17 April 2003
U.S., EU Must Work Together, Powell Says
(April 16: Washington event celebrates signing of accession treaty in
Athens) (1190)
Embracing ten new members into the European Union attests to the EU's
institutional strength and self-confidence, as well as to "the
essential role the Union plays as a force for democracy, prosperity
and a force for stability throughout Europe and well beyond Europe,"
Secretary of State Colin Powell said April 16.
Speaking at a reception in Washington to celebrate the signing earlier
that day in Athens of the accession treaty by the ten new member
states, Powell stressed the importance of the U.S.-EU partnership in
meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
"We must work together, whether the issue is combating terrorism and
weapons of mass destruction, fostering global growth and good
governance, or stemming infectious diseases," he said. "Already, from
Macedonia to Afghanistan to the Middle East, we are working together
to bring lasting peace to troubled regions. And ... I have no doubt
whatsoever that Americans and Europeans will work together to help the
liberated people of Iraq build a better future for themselves and the
region."
Referring to the sharp disagreement over using force to disarm Iraq,
Powell said it is crucial that Americans and Europeans maintain "an
open, vigorous dialogue," adding that such debates represent "a
healthy sign that our democracies and our relationships are robust and
resilient."
The secretary said the United States remains firmly committed to
finding "a just and durable settlement" for Cyprus and supports EU
membership for Romania and Bulgaria in 2007. "We also welcome your
decision to begin accession negotiations with Turkey, if in December
2004 the European Council decides that Turkey has fulfilled the
Copenhagen criteria."
Following is a transcript of Powell's remarks:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 17, 2003
As Delivered
REMARKS
SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL AT RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE
AMBASSADOR OF GREECE TO CELEBRATE THE SIGNING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
ACCESSION TREATY BY TEN NEW MEMBER STATES
April 16, 2003
Ritz Carlton
Washington, D.C.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador, for your
remarks and for your warm welcome. It's a great pleasure to be here
with you this evening and see so many old friends, his Excellency and
Members of Congress, especially Mr. Sarbanes [Senator Paul Sarbanes,
D-Maryland] and Committee supervisors that I -- (Laughter.)
It's a great pleasure to be with you all this evening and to share in
this historic day. Even though we are some distance from the Acropolis
nevertheless, the spirit of the Acropolis is with us this evening.
The United States may not be a participating state of the European
Union, but as a member of our larger transatlantic family we are
honored and pleased to join in this celebration of the historic
signings in Athens today of the Accession Treaty.
I applaud the Greek Presidency on its energetic leadership of the
European Union during this important time of expansion. It is fitting,
indeed, that Athens, the birthplace of democracy, is host to this
path-breaking event, a path-breaking event for Europe and for the rest
of the world, as well.
When the decision was taken in Copenhagen to admit the new members,
President Bush called it a bold and historic step and indeed it is.
The embrace of ten new members attests to the European Union's
institutional strength and to its confidence in itself. It also
testifies to the essential role the Union plays as a force for
democracy, prosperity and a force for stability throughout Europe and
well beyond Europe.
Thanks to the vision, dedication and hard work that built and nurtured
two magnificent institutions, NATO and the European Union, today's
generation of Europeans are not divided from one another by force and
fear.
Today, no slabs of concrete or secret police obstruct the realization
of their highest hopes. Today, free peoples from across Europe
willingly commit themselves to shaping a shared future.
At the same time, meeting the challenges of the 21st century rests to
a large degree on a broad, strong and lasting partnership between
Europe and the United States. We must work together, whether the issue
is combating terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, fostering
global growth and good governance, or stemming infectious diseases.
Already, from Macedonia to Afghanistan to the Middle East, we are
working together to bring lasting peace to troubled regions. And I
hold no doubt, I have no doubt whatsoever that Americans and Europeans
will work together to help the liberated people of Iraq build a better
future for themselves and the region.
Even as Europe unites, and works with us for peace and reconciliation
across the globe, all of us are aware that one of the European Union's
new members remains divided. The United States remains firmly
committed to working with you and others to find a just and durable
settlement for Cyprus and on Cyprus.
And the United States will continue to be a strong proponent of the
European Union's further expansion. Expansion is good for the
individual countries involved, good for Europe as a whole, and good
for our transatlantic relationship.
We welcome, therefore, the European Union's goal of membership for
Romania and Bulgaria in 2007.
We also welcome your decision to begin accession negotiations with
Turkey, if in December 2004 the European Council decides that Turkey
has fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria. As we have said, "This is a
visionary decision, a visionary decision by European leaders to build
a truly inclusive European Union." And we urge our Turkish friends to
meet the Copenhagen criteria.
Just as we continue to enjoy strong bilateral relations with the
current 15 members, after accession we look forward to deepening our
already dynamic relations with the ten new members.
And to all European Union members, old, new and aspiring, let me say
that the United States sees it as crucial that Americans and Europeans
maintain an open, vigorous dialogue. And I think we have demonstrated
in recent months -- (laughter) -- that we can do that. We see debates
between the United States and European countries, and among European
nations themselves, as a healthy sign that our democracies and our
relationships are robust and resilient. We remember what Europe used
to look like when it had no debates within certain blocks of member
countries with certain blocks. We are never going back to that. And
democracies mean that you speak up freely, just as the ancient
Athenians did and Athens is so fitting, therefore, as a site for
today's accession and signature, signatures being offered.
And so it is my great pleasure to be here this evening to represent
the President of the United States, but more importantly as a
representative of the people of the United States. And in that
capacity we warmly congratulate each of the ten new members, the
current 15 members, the European Presidency, the European Commission
and the European Parliament on this momentous occasion.
The United States remains your strong advocate and steadfast partner
in democracy, prosperity and peace. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
