Bush Arrives in Europe for Whirlwind Tour

M A D R I D, Spain, June 12 -- President Bush opened his first officialtrip to Europe today, eager to sell his missile defensesystem, support NATO expansion and assure U.S. allies that despitetrans-Atlantic tensions, they have a "trustworthy friend" inWashington.

Upon landing at Madrid's airport, the president and first ladyLaura Bush were greeted by Foreign Minister Josep Pique and a fewdignitaries, then headed to Zarzuela Palace to meet with King JuanCarlos and Queen Sofia. The palace sits on a game reserve, and deerand wild boar roamed the grounds. After leaving the royal couple, Bush traveled by helicopter toAznar's ranch, Los Quintos de Mora. He dispensed with his jacketand tie to stroll the grounds with Aznar before going inside theranch house for their meeting.

Playing With the Language

Earlier, the president mispronounced the prime minister's nameduring a taped interview with state-run television.

He said helooked forward to meeting Aznar — but the name came out as Anzar.Bush also had mangled grammar, with gender disagreement andemphasis on the wrong syllables.

"I have to practice this very lovely language," Bush told theinterviewer before switching to English. "If I don't practice I amgoing to destroy this language."

Trying to Find a Positive

European leaders have criticized Bush's condemnation of the 1997Kyoto treaty on global warming and expect to raise the issue withhim. The president also faces questions on his proposedmissile-defense plan, trade disputes, peacekeeping troops in theBalkans and expanding NATO's membership.

"I'm used to explaining positions that some people don't agreewith," Bush told a group of European journalists Monday. "Thathas never prevented me from finding a positive. And the positivesin our relationship with NATO and the European Union and individualcountries far outweigh some of the negatives that occur because wedon't agree on every issue."

Bush talks Wednesday with NATO allies in Brussels, Belgium. OnThursday, he'll be in Sweden to attend a summit of U.S. andEuropean Union officials. After a state visit in Poland on Friday,Bush travels to Slovenia to meet with Russian President VladimirPutin.