STRENGTHENING THE TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE: AN OVERVIEW OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S POLICIES IN EUROPE
Philip H. Gordon
US Department of State
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June 17 2009
Statement before the Subcommittee on Europe of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee
Chairman Wexler, Congressman Gallegly, members of the Committee, thank
you for the opportunity to speak to you today about Administration
policies and priorities in Europe and strategies to further strengthen
the transatlantic relationship.
President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and I are committed to
reinvigorating and deepening the traditional relationships of
confidence and trust we share with Europe. Europe is eager to
reciprocate and increase the breadth of our close relationship, one
that is based on shared values, including an enduring commitment to
democracy, transparency, accountability, respect for human rights,
and the rule of law. Today, I will highlight some examples of what the
United States and Europe have achieved and what our policy objectives
are going forward. To do that, I will touch on three strategic
priorities for the Administration in Europe: European engagement
on global challenges; a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace;
and a renewed relationship with Russia.
Many of our European partners are among the most prosperous,
democratic, and militarily capable countries in the world. Working
with our European allies both bilaterally and multilaterally will
remain critical to success in tackling the many global challenges
we face together. The United States cooperates with Europe on all
of the most important global challenges, including restoring growth
and confidence in the world financial system; fighting poverty and
pandemic disease; countering terrorism and nuclear proliferation;
advancing peace in the Middle East; promoting human rights; and
combating trafficking in persons. Still, there are other areas where
our cooperation with Europe needs to increase. We can and must do
more to address challenges like ongoing operations in Afghanistan
and Iraq; instability in Pakistan; Iranian and North Korean nuclear
weapons programs; energy security and climate change. As President
Obama has said, "The United States is ready to lead, and we call upon
our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose."
Critical Partnerships
One of the Administration’s most important priorities will be to
continue the historic American project of helping to extend stability,
security, prosperity, and democracy to all of Europe and Eurasia. The
objective of all Presidents since World War II, both Democratic and
Republican, has been to work with Europe to realize a joint vision of
a Europe whole, free, and at peace. One of the ways the United States
seeks to further this goal is through our critical partnerships
in Europe – which include the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), the European Union (EU), and the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
NATO
In April, NATO, the most successful alliance in history, celebrated
its 60th Anniversary. Allies initiated a discussion of the Alliance’s
future and tasked the Secretary General to launch a review of NATO’s
Strategic Concept to insure that NATO is both prepared and equipped
to meet the new security challenges of the 21st Century, including
extremism, terrorism, proliferation, insurgency, failed states,
piracy, and cyber threats.
Also at the Summit, Allies welcomed Albania and Croatia as
NATO’s newest members, reinforcing the message that NATO’s door
remains open. The United States joined Allies in welcoming France’s
return, after over 40 years, to the integrated NATO military command
structure. France’s full participation in NATO is a symbol of a renewed
European commitment to NATO. Finally, Allies selected former Danish
Prime Minister Rasmussen as the next Secretary General of NATO, to
lead the reform of the Alliance so that it retains the flexibility
and resources required to meet the new challenges of our time.
The United States also remains unequivocally committed to our Article
5 commitment; we will not waiver from the enduring premise that an
attack against one is an attack against all. As NATO Heads of State and
Government reaffirmed at the Summit in Strasbourg-Kehl, "the strong
collective defense of our populations, territory, and forces is the
core purpose of the Alliance and remains our most important security
task." We will continue to support adequate planning, exercises, and
training to ensure NATO has the capabilities to remain as relevant
to the security of Allied populations in the 21st century as it was
in the 20th century.
Some of the most pivotal outcomes of the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit
dealt with Afghanistan. On March 27, the President announced a new
strategy for ensuring vital U.S. national interests in Afghanistan
and Pakistan. This strategy for the first time integrates our
civilian and military efforts in both countries, with the goal of
disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al-Qaeda and eliminating its
safe-havens. The Alliance unanimously endorsed this new strategy in
Strasbourg. While the Summit was not a pledging conference, Allies
and partners committed to provide 3000 new forces for Afghan election
security and over a thousand new trainers, troops and civilians to
support this new strategy. These new contributions will support
political growth and security transformation in Afghanistan and
contribute to regional stability.
