President Obama to attend EU summit in Prague April 5, U.S. seeks Russian cooperation on Czech-Poland missile defense system to pressure Iran

Missoula, March 6 (Al-Masakin)—American President Barak Obama will attend the European Union (EU-27) summit in Prague April 5 according to a press release received by Al-Masakin today.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg in Brussels today.  At a press conference after the meeting Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg said that American participation in the summit will be an important milestone in U.S.-EU relations.  He said that he and the Secretary discussed the main topics of the summit such as Afghanistan, energy security, climate change, regional issues from the Mediterranean to the Caspian Sea, and the Balkans, the global financial crisis, Russia, the crisis in Georgia, the need to diversify the gas and oil resources, and the Middle East.

 

He said that the reform of the Afghan National Police (ANP) will be a top priority for the EU at the summit and that “Europe will maximize its efforts in stabilizing Afghanistan.”  He went on to say that he and the Secretary were in agreement on the question of Iran, that the Iranian nuclear program is to them “unacceptable,” with respect to Palestine they agreed on the “two-state solution,” the Egyptian initiative, and the role of the Quartet.

 

“On Iran, we both agreed that only firm, united, and coordinated approach of the international community may lead to a tangible result. Continuation of the Iranian nuclear program and uranium enrichment is unacceptable.

 

“On the Middle East we have reiterated the importance of a two-state solution. The EU will continue to support the Egyptian efforts in the peace process. The role of the Quartet remains instrumental for reaching the solution. We are pleased that the new United States Administration reconfirmed its role in the Quartet,” the Czech Foreign Minister said today.

 

He went on to say that the EU looked forward to active engagement with the United States on climate change and hopes to secure an international agreement.

 

For her part, the Secretary aid she and the President hope to “energize the transatlantic relationship and to promote a strong European Union.”  She said that both her and the President believe in a strong NATO.  She said that the Administration supports EULEX Kosovo.

 

“We cannot afford to waste energy or resources. We all must be focused on the same agenda. We have embraced the EU’s new missions, like EULEX in Kosovo, where the United States is participating for the first time in an operation led by the European Security and Defense Policy. We are also committed to listening, consulting, and working in concert to deliver smart solutions to our shared challenges,” the Secretary said.

 

The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) is the largest civilian mission ever launched under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The central aim is to assist and support the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area, specifically in the police, judiciary and customs areas.

 

The Secretary went on to say that America supports “EU initiatives to build a single energy market and to diversify gas supplies. EU leadership and unity were pivotal in resolving Russia’s recent gas cutoff to Ukraine and Europe, and that leadership may be needed again in the future.”

 

She went on to say that in order to resolve the global financial crisis America and the EU need coordinated strategy in advance of the G-20 summit in London April 2. 

 

Taking questions from the press, the Secretary said that the Administration had already begun START talks with the Russian Federation.  The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russian will expire at the end of this year.  She went on to say that missile defense is an element of American and European joint defense posture and was intended to pressure Iran and said that Russia and the United States have an opportunity to cooperate on missile defense.

 

“It obviously has to be proven to work and be cost-effective for it to be deployed in the Czech Republic and in Poland, but it is intended to be part of a deterrent and a defensive response vis-à-vis Iran and other actors that might obtain and determine to use missiles against Europe.

 

“We believe that Russia and the United States have the opportunity to cooperate on missile defense, to do joint research and joint development, and even eventually –assuming we can reach such an agreement – joint deployment,” Secretary Clinton said.

 

She went on to say that Iran was a threat to Europe and if were not for Poland and the Czech Republic stepping forward on America’s missile defense  project, it would not be possible for the United States to engage with Russia on this issue.

 

“There are new threats that need to be addressed in new ways in order for us to guarantee the safety and security of Europe against these actors, whether it be Iran or a terrorist network, whatever it might be. So that is the argument and the case that I’m taking to Russia.

 

“But were it not for Poland and the Czech Republic being willing to step up and be part of this new defense posture, we would not be able to engage with Russia on this,” Mrs. Clinton said.

 

She said that both her and the President were working “aggressively” on the issue of the detainees imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay and that they are already in the process of reviewing “every single file.”

