SPAIN: Spain's new Foreign Minister says Madrid expects to engage with the US as "strong and good allies" despite US anger at Spain's withdrawal from Iraq.
Mr Miguel Angel Moratinos brushed aside the tension with the US and claimed he was not expecting any further confrontation after President Bush made public his anger at the Spanish pull-out.
He was speaking in Dublin after a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, at which they discussed Iraq, the EU constitution and the situation in the Middle East.
Mr Moratinos travelled immediately afterwards to Washington, where Mr Bush has warned the new Spanish government against giving "false comfort to terrorists or enemies of freedom in Iraq".
He will meet Dr Condoleeza Rice, the US National Security Adviser, to discuss the withdrawal of troops which was decided immediately after the new Socialist government in Madrid took office.
The Socialists were elected in immediate aftermath of the Madrid bomb attacks on March 11th, removing the conservative government that took Spain into the military campaign in Iraq.
Despite the tension with the US, Mr Moratinos insisted that he was expecting positive dialogue and said Spain remained "absolutely engaged" in the process of ensuring the stabilisation of Iraq.
Both the US and Spain were strong allies in the fight against terror, he said.
"Foreign policy today needs co-operation and a constructive approach. Not confrontation. I think we have to be united in the fight and the main fight is against terror.
"And I think there is no way that we have a position of different approaches.
"On the contrary, I think the US and Spain and European partners have the same concern and the the same commitment so I don't expect any confrontation," Mr Moratinos said.
Mr Cowen said he believed the President of the European Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, was not speaking for the Commission on Monday when he backed the Spanish withdrawal.
He understood the remarks were made in the context of a party coalition that was involved in the European election campaign, Mr Cowen said.
"These are matters for a sovereign decision of government and I don't interfere in the internal situation in Italy."