despite heightened risks from war. He warned that the EU could face a new refugee problem as a result of the conflict.//