Transatlantic Focus:
A U.S. Foreign Policy Newsletter

news from Washington

A New Century Agenda for the Ukrainian-American Strategic Partnership President Bush and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko issued a joint statement April 4 entitled, “A New Century Agenda for the Ukrainian-American Strategic Partnership.” The joint statement covers a variety of topics, including strengthening democratic institutions in Ukraine, including halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and TB, and fighting the trafficking of persons and child pornography. read more

Ukraine's Yushchenko Addresses Joint Session of U.S. Congress Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, speaking before a joint session of the U.S. Congress April 6, thanked the United States for believing in Ukraine's democratic future and for speaking out in support of free elections and the will of the Ukrainian people. "We highly appreciate the message sent by your country's leadership before the elections and during the Orange Revolution," said Yushchenko through an interpreter. read more

NATO Military Chairman Receives Highest Military Award from the U.S.   read more

United States Ready To Work with New Kosovo Prime Minister The United States stands ready to work with the new Kosovo prime minister, Bajram Kosumi, and his government as they prepare for a comprehensive review of the “Standards for Kosovo” later in 2005, American diplomat Paul Jones told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) April 7. read more

Secretary Rice To Travel to Russia, Lithuania April 19-21 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to travel to Moscow April 19-20 and then on to Vilnius, Lithuania, where she will participate in meetings of the NATO foreign ministers, the NATO-Russia Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the State Department announced April 8. read more

TRANSATLANTIC POLICY ISSUES

U.S., Canada Cooperate to End Russian Nuclear Proliferation Risk
A cooperative agreement to permanently shut down one of Russia’s last remaining reactors that produce weapons-grade plutonium was signed by Canada and the United States March 30, according to a Department of Energy press release. read more

Under Secretary of State Burns Outlines Trans-Atlantic Agenda Nicholas Burns, the State Department’s new under secretary for political affairs, says there is “a renewed spirit of purpose, compromise, and unity in Trans-Atlantic relations” and a “new tone” set by the successful visits to Europe in February of President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Burns outlined the U.S. view of the Trans-Atlantic agenda at Chatham House in London April 6 in his first major policy speech as under secretary. read more

United States Leads the World in Development Assistance  The United States continues to lead other donor countries in providing development assistance, giving more than $19 billion in 2004, says State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. The 2004 aid amount was double the amount the United States committed in 2000, Boucher said in an April 11 statement. read more

Macedonian Elections Flawed, United States Agrees with Observers The United States fully concurs with the preliminary findings and conclusions of an OSCE election observation mission regarding the second round of local elections in Macedonia on March 27. Although the second round was generally well conducted and orderly in most parts of the country, it did not meet key OSCE commitments guaranteeing universal and equal suffrage and ensuring ballot secrecy, according to a statement delivered April 7 to the OSCE by American diplomat Paul Jones. read more

Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick's Visit to Europe

Zoellick Thanks Estonia for Efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick told reporters in Tallinn, Estonia, April 4 that the United States is deeply appreciative of Estonia's contribution “to promoting freedom in other countries, particularly Afghanistan and Iraq.” During a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Rein Lang following their meeting, Zoellick responded to a question about how long Estonian troops should stay in Iraq by saying it is up to the Estonian people. read more

Zoellick, Slovenian Foreign Minister Discuss Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dmitrij Rupel said they focused during their meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia, March 28 on Kyrgyzstan and Kosovo. With Slovenia currently holding the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Rupel has played an active role in the events that have followed the disputed election in Kyrgyzstan. Zoellick said the OSCE has “a key role in terms of trying to bring the parties together within Kyrgyzstan as they sort of deal with the departure of the President and looking towards the new government and new elections.” read more

Press Availability With Elmar Brok, Chairman, European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee European Parliament Brussels, Belgium April 5, 2005.
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Remarks With European Union Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner Robert B. Zoellick, Deputy Secretary of State European Commission Brussels, Belgium April 5, 2005.
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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.