Aznar's Farewell to EU Leaders

26/03/2004| IslamWeb

The summit in Brussels is something of a swan song for Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. It is his last major meeting with EU leaders following the Popular Party's defeat in the Spanish elections. Diplomats said he played only a peripheral role in proceedings before leaving the conference early. With Spain soon to be under a new leadership Aznar's opposition to elements of the proposed EU constitution had become irrelevant. In a final address to his European counterparts Aznar vowed to "fight terrorism to the end" - a statement which reportedly drew sustained applause from his fellow leaders. At a press conference he was asked if he would stand in the forthcoming European parliamentary elections. He said no one had asked him to stand and that he had no plans to make myself a candidate. And he paid a warm tribute to the British prime minister. "Tony Blair is a great friend. He's one of the few worthy leaders in Europe" **PHOTO CAPTION*** Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar looks toward the media during arrivals for an EU summit in Brussels, Friday March 26, 2004. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)