16/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Between the United States and the Union, "there certainly are differences", Rosckwell A. Schnabel, American Ambassador to the EU acknowledged on Thursday, when meeting the press. However, for Washington - where despite everything the transatlantic relationship is regarded as "excellent" - it is a question of "differences of opinion" rather than fundamental disparities carrying the germs of a possible break, as some of the European "elite" fear (see the words of Javier Solana, in EUROPE of 14 January, p8). In the United States, "85-90% of the people believe that what we are doing with Europe is good", and "we attach ourselves to what's positive - very, very good things that are being done", he said referring to a recent poll. In addition, he considers, the threat weighing on us all that Saddam Hussein is suspected of having provided Iraq with weapons of mass destruction raises "great fear in Europe, and even in the United States". And "in the end, nobody in the United States, or Europe, wants this war. It's really up to Saddam Hussein to act, either by handing over these weapons, or eliminating them, or leaving … Perhaps he would be well advised to seek asylum somewhere", said Mr. Schnabel.