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WASHINGTON
Bush Pledges U.S. Support for Young Democracies To help young democracies succeed, the United States must help them build free institutions to fill the vacuum created by change, President Bush says. In remarks to the International Republican Institute (IRI) May 18, Bush said: "We need realistic policies to help nations secure their freedom, and practical strategies to help young democracies consolidate their gains." more
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NATO Ambassador-designate Calls for Strengthening Democracies President Bush's designee to be ambassador to NATO says that, if confirmed by the Senate, she will work with Congress to help the North Atlantic alliance "strengthen the security of the American people and the community of democracies." Victoria Nuland appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee May 24 for her confirmation hearing. She is a career foreign service officer in the State Department and was the U.S. deputy permanent representative to NATO when Nicholas Burns held the top spot there from 2001 to 2004. more BRUSSELS
Press Briefing by U.S. Assistant Secretary for European & Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried at USNATO more IRAQ
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IRAN
dARFUR
THE BALKANS
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Transatlantic Focus:
A U.S. Foreign Policy Newsletter
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Bush
Pledges Multifaceted U.S. Support for Afghanistan
President Bush described the U.S.
military relationship with Afghanistan as being "one of cooperate
and consult," designed to achieve the mutual goals of removing
remnants of the al-Qaida terrorist network and increasing security
in the country. The president said the United States "will consult
with Afghanistan if it perceives its territorial integrity,
independence or security is at risk."
United
States, Greece Share Strategic Partnership, Bush Says
The United States and Greece have an
important strategic partnership, says President Bush, and it's
important that they work together "to spread freedom and peace."
Noting that this was his second visit with the president within a
year, Karamanlis declared, "I'm happy to say that this reflects the
excellent bilateral relations we have, and, of course, our
determination to further our partnership to promote the areas of
mutual interest, the common goals we have."
Secretary
Rumsfeld’s remarks at the U.S. Base Realignment and Closure
Commission (BRAC) Hearing
Some have asked why we are proposing any base closings during a time
of war. The answer is because these changes are essential to helping
us win this war. Consider the array of issues of concern to the
Department of Defense -- and indeed to the country: - Relieving
stress on the force; - Improving the ability of the forces to
cooperate jointly; - Protecting forces stationed at vulnerable bases
and locations across the country and the world; and - Properly
equipping the troops. This, in essence, is the logic -- and the
imperative -- of BRAC.
U.S.
Security Chief Pursues Counterterrorism Dialogue with Europe
U.S. Secretary of Homeland
Security Michael Chertoff brought to Brussels, Belgium, May 23 his
ideas for enhancing security without sacrificing liberty or privacy
in order to protect nations from the threat of terrorism. Chertoff,
addressing the German Marshall Fund and European Policy Centre,
offered proposals concerning technology, law enforcement and
passenger and cargo screening aimed at moving the world forward
toward the creation of what he called a “worldwide security
envelope.” By “security envelope” Chertoff said he means “secure
environments through which people and cargo can move rapidly,
efficiently and safely without sacrificing security or privacy.”
Secretary
Condoleezza Rice Remarks With Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ibrahim
al-Ja'afari Baghdad, May 15, 2005, Press
Conference. "I believe that this government understands
even better than we that the Iraqi people expect a lot of the
government that they have now freely elected. And the Prime Minister
has talked about his plans, his ministerial committees that are
working on essential services for the Iraqi people, that are working
on improvement of the security forces with the help of the Multi
National Forces and that are attempting to keep this political
process moving forward."
Rice,
U.K.'s Straw Show Unity on Iran Nuclear Weapons Talks
The U.S. and Europe are united in
their approach to Iran, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said after their meeting at the
State Department May 17. “I would hope that the Iranians understand
that this is their chance, they ought to take it and get back on the
good side of the international community,” said Rice. She said the
United States believes the process in which the EU-3 is engaged is
“well worth pursuing” and that the United States and Europe have “a
united approach in dealing with Iran.”
United
States Gives Additional $18 Million for Sudanese Refugees
The United States will
contribute an additional $18 million to the United Nations to help
Sudanese refugees return to southern Sudan from Kenya, the U.S.
Department of State said May 17. The assistance is part of a
commitment announced by Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick at
the April Oslo Donors' Conference.
"Win
the Peace" in Balkans, Settle Kosovo Status, U.S. Urges
In a speech Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns outlined the
U.S. vision for “a final and decisive international effort to help
the peoples of the region put war behind them forever, find peace,
and find a future home in NATO and the European Union.” Burns spoke
May 19 at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington about the effort
by the United States, the United Nations and partners in Europe to
launch a process in 2005 to determine the future status of Kosovo.
He also discussed political and economic reform efforts in Bosnia
and Herzegovina as well as the European Union (EU) and NATO
presences there, and the need to bring remaining war crimes
indictees in the region before the Hague tribunal.