Diplomats point to the successes in foreign policy co operation

IT IS perhaps inevitable that gloomy news predominates, rising to the top like oil in water. So it is far more likely that readers today will wake up around Europe to dire prognoses for European common foreign policy.

The headlines will probably say "EU ministers fail to agree on Iraq", not "Europe reaffirms common stance on Middle East" or "EU backs two year commitment to Bosnian peace process".

In truth, however, as diplomats complain, the latter represent important demonstrations that the" pot of political co operation is not half empty but half full. "A silent success story" was how the Dayton representative in Bosnia, Mr Carl Bildt, described the EU's Bosnia record.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring knew there was going to be no consensus on the US bombing of Iraq. Harmony was maintained by avoiding any reference to the bombing and reiterating the common ground opposition to the Iraqi action, a call for Iraq's immediate withdrawal, a reaffirmation that regional peace requires respect for the territorial integrity of all states in the region, and an insistence that the UN must soon agree to allow Iraqi oil sales to pay for food when the UN Secretary General deems it appropriate.

On the Middle East, the focus of the ministers discussion was concern that despite the talks in recent days between President, Arafat and the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, the dynamic of the peace process has been lost.

Perhaps the most important emerging consensus over the weekend, however, was the strong support Mr Spring reported at his final press conference for Mr Bildt's Bosnia strategy.

Warning that the international community faces its most formidable challenge in Bosnia in the aftermath of this week's election in making new power sharing institutions work, Mr Bildt has been canvassing support for a clear two year EU and US commitment to remain in the country.