Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 17 May 2018

EU chief lashes out at Trump amid new push to save Iran deal

Organization.
"It is absurd to even think
that the EU could be a
threat to the U.S. We need
to bring back reality in this
discussion," Tusk said.
Trump's decision to relo-
cate the U.S. embassy to
the contested city of Je-
rusalem will also be raised.
Some EU leaders have
made a direct link be-
tween the move and the
killing of almost 60 Palestin-
ians during protests on the
Gaza border.
Belgian Prime Minister
Charles Michel is calling for
an international investiga-
tion.
"It's a moment that sends a
shiver down your spine. Be-
cause there is a striking con-
trast between, on the one
hand, an inauguration in
great splendor, with smiles,
and on the other hand, the
drama, and families today
that are in mourning with
European Council President Donald Tusk prepares to address a media conference prior to an EU-Western Balkans summit at the innocent children who are
National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. the victims of this situation,"
Michel told state broad-
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A to stop Iran from devel- phenomenon, the capri- soon hit Iran and European caster RTBF. "We knew that
top European Union official oping nuclear weapons, cious assertiveness of the companies doing business there was a great risk, that
branded President Donald which the EU believes is vi- American administration." there. this decision to move mov-
Trump selfish and capri- tal to world security. Trump "Frankly speaking, Eu- The options being consid- ing the embassy would
cious Wednesday as EU has also broken with a key rope should be grateful to ered include new credit bring less security, bring
leaders met to count the international principle of President Trump because lines for Iran, increased tragedies, and sadly we
likely economic damage Middle East peace efforts thanks to him we have got energy cooperation and were right," he said.
U.S. policies might inflict on by moving the U.S. em- rid of all illusions. He has the use of EU laws to block But the EU is anything but
the bloc and to try to res- bassy in Israel to Jerusalem made us realize that if you European companies from united and finding consen-
cue the Iran nuclear deal. from Tel Aviv. need a helping hand, you caving in to U.S. sanctions. sus will not be easy.
In a striking rhetorical as- Tusk's remarks, made be- will find one at the end of The leaders also planned Some countries sent rep-
sault on the leader of Eu- fore he chaired a meeting your arm," Tusk said. to discuss Trump's steel and resentatives to the U.S. Je-
rope's biggest ally, EU in Bulgaria of the 28 leaders At dinner talks in the Bul- aluminum tariffs, which rusalem embassy opening
Council President Donald whose countries make up garian capital of Sofia, could be imposed on the on Monday and the Czech
Tusk said, given Trump's the world's biggest trading EU leaders were briefed EU after June 1. Trump says Republic, Hungary and Ro-
recent decisions, "some- bloc, underscored the wid- on possible incentives to the tariffs are needed for mania blocked an EU effort
one could even think 'with ening gulf in EU-U.S. rela- keep Tehran in the nuclear national security reasons. to publish a statement criti-
friends like that, who needs tions. agreement despite a key Europe's leaders, most of cal of the U.S. move.
enemies?'" Listing Europe's traditional player like the U.S. pulling whom govern nations that The leaders are expected
Trump has bewildered the challenges, ranging from out. are NATO allies with the to meet again Friday with
Europeans by threatening the expanding power of Trump's decision means U.S., say security concerns the heads of government
to slap tariffs on EU steel China to the belligerence that U.S. sanctions, held simply are an excuse to from six Balkans countries to
and aluminum exports and of Russia, Tusk said: "We are in check by a presiden- break with the rules-based assess their hopes of even-
reneging on an agreement witnessing today a new tial veto until now, could order of the World Trade tually joining the EU.q