Despite all of these positive developments, I do not wish to understate
the enormity of the challenges we face – or the consequences of
failure. Although Allies and Partners currently contribute over 32,000
troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan (ISAF), we look forward to their additional contributions
in the form of troops, civilian assistance or funds. The UK, Germany,
Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Turkey provide
especially valuable support to the Afghanistan mission. Allied troops
are deployed throughout Afghanistan, although some nations continue
to impose "caveats" that restrict where their troops can go and what
missions they can conduct. Our commanders in the field have asked for
maximum flexibility in deploying Allied troops assigned to ISAF, and
we continue to press Allies to eliminate caveats. The United States
currently provides approximately 29,000 troops to ISAF. Most of our
additional deployments will also come under ISAF.
We recognize that there is not a purely military solution to the
conflict, and that we must complement the security NATO provides
by increasing international civilian assistance to Afghanistan. In
partnership with the NSC, Special Representative for Afghanistan
and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke is leading the overall effort for the
Administration and has assembled an interagency team in Washington
to coordinate with our military and to implement the President’s new
strategy more effectively.
EU
Another increasingly important partnership for the United States is
with the European Union, which has become one of our most crucial
partners in addressing regional and global challenges in Europe and
around the world. Our priorities for U.S.-EU cooperation cover almost
all major U.S. foreign policy concerns including: energy security,
climate change, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and the Middle East. The
President raised each of these issues with his European counterparts
at the April 5 EU Summit in Prague. He also assured them that the
United States will be a ready partner on all these issues.
We are listening to our European partners and consulting
with them closely, but also calling on them to bear their fair
share of responsibilities for defending and promoting our common
interests. During the Swedish EU Presidency that will begin on July
1, we look forward to continued close, results-oriented U.S.-EU
cooperation. In July, I will meet with counterparts from the 27 EU
member states, the European Commission, and the Council Secretariat.
The United States and the EU have the largest economic relationship
in the world. Together, we generate 60 percent of world GDP. We will
continue to work with the EU to promote the growth of our own market
and support free trade and open investment around the world through
the Transatlantic Economic Council. We will also cooperate with the
EU to mitigate the effects of climate change, an issue that is now
front and center in our foreign policy. The Department’s Special Envoy
for Climate Change, Todd Stern, will work with our partners in Europe
and around the globe to craft environmentally sound, scientifically
driven, and pragmatic solutions to the world’s toughest environmental
challenges and to lay the foundation for a successful outcome at this
December’s UN climate conference in Copenhagen.
The EU also shares our concerns on security issues, such as Iran,
including its nuclear activities, support for terrorism, and the
domestic human rights situation. The EU-3 (France, Germany, and
the United Kingdom) have worked closely with us in the P5+1 (the
permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany), while
EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy
Javier Solana has served as the representative of the P5+1 in direct
negotiations with the Iranians on the nuclear issue. In addition to UN
Security Council resolutions, the EU has also implemented additional
autonomous sanctions intended to press the Iranians to come to the
negotiating table.
The United States and the EU are coordinating closely on providing
significant financial, political, and military support for Afghanistan
and Pakistan. Among other priorities, we are working to alleviate the
refugee situation in Pakistan, and to monitor upcoming elections and
train police in Afghanistan.
The EU is also a crucial partner in our efforts to bring peace to
the Middle East. As the largest donor to the Palestinian people,
the EU worked closely with us earlier this year on the resolution of
the conflict in Gaza, and it has consistently been a strong partner
for us within the Quartet (the United States, Russia, the EU, and
the UN). The EU has offered to reactivate and expand its dormant Gaza
border monitoring mission while maintaining an ongoing police and rule
of law training mission in the West Bank designed to complement our own
efforts to improve the capabilities of the Palestinian security forces.
Energy is increasingly at the heart of U.S. and European security
concerns. The mutual focus on energy independence and new energy
technologies – combined with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine gas issues,
energy price volatility, the financial crisis and ongoing climate
negotiations – necessitates deeper transatlantic energy cooperation. We
are committed to working with the EU to develop access to alternative
sources of gas, such as the Southern Corridor, which could tap into
Caspian and Middle Eastern supplies, delivering gas to many of Europe’s
most vulnerable markets. European energy security is strengthened when
prices for natural gas, a key strategic commodity, are determined by
market rather than monopoly forces. Increasing such market efficiencies
requires greater competition in European gas markets through increased
diversified supplies of gas from the Caspian region and Iraq, as well
as via liquefied natural gas; interconnections of European natural gas
networks; and application of European competition policy to prevent
manipulation of gas prices. The President appointed Ambassador Richard
Morningstar to be Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy and has asked him
to take the lead in coordinating our work with Europe to enhance and
strengthen our cooperation to address European energy security.
