US: US Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice began her European and Middle East tour yesterday seeking to calm fears on this side of the Atlantic and emphasise the value President Bush's new administration places on diplomacy.
In London, she insisted an attack on Iran was not on America's agenda "at this point in time." And she has underlined American resolve to exploit the "greater opportunity now for progress" toward a Middle East peace settlement following the appointment of the new Palestinian leader Mr Mahmoud Abbas.
Speaking on the first stage of her whirlwind tour of Europe and the Middle East, Ms Rice also emphasised the desire of President Bush "to reinvigorate our relations across Europe, to take our partnership to a new level of support and engagement with those who are on the road to new freedom." Ms Rice was speaking at a press conference alongside British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw after a meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.
Ms Rice said she had decided to come to Britain first because America had "no better friend and no better ally." And she gave Mr Blair and British diplomacy a boost as she confirmed she would be attending next month's Palestinian conference in London.
Both Ms Rice and Mr Straw expressed the hope and belief that the success of Iraq's elections would help heal world divisions over the war.
The US Secretary of State attacked the Iranian regime's "abysmal human rights record" and insisted the Iranian people "deserved better."
But when asked if she envisaged circumstances in which the US might attack Iran over its nuclear programme, Ms Rice replied: "The question is simply not on the agenda at this point in time. We have many diplomatic tools still at our disposable and we intend to pursue them fully."
But there was also a warning when she said the diplomatic efforts of the UK, France and Germany had given Iranian regime the opportunity to show it was serious about living up to its obligations: "They ought to take it."
Ms Rice said she would be using her week-long trip to reinvigorate relations across Europe , and especially looked forward "to discussions about how we can sustain the momentum that is now developing towards a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to get back on to the 'road map' and to lead ultimately to a two- state solution.
"I decided to come first to Britain because we have no better friend, we have no better ally. We have done so much together and we still have so much to do together. We have watched remarkable events in Iraq, the Palestinian territories and in Afghanistan, as people demonstrate once again that the goal of freedom. . . is truly universal."
In Berlin, Dr Rice continued to praise America's erstwhile allies, saying that the US was prepared to let France, Germany and Russia continue their "tremendous" diplomatic efforts - for the moment.
"Now is the time for diplomacy and to put our alliance to work.Diplomacy can work if there is a unity of purpose and unity of message to Iran of what the international community expects of them, to live up to their obligations." France, Germany and Russia are giving Iran a chance, she said. "I hope the Iranians will take the opportunity being presented to them." However she added that, in her opinion, "the Middle East is in need of reform and change, and I have no difficulty continuing to say that".
Mr Schröder said he was unconcerned about reports of the US encouraging opposition groups within Iran to bring about regime change and perhaps frustrating the search for a diplomatic solution. He said he had heard something different in the recent speeches of President Bush.
"I understood the American president that he is in his heart a democrat," he said, adding that it was not the goal of democracy was under discussion, but rather "the question of the instruments".
The two politicians went to great lengths to get on in front of the cameras, smiling and joking with each other.
Both were anxious to draw a line under past differences over Iraq. Dr Rice praised Germany's involvement in Afghanistan and in training Iraqis in the United Arab Emirates. She said Germany and the US "share deep values" that had "passed the test of history".