Transatlantic Focus:
A U.S. Foreign Policy Newsletter

Secretary Rice's Trip to Europe and the Middle East

Secretary Rice visited United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Italy, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Israel and the West Bank from February 3-10. The goal of the Secretary's trip was to promote President Bush's agenda of democracy and freedom as keys to peace and prosperity in advance of his February 22-25 European trip. Secretary Rice also worked to identify a common agenda for 2005 with European and U.S. partners in the Middle East.  She predicted that the president is "going to find a very constructive environment there."

Rice Says U.S. Wants to Work with Europe, NATO on Issues Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the United States seeks to work with European and NATO allies in pursuit of diplomatic opportunities to support reform and democracy. "We certainly have a lot of work to do together, we and the Europeans, and we've been through a difficult time, there's no doubt," Rice said in an interview with ZDF German television in Berlin February 4. "But now we see a whole range of opportunities before us, opportunities that diplomacy can help us achieve," she added. read more U.S., Europe Looking Beyond Past Disagreements, Rice Says

Rice Says NATO Members in Clear Agreement on Alliance Agenda Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the United States and its European allies in NATO are in agreement on the issues before them and will be taking practical steps to advance the alliance’s agenda. Following an informal working lunch for NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium, February 9, Rice emphasized the unity within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization during discussions on matters from the Middle East to the Balkans. Secretary Rice's news conference at NATO 

U.S.-European Relations Ready for "New Chapter," Rice Says Wrapping up a visit to Israel, the West Bank and eight European countries, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says U.S.-European relations are ready to start a "new chapter." Speaking to reporters on her plane February 10 en route to Shannon, Ireland, Rice said everyone she spoke to during her trip was ready to try to "turn a new page" after the difficulties of dissent regarding Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Everywhere, people were talking about the way forward. There really wasn't much discussion of what we've been through and there was really an acknowledgement that we've got a big agenda ahead of us," Rice said. read more Secretary Rice's speech on transatlantic Relations at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris - Sciences Po

Defense Secretary Rumsfeld attends Defense Ministerial and Munich Conference on European Security

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and NATO Ambassador Nicholas Burns at Press Conference in Nice, France
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld praised NATO February 10 after a ministerial meeting in Nice, France. “There’s a lot of good things happening in this alliance," he told journalists. He said it would have been inconceivable for NATO to run missions in Afghanistan and Iraq when he was an envoy there in the 1970s. The defense ministers agreed during the meetings on a major expansion of NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. read more Progress Cited in NATO Training of Iraqi Security Forces   Secretary of Defense and NATO Ambassador at Press Conference in Nice, France

Rumsfeld Stresses Unity, Cooperation at Security Conference Allies must cooperate, while respecting and understanding one another's points of view in the interest of their collective security, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today. At the 41st Munich Conference on European Security, the secretary told the delegates that NATO's enemies know their cause benefits from divisions and differences within the alliance. "But we know that our collective security depends on our cooperation and mutual respect and understanding" he said. read more

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

Bush To Seek $100 Million To Modernize Polish Military President Bush met with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski at the White House February 9 and told the Polish leader he would ask the U.S. Congress for $100 million to help modernize the country’s armed forces. Speaking in a joint press availability, Bush said his administration will “make requests that will enable there to be a military-to-military expenditure to help Poland modernize.” read more

Democratic Reforms in Kosovo ‘Cannot Wait,' U.S. Says The United States is urging the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo to accelerate efforts to reform local government, improve security, and provide "an environment conducive for the return of those who have been displaced." "Democratic reform in Kosovo, including reform of local government, cannot wait," said U.S. Ambassador Stephan Minikes said in remarks to the OSCE Permanent Council February 10. read more

Transatlantic Focus: A U.S. Foreign Policy Newsletter
is published and distributed by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Mission to NATO - Brussels.