OSCE
The OSCE is an important regional organization for promoting security
defending human rights, and supporting democratic development
throughout Europe and Eurasia. Our challenge is to reinvigorate the
OSCE as a key promoter of fundamental freedoms, human rights, and
civil society as necessary components of security in the region. The
Secretary will initiate a structured dialogue on priority security
issues when she attends the informal OSCE ministerial in Corfu later
this month.
G-20
We also continue to work closely with our European partners through
the G-20. At the April G-20 London Summit, the United States and
the EU committed to steps that will address the global financial
crisis. We are now following through on those commitments, which
include strengthening international financial institutions, including
the International Monetary Fund and the Multilateral Development Banks,
in preparation for the next meeting of G-20 leaders in Pittsburgh
this September. Together with the other G-20 participants, we are
resisting protectionism and promoting global trade and investment.
Europe Whole Free & at Peace
Over two decades ago, the United States set out a vision for working
with our European allies and partners on a Europe whole, free, and
at peace, extending the zone of peace and prosperity throughout all
of Europe. Many Central and Eastern European countries are now full
members of NATO and the EU – this reality is one of Europe’s most
significant post-Cold War accomplishments. Yet we still have unfinished
business in extending that vision and prosperity to Europe’s south
and east. Critical challenges remain, and only through collective
action will we continue to make progress.
The global economic crisis has created additional pressures on our
European friends and Allies and particular challenges for accomplishing
our shared objectives in Europe and around the world. Europe’s
stability and prosperity affect its strength as a global partner of
the United States. Economic uncertainty may also aggravate Europe’s
internal questions of identity, including those related to immigration,
race, globalization, and trade. The economic crisis has hit certain
parts of Europe especially hard, and we may very well see conditions
get worse before they get better. Still, we must not allow this crisis
to derail the critical work of pursuing a Europe whole, free, and
at peace. Our collective security objectives will not be reached by
decreasing capacities or turning increasingly inward. On the contrary,
we must continue to make the case to our friends and Allies that,
despite the devastating effects of the economic crisis, the many
global and security challenges we face are too critical to ignore.
Turkey
Turkey is crucial to success in many of our most important foreign
policy priorities, including stability and prosperity in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Iraq, achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East,
securing European energy diversity and resolving frozen conflicts
and regional disputes. We support Turkey’s aspirations for eventual
membership in the EU as Turkey advances reforms that will make
it an even stronger partner. We encourage the EU to reach out to
Turkey to demonstrate real prospects for membership. Doing so will
serve as a catalyst for additional internal reforms. We are also
encouraging Turkey to make additional needed reforms required to meet
membership criteria, reforms that will strengthen Turkey’s democracy
and economy. We encourage Turkey to take steps that will bolster its
relations with its neighbors by re-opening the Halki Seminary and
normalizing relations with Armenia, including a candid exploration
of the two countries’ sometimes tragic history. We must also work to
resolve outstanding disputes in the Aegean, to reduce prospects for
heightened military tensions in a strategic area. Turkey is also at the
center of U.S. and European Union efforts to diversify European gas
supplies by expanding a "Southern Corridor" of energy infrastructure
to transport Caspian (and eventually Iraqi) gas to Europe.
Armenia
The United States seeks to help Armenia strengthen its security
and prosperity by settling Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh and by encouraging Turkey and Armenia to normalize
their relations. We believe these two processes should proceed
separately, but in parallel, and at different speeds. Armenia and
Turkey announced in their April 22 joint statement they had "agreed
on a comprehensive framework for the normalization of their bilateral
relations." This represents an historic opportunity as Turkey and
Armenia are closer than ever before to normalizing relations and
re-opening their border. Meanwhile, the United States has helped
invigorate progress towards a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement through
its mediation as a Co-chair of the OSCE’s Minsk Group. The meetings
of Armenian President Sargsian and Azerbaijani President Aliyev
on May 7 in Prague and June 4 in St. Petersburg cleared the way to
accelerate efforts to finalize a framework agreement by the end of
2009. We also seek to advance democratic and market economic reform
in Armenia, including through the Millennium Challenge Corporation
Compact with Armenia.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is an important partner of the United States on regional
security (especially counterterrorism) and on helping our European
allies diversify their supplies of natural gas. Azerbaijan also exports
nearly one million barrels of oil per day to global markets via the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, free from geographic chokepoints (such as
the Turkish Straits and the Straits of Hormuz) and from monopolistic
pressures. As noted above, the United States has helped generate new
progress toward a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our
U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE’s Minsk Group, Deputy Assistant Secretary
Matt Bryza, joined his Russian and French colleagues in facilitating
five meetings between Presidents Sargsian and Aliyev over the past
year. Secretary Clinton has been personally engaged in a series of
discussions with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, including meetings
with Foreign Ministers Mammadyarov and Nalbandian in Washington on
May 5.
