Blair not a divisive EU choice: Miliband

• Source: Global Times
• [02:03 October 30 2009]
• Comments

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband denied on Thursday that Tony Blair would be a divisive choice for EU president, as friends of the former premier said he would be interested in running for the post.

"I don't think it's right to say that it was Blair who divided Europe on Iraq. It was Iraq that divided Europe on Iraq and that is the key point," he told the BBC, referring to France and Germany's strong opposition to the war.

"He took a clear and strong position," Miliband said, "But I think in this position (of EU president) he would be there with a very clear mandate to develop a five-year relationship for the EU with the great powers around the world and make sure then that he articulated persuasively the case that was agreed."

The foreign secretary repeated his argument that the job needed a strong personality, highlighting the issue of climate change where "you want a strong international voice for Europe arguing with America, with China, with India."

Blair has not formally declared his candidacy but friends of the former premier told The Times newspaper in London that he would put his name forward if the newly created job is substantial enough.

Miliband's remarks came on the same day as European leaders converged on Brussels to consider candidates for the new EU presidency and grappled with differences over helping poor countries fight global warming.

Besides supporting Blair for the presidency, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also has other agendas, including targets for job creation.

The EU's rotating presidency, currently held by Sweden, hopes above all to secure a face-saving accord ahead of UN talks in Copenhagen in December and stay close to a pledge to find up to 15 billion euros ($22 billion) a year from 2013 to help developing countries fight climate change.

AFP