KRAKOW, Poland, May 31 (UPI) -- President Bush called on a new transatlantic unity Saturday in the wake of disagreements over Iraq, saying only the enemies of freedom benefit from divisions.
Speaking in the Polish capital, the first stop in seven days of diplomacy and negotiations on several fronts, Bush said Europe and the United States share the same ideals and goals.
Bush announced what he said was a new international effort to stem the proliferation of weapons on mass destruction and invited more European states to participate.
"When weapons of mass destruction or their components are in transit, we must have the means and authority to seize them," Bush said. "So today I announce a new effort a new effort to fight proliferation, called the Proliferation Security Initiative."
Bush said the U.S. and "a number of our close allies, including Poland" are joining in an effort "to search planes and ships carrying suspect cargo and to seize illegal weapons and missile technologies."
Over time, he continued, "we will extend this partnership as broadly as possible to keep the world's most destructive weapons away from our shores and out of the hands of our common enemies."
Addressing the concerns of several countries about the Iraq war, Bush said, "Armed force is always the last resort."
Bush stressed themes of unity while stressing the benefits of the Iraq operation.
"The United States is committed to a strong Atlantic alliance, to ensure our security, to advance human freedom and to keep peace in the world," Bush said.
Poland, he said, was soon to become a member of the European Union and was a full member of the Atlantic Alliance. "You have not come all this way through occupations, and tyranny and brave uprisings only to be told that you must now choose between Europe and America," Bush said.
"Poland is a good citizen of Europe and Poland is a good friend of America," he said, "and there is no conflict between the two."
Bush said that the future should include transatlantic cooperation in an era of continual terror threats and of threats of spreading weapons of mass destruction.
"All the good that has come to this continent -- all the progress, the prosperity, the peace -- came because beyond the barbed wire there were people who were willing to take up arms against evil," Bush said, prompting prolonged applause.
"History asks more than memory, because hatred and aggression and murderous ambitions are still alive in the world," he added.
Bush also pledged to work as hard as he could to bring about his vision of an Israel existing "side by side" with a Palestinian state in peace.