I made my first trip to the Caucasus last week, where I visited
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to pursue our objectives in the region.
Cyprus
We will also continue to support the current negotiations in Cyprus
– led by the two Cypriot communities under the auspices of the UN
Good Offices Mission. Resolution of the Cyprus problem will have a
tremendous impact on the region by strengthening peace, justice and
prosperity on the island, advancing Turkey’s EU accession, improving
NATO-EU cooperation and removing a source of friction between two
NATO Allies, Greece and Turkey. As President Obama said, we are
"willing to offer all the help sought by the parties as they work
toward a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a
bizonal and bicommunal federation."
Greece
Greece is an important NATO Ally and the people-to-people ties between
our countries run deep, sentiments the President reiterated to Prime
Minister Karamanlis when they met in April. We look forward to working
with Greece on a host of global challenges ranging from piracy to non
proliferation. We also recognize the role Greece plays in important
regional issues, including in the Balkans, the Aegean and Cyprus,
and through its current chairmanship of the OSCE. We support Greece’s
application for the Visa Waiver Program, and together, we are moving
the process forward.
Balkans
We are showing renewed leadership in the Balkans where more than
a decade after Western interventions, the forces of democracy,
openness, and modernity still struggle against backward-looking ethnic
nationalism and intolerance. In concert with our European partners,
we are intensifying our engagement with the region’s leaders and
pressing for reforms that will advance their states toward the
European mainstream. The Administration places great importance
on completing the task of fully integrating the Balkan region into
the Euro-Atlantic community. However, much work remains to secure a
peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
Macedonia
Supporting Macedonia’s integration into NATO and the EU remains
a vital element in our efforts to promote peace and stability in
the Balkans. As Allies reaffirmed at the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit,
Macedonia will join NATO as soon the name issue is resolved. We would
like to see this issue resolved soon. To that end, and in keeping with
longstanding U.S. policy, we support a mutually acceptable solution
to Macedonia’s name through the ongoing UN process led by Ambassador
Nimetz. Deputy Secretary Steinberg delivered that message personally
during his visits to Athens and Skopje in May.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In his recent trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vice President Biden
made clear our continuing commitment to help the country overcome its
wartime legacy and transition to a modern state that can join NATO
and the EU. To do so, Bosnia’s leaders must abandon divisive rhetoric
and actions that threaten or violate the Dayton Peace Agreement, which
remains the foundation for stability. Reforms that have been achieved
must be protected, state-level institutions must be strengthened,
and attempts to undermine them must stop.
Bosnia’s leaders must work across ethnic lines to reach compromises
on governmental reforms that will enable the country to meet its
Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Recently, while in Bosnia, Vice President
Biden and EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security
Policy Javier Solana stressed that Bosnia’s future is in Europe,
and it is natural that the EU will take on a greater role in guiding
the reform process consistent with EU accession requirements. But
before the Office of the High Representative can transition to an EU
Special Representative, the so called "five plus two" reform agenda
of outstanding Dayton implementation and state building objectives
and conditions must be completed.
Serbia
The Vice President also met with Serbian President Tadic, Prime
Minister Cvetkovic, and Defense Minister Sutanovac to stress the
Administration’s intent to reinvigorate the relationship. He made
clear that, despite our differences over Kosovo, we have extensive
common interests, and the United States stands ready to support Serbia
as it moves towards full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic
institutions. This includes strengthened ties and membership in the
European Union and closer cooperation with NATO, including eventual
membership when Serbia is ready. The Vice President stressed that
Serbia must uphold its commitment to work with the international
community on practical humanitarian matters in Kosovo that will
help improve the lives of all of Kosovo’s citizens, including ethnic
Serbs. Belgrade’s full cooperation with the EU rule of law mission
remains a key element in this. Vice President Biden also emphasized
that we expect Serbia to continue its efforts to capture and extradite
to The Hague the remaining war crimes fugitives Ratko Mladic and
Goran Hadzic.
