Transatlantic Focus:
A U.S. Foreign Policy Newsletter

UNDERSECRETARY BURNS VISIT TO NATO

HARDTalk. Stephen Sackur talks to Nicholas Burns, the US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, at NATO headquarters in Brussels. more

Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns visited Brussels March 26-28 for discussions at NATO and the European Union on Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iran, and other priority issues. Speaking at the Center for European Policy Studies, Under Secretary Burns highlighted the "Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Transatlantic  Community." Under Secretary Burns also met with NATO Political Directors and NATO Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer to discuss military operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan. During a series of meetings with European leaders on Kosovo, Under Secretary Burns communicated strong U.S. support for UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari's plan for the future of Kosovo.

Afghanistan

Task Force Uruzgan expands presence near Helmand border March 16, 2007 Yesterday, as part of Operation Achilles, ISAF Dutch forces from Task Force Uruzgan entered a remote village 10 kilometers south of Deh Wood this week and were warmly greeted by local villagers. more

Rescue mission in Uruzgan Province accomplished March 20, 2007, ISAF resumed air rescue operations in the flooded Deh Rawod District near the Helmand-Uruzgan border this morning. Upon completion, an estimated 600 villagers have been rescued. more

Good progress in NATO-Russia counter-narcotics training initiative The NATO-Russia Council (NRC) Pilot Project for Counter-Narcotics Training of Afghan and Central Asian Personnel is set to make further progress in 2007, building on a good start last year. more

Iran

Iran Should Release British Sailors Unconditionally, U.S. Says. more

United States Policy Towards Iran; R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs; Testimony Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Washington, DC, March 29, 2007. more

IRAQ

Can Iraq Pay for Its Own Reconstruction? Ambassador David M. Satterfield, Senior Adviser and Coordinator for Iraq, Testimony Before the Joint Hearing of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia - Washington, DC - March 27, 2007. more

David M. Satterfield discusses "New Way Forward in Iraq" strategy. more

President Bush Meets with Vice President Adil Abd Al-Mahdi of Iraq "One of the reasons why -- the main reason why I've reinforced our troops in Iraq is to give leaders such as yourself the opportunity to do the hard work of reconciliation. I appreciate very much the progress that you're making. I know it's hard work. It's hard work to overcome distrust that has built up over the years because your country was ruled by a tyrant that created distrust amongst people." President George W. Bush March 15, 2007 more

President Bush Discusses Fourth Anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom Office of the Press Secretary March 19, 2007. more

Fact Sheet: Four Years Later: New Strategy Requires Patience and Determination.

BALKANS

NATO Secretary General visits Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer visited Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina on 16 March. This was his first visit to these two countries since they joined the Partnership for Peace Program in December of last year. more

middle east

“Two-State Solution: The Time Is Now
Secretary Rice: "There is a growing consensus behind President Bush’s vision of the State of Israel and the new State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security, as well as an urgent desire to achieve it." more

Press Availability With Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni Secretary Condoleezza Rice Jerusalem - March 26, 2007

MISSILE DEFENSE

Missile Defense: Fact vs. Fiction Ambassador Fried (Mar. 29): "...The notion that somehow missile defense has to be seen as part of an emerging arms race between the United States and Russia…has no relationship to reality and the debate about missile defense ought to be conducted in a way, it seems to me, that reflects reality… Where there needs to be more discussion is how the programs that may come into existence between the United States, Czech Republic and Poland can be fit into an all NATO system, what kind of integration and, of course, how possible collaboration with Russia would work.” more

5th Annual Missile Defense Conference Remarks by the Deputy Secretary of Defense The Honorable Gordon R. England 5th Annual Missile Defense Conference 20 March 2007. more

US-Turkey Relations

U.S.-Turkish Relations and the Challenges Ahead Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs; Testimony Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Europe, Washington, DC, March 15, 2007. more

U.S.-Turkish Relations and the Challenges Ahead  General Joseph Ralston (USAF, retired), Special Envoy Countering the Kurdistan Worker's Party ; Testimony Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Europe, Washington, DC, March 15, 2007. 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.