|
Demonstrators call bush hitler on canada visit Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6958618http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6958618
Bush Says Hopes for Quick End to Canada Beef Ban
Tue Nov 30, 2004 05:05 PM ET
By Caren Bohan and Randall Palmer
OTTAWA (Reuters) - President Bush pledged on Tuesday to try to expedite the opening of U.S. borders to Canadian beef as he sought to mend ties with Canada frayed by the Iraq war, insults to the White House and trade disputes.
Bush gave no concrete timetable for the lifting of a ban on Canadian beef and live cattle imposed in 2003 after the discovery of a case of mad cow in the western province of Alberta. But the U.S. president said he wanted to step up the process of reviewing a possible end to the ban.
"I have sent word over (to the Office of Management and Budget) that they need to expedite that request as quickly as possible," Bush told a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.
The procedure for lifting the beef ban could take up to 150 days, including time for review and public comment. Canadian officials said Bush told Martin he hoped that time line could be shortened but he wasn't able to give ironclad assurances.
In his first official visit to Canada since taking office in 2001, Bush praised Martin and spoke of an "indispensable" U.S. relationship with its northern neighbor, even as he acknowledged differences of opinion over Iraq and other issues.
Bush's unpopularity with many Canadians was underscored as thousands marched through the streets of the Canadian capital to protest the visit.
But the two leaders made light of the demonstrations, with Martin remarking jokingly at the news conference that Bush seemed to draw larger crowds than he does.
"I don't know if that's good or bad," Bush said. "It all depends on who shows up I guess."
In another quip, Bush expressed appreciation for Canadians who greeted him on the route from the airport waving "with all five fingers."
Demonstrators carried placards with slogans such as "End the massacre in Iraq" and "Some terrorists wear suits." Some placards also compared Bush to Adolf Hitler.
Most of the protests were peaceful but police scuffled briefly with a few dozen demonstrators who tried to push their way through a set of barricades set up in near the Parliament buildings.
Helmeted protesters hit police with sticks while others threw missiles and paint bombs. At least one injured policemen was dragged away by his colleagues.
Concerns over an unfriendly welcome prompted the White House to decline an invitation to address Parliament, where Bush faced the risk of being heckled.
Instead, Bush, who will stay the night in Ottawa, will travel to the Atlantic port of Halifax to thank Canadians for sheltering stranded air travelers on Sept. 11, 2001.
Canada's refusal to take part in the Iraq war prompted Bush to call off an earlier visit to the country that had been planned for May 2003. In the run-up to the war, a spokeswoman for then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien referred to Bush as a moron.
Just two weeks ago a Liberal member of Parliament who has repeatedly denigrated the U.S. president stomped on a Bush doll; Martin eventually expelled her from the Liberal caucus.
While many Canadians were horrified at the anti-Bush outbursts, others applauded. An Ipsos-Reid poll on Tuesday showed that 58 percent of Canadians felt Bush's re-election was a bad thing, compared to 26 percent who supported it.
HOPING TO WARM CHILLY RELATIONS
Martin has said he wants to end the rancor between the United States and Canada. Bush had a chilly relationship with his predecessor Jean Chretien.
Some of Canada's ruling Liberals have made it clear they would prefer a Democrat in the White House, but the two sides realize they need to deal with whoever is in power. Canada's opposition Conservatives blame the lack of an official visit from Bush during his first term on Liberal hostility.
After his meeting with Martin, Bush met with Canadian opposition leader Stephen Harper.
While the beef issue remained unresolved, Bush was to dine on Tuesday night on Alberta beef when he and his wife, Laura, sit down to a dinner hosted by Martin and his wife, Sheila.
In another long-simmering trade dispute, Martin expressed frustration to Bush that U.S. duties remain on softwood like spruce, pine and fir even though repeated trade panels have ruled them illegal. The two leaders agreed to have senior officials look at ways to improve the dispute settlement process.
(Additional reporting by Randall Palmer, Steve Holland and David Ljunggren and Sue Pleming)
|
|