Montenegro
Montenegro is a new democracy, strongly committed to integration into
Euro-Atlantic institutions, including NATO and the EU. In his May
trip to Montenegro, Deputy Secretary Steinberg reaffirmed our strong
support for Montenegro’s NATO and EU aspirations and encouraged the
government to continue to play a stabilizing role in the region. He
also stressed the need to step up efforts to strengthen rule of law,
as well as transparency and accountability in government.
Kosovo
Kosovo’s success as an independent state within its current
borders remains a critically important factor for stability in the
Balkans. Yesterday (June 15th), Kosovo celebrated the one-year
anniversary of the establishment of its constitution, and it
has made tremendous progress during the sixteen months since its
independence. Kosovo’s independence is irreversible. To date, sixty
countries from around the world have formally recognized Kosovo. The
shareholders of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank also
recently voted to admit Kosovo as a member. Membership in these
international financial institutions will help Kosovo’s efforts to
achieve economic stability and prosperity for the benefit of all
its citizens.
Kosovo’s leadership is upholding its commitments to build a multiethnic
democracy, with far-reaching protections for Kosovo Serb and other
minority communities. The government has demonstrated Kosovo is willing
and able to play a constructive role as a responsible member of the
international community. Of course, much work remains as Kosovo’s
leaders build for the future. The United States will support Kosovo as
it re-doubles efforts to build governing capacity, develop a sound
economy and environment for investment, and maintain momentum in
creation of a robust, multi-ethnic democracy.
Eurasia
Furthermore, in promoting a peaceful, united, and democratic Europe
and Eurasia, we must strongly support the sovereignty and independence
of all European states, including those that emerged out of the former
Soviet Union.
Georgia
The United States strongly supports Georgia’s territorial integrity
and sovereignty and its commitment to further democratic reform. We
must work with our international partners, including the UN, OSCE
and EU, to improve the security and humanitarian situation throughout
Georgia and to increase international access to the separatist regions
of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We will maintain solidarity with the
international community in refusing to recognize the independence of
these separatist regions of Georgia. We regret that Russia blocked
the extension of the OSCE and UN missions in Georgia. EU monitors
play a crucial role in defusing tension along the administrative
border between South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia. On June 22,
2009, Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Vashadze will chair the
inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Council,
based on the charter our two countries concluded in January 2009,
which reaffirms our commitment to deepen cooperation with Georgia.
Ukraine
The United States is committed to insuring a prosperous, democratic,
and independent Ukraine by helping consolidate its democratic
institutions and continue reforms. It is important for Ukraine’s
leaders to work together to address its serious economic crisis as
well, including taking all necessary steps to implement the $16.4
billion IMF Standby Program.
The United States strongly supports the right of both Ukraine and
Georgia to pursue their membership aspirations in NATO. To achieve
NATO membership, both countries must complete rigorous reforms to
meet NATO’s performance-based standards. Under the auspices of the
NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia Commissions, Allies, including the United
States, are working with both countries to provide concrete advice,
assistance, and practical support to help guide these efforts.
Moldova
A country that has been a concern recently is Moldova, where repeat
parliamentary elections will take place after the parliament failed
to elect a president. We will urge the Government of Moldova to
conduct the elections in a fair and transparent manner, seriously
addressing concerns raised about the conduct of the previous
parliamentary elections, including accurate voter lists and a free
and independent media. This would increase confidence in Moldova’s
democratic institutions and demonstrate that Moldova remains on
a path of reform and democratic development. We will continue to
work for a negotiated settlement of the separatist conflict in the
Transnistria region that provides for a whole and democratic Moldova
and the withdrawal of Russian forces.
Belarus
In Belarus, we will encourage the regime to emerge from isolation
and to respect the Belarusian people’s basic rights and democratic
aspirations through undertaking genuine political and economic
reform. Our assistance program in Belarus complements these goals.
Russia
As we work to promote security, prosperity and democracy across
Eurasia, the Obama Administration is committed to reinvigorating our
relations with Russia and looks forward to building a relationship
based on respect and mutual cooperation. President Obama and
President Medvedev met in London on April 1, where they reaffirmed
that Washington and Moscow share common visions of many of the
threats and opportunities in the world today. The two presidents’
joint declaration recognized that more unites us than divides us. The
task is now to translate that sentiment into actual achievements as
we look ahead to a July summit in Moscow.
We also share major common interests and will work together on these
important areas. In this regard, Presidents Obama and Medvedev agreed
to develop a robust agenda for bilateral cooperation, agreeing to
work together on a variety of issues, including reducing strategic
nuclear weapons and enhancing nuclear security, and to cooperate on
such issues as counterterrorism, counternarcotics, Iran, North Korea,
the environment, strengthening civil society, and the global economic
crisis. We also appreciate the Russian decision to allow non-lethal
transit through their territory to assist international efforts in
Afghanistan, a mission that has clear security implications for
Russia and an area that offers the United States and Russia more
common ground on which to constructively work together in the future.
Another part of that agenda will be the negotiation of a follow-on
agreement to the START treaty, which is set to expire on December 5,
2009. So far, there have been two rounds of productive meetings in May
and June. The negotiators are charged with reporting their progress
to the Presidents during their meeting in Moscow in July.
Russia and the United States bear a special responsibility for the
future safety of the world. We are working very hard together to
find practical solutions, including through the UN Conference on
Disarmament, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Cooperative Threat
Reduction programs, and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism.
One of the outstanding issues we face is the drift in relations
between Russia and the NATO alliance, as well as the weakening of
European security structures triggered by Russia’s suspension of its
implementation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. At
the OSCE ministerial in Corfu, we will discuss ways to strengthen
European security. We are pleased that the NATO-Russia Council will
also meet at the ministerial level on the margins to resume dialogue
and refocus on areas of shared interest. The Secretary spoke about an
"all weather" forum for dialogue where areas of common interest and
grave importance to our shared and global security can always be
discussed. We welcome a dialogue with Russia in the OSCE about its
ideas for a new European security architecture. We remain committed
to working through and improving existing structures and mechanisms
for joint cooperation on European security. The OSCE will serve as
an important forum for such a discussion, as the sole multilateral
organization in Europe that brings us all together on equal terms.
At the same time that we reinvigorate our relations with Russia, we
will not abandon our principles or ignore concerns about democracy
and human rights. While we look forward to forming a more cooperative
partnership with Russia, we have no illusions that this will be easy or
that we will not continue to have differences. The United States will
not recognize a Russian sphere of influence. The United States will
also continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Russia’s neighbors. They have the right to make their own decisions
and choose their own alliances. The United States and Russia can
still work together where our interests coincide while seeking to
narrow our differences in an open and mutually respectful way.
Western Europe
As we recognize the many challenges that we face in spreading security,
prosperity, and democracy to South and Eastern Europe, it is also
important that we recognize and continue to work with our traditional
friends and allies in Europe’s West.
The United States enjoys some of its closest and most productive
partnerships with the countries in this region. President Obama made
two visits to reinforce these relationships in the first five months of
his presidency. Our Allies throughout Europe share an enduring set of
common interests and values with us and they also possess the ability
to bring real assets to the table – diplomatic, financial, and military
– for joint action to promote and defend those interests. The United
States is grateful to all of these countries and our NATO partners in
other regions such as Australia for their significant contributions
to the joint mission in Afghanistan, and looks forward to continuing
our close cooperation as we begin implementing the new strategy
there. Sixty years ago, our nations came together to fight a common
enemy that threatened the freedom of the citizens of Europe. Today,
we continue to work together with these important Allies on many new
and emerging threats.
Global Cooperation
Finally, let me address several specific issues, some old and others
very new, which pose significant challenges to the United States and
our transatlantic friends. As President Obama said on his first trip
to Europe, "America can’t meet our global challenges alone; nor can
Europe meet them without America."
Foreign Assistance
An integral part of working with our European partners on global issues
is being a good partner ourselves. Specifically this involves making
good on our foreign assistance commitments and maintaining them in the
years to come. The job we started after the fall of the Berlin Wall
– to help nurture democratic and economic reform among the states
of the former Soviet Union — is far from over. Many countries in
Central and Eastern Europe have been phased out of foreign assistance,
primarily because of their membership in the EU or NATO. Countries
that are still receiving our help in making the democratic transition
arguably present an even tougher challenge today, especially during a
global economic downturn. U.S. foreign assistance invests in American
security by contributing to European security and helping build stable
and full participants in the transatlantic community.
Our assistance is essential to bolstering the efforts of still-fragile
reformers like Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova to integrate into
Euro-Atlantic institutions. In the Balkans, our Fiscal Year 2010
request to Congress represents a re-balancing of aid levels to maintain
robust funding for Kosovo, to increase aid to consolidate progress in
Albania and Macedonia, to strengthen reforms in Serbia, and to ensure
that Bosnia and Herzegovina gets back on the path to Euro-Atlantic
integration. We are seeking additional resources to prevent or reverse
further democratic backsliding in places like Belarus, Azerbaijan,
and Armenia. In Russia, we focus on programs to promote democratic
development and human rights to enhance cooperation with Moscow to
counter nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and global health scourges.
Our military assistance to Europe and Eurasia, for which we seek
to restore funding following sharp cuts in 2008 and 2009, pays us
dividends by building new capabilities in countries that support
our security operations abroad, including Afghanistan, and by
improving the professionalism of European forces, and developing
their interoperability with NATO.
Public Diplomacy
One of the most important components of global cooperation in the 21st
century is our Public Diplomacy strategy. That involves being able
to effectively communicate with European governments and publics in
a way that creates an understanding of our policy objectives, lays
the groundwork for concerted action with European partners beyond
Europe’s borders, and engages Europe’s young generation of "first
time voters" to create a sense of common values and purpose with the
United States. To do this, the Department is engaged in rapid and
targeted delivery of policy messages to meet ever-shorter news cycles;
developing innovative uses of new media to engage youth audiences;
expanding programs that invite dialogue – listening as well as talking;
and creating new exchange programs that allow us to engage Europe’s
future leaders, and in expanding our use of our soft power tools,
like culture and sports, to open doors and begin dialogue.
Engagement with Muslims in Europe
Another crucial aspect of our strategy is to engage constructively
with Muslim populations in Europe. As President Obama said during
his trip to Turkey in April and in his Cairo speech earlier this
month, the United States seeks a new beginning with Muslims around
the world, one based on mutual interest, mutual respect, and the
principles of justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all
human beings. The Department’s engagement efforts in Europe seek to
capitalize on these interests by improving understanding of the United
States, helping to build networks of European and American Muslims,
facilitating improved inter-community relations, and supporting
peaceful grassroots organizations, with a particular focus on youth
outreach. Our approaches are tailored to the different contexts and
the variety of Muslim communities in different countries, and include
engagement with students and community groups, internships, mentoring,
exchanges and many others.
Holocaust Issues
Yet another aspect of our global cooperation involves engaging the
countries of Europe to help those still-living survivors of one
of the worst genocides in the history of the world, the Holocaust,
achieve some belated justice. The upcoming Conference on Holocaust
Era Assets offers us that opportunity. Former Deputy Treasury
Secretary Stuart Eizenstat will head the U.S. delegation to the
Prague Conference which will address five main themes: immovable
(real) property restitution and compensation, Nazi-confiscated art,
Holocaust education and remembrance, recovery of Judaica, and social
welfare needs of Holocaust survivors.
Counterterrorism
Another critically important area where the United States and Europe
work increasingly well together is counterterrorism. Steps taken
by European governments, often in concert with us, and ongoing
counterterrorism relationships with European countries have had
a direct and positive impact on the security of the continental
United States and our interests overseas. We cooperate closely on law
enforcement, cyber security, intelligence gathering and information
exchange, as well as on international transport security and border
control, and on dealing with the consequence of terrorist attacks. We
also work closely with European governments to freeze assets and
designate individuals and organizations with financial links to
terrorists.
Conclusion
The United States and Europe share the important responsibility of
leading the international effort to address our most pressing global
challenges. We also share core values – human rights, democracy and
the rule of law – a strong foundation as we work together on our
global agenda of advancing these core values as well as security,
prosperity, and stability to the entire European continent and around
the world. We must continue to embrace this responsibility to lead and
recognize that our results are best, and our partnership strongest,
when we work together.
Mr. Chairman, Congressman Gallegly, members of the Committee, I am
grateful for the opportunity to speak before you today, and I welcome
the opportunity to respond to your questions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