 

The Secretary of State will accompany President Obama to the E-27 summit.

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states, located primarily in Europe. It was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993. The EU-27 is composed of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

 

EHC / EHC

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State Department claims proposed missile deployment to deter N.-attack by Iran or DPRK

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/14/18570812.php

State Department: missile defense system proposed for deployment in Czech Republic and Poland is to deter nuclear attack on the United States by Iran and North Korea

state_department_14feb09.pdf
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By Edward Campbell

Missoula, Feb. 14 (Al-Masakin)—The U.S. State Department’s number three and senior career diplomat Under Secretary for Political Affairs, William J. Burns said at an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax on Friday that Washington’s new missile defense system proposed for possible deployment in the Czech Republic and in Poland is not intended to pressure the Russian Federation, but to deter a possible nuclear strike on America by Iran or North Korea.

In the interview provided to Al-Masakin by the State Department via e-mail Under Secretary Burns said, “We have certainly heard Russia’s concerns about missile defense. We hope also that Russians understand that no U.S. President can afford a situation where the United States is vulnerable to potential nuclear weapons on missiles from North Korea or Iran.”

When asked if the plan for deploying the system would be revised if the nuclear problem with Iran and North Korea were resolved, Burns said “that is certainly one of the factors that we will consider.”

The Under Secretary would not confirm that the proposed deployment was connected to the renegotiation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) which will expire this year. The renegotiation of the START treaty with the Russian Federation is being Fast Tracked by the new administration. Both President Obama and Vice President Biden have said that they seek to “reset” relations with Russia.

“In recent years, often times mutual frustration has tended to obscure our mutual interests. We believe it’s time to look ahead. That doesn’t mean that we won’t have differences and disagreements from time to time; what it means is that we are committed to trying to take advantage of this moment of opportunity and of the common interests between us. What we need to do now together is to try to translate those good intentions and that positive rhetoric into practical progress that serves the interest not only of the United States and Russia but of the rest of the world.

“One clear, concrete example is nuclear cooperation. That is an area where the United States and Russia have unique capabilities and unique responsibilities. The U.S. and Russia together possess 95 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal. It’s important for us to set a good example for the rest of the world in how we manage and reduce our own remaining nuclear arsenals; how we work together with other partners to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons; and how to ensure that terrorists are not able to get their hands on such weapons. That is one example of our clear common interest,” Under Secretary Burns told Interfax on Friday

Mr. Burns could not confirm that the Obama administration is seeking to reduce the U.S. and Russian nuclear stockpile by up to 80 percent.

Nuclear proliferation is a national security threat to both nations, but the insinuation that Iran or North Korea are the principal sources of that national security threat does not stand-up to the giggle test.

Clearly the threat to the American homeland, a nuclear strike on American soil, comes primarily from the Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda terrorist networks, not from either Iran or North Korea, for it does not appear likely that Iran has a delivery vehicle for an N-weapon to reach the United States nor does it seem likely that a missile defense system deployed in either Poland or the Czech Republic could intercept a first strike initiated from the DPRK. America’s nuclear stockpile, moreover, stands as a deterrent force to both nations. It is al-Qaeda which remains undeterred by America’s nuclear arsenal.

Renegotiating the START treaty is therefore in America’s national interest for radical Islam has access to the Russian Federations FSB through the volatile Northern Caucasus region. It appears that the proposed missile defense deployment is in reality intended to pressure the Russian Federation to reduce its nuclear stockpile in an effort to gain greater control over fissionable material which is earnestly sought, and may fall into the hands of an exceedingly dangerous terrorist organization which has professed its intention to use such a device should it ever obtain one.

“These are issues – arms control, further reductions, the control of the proliferation of nuclear materials, which President Obama takes very seriously,” the Under Secretary said on Friday.

Mr. Burns also said that the administration had not made a final decision as to whether or not to deploy the missile system and suggested that such a deployment might also be of mutual benefit to the Russian Federation, because Russia in a member of NATO.

“As we pursue the issue of missile defense, we obviously have to take into account a number of factors: whether the system works, and whether it is cost effective; the nature of the threat, and if, through strong diplomacy with Russia and our other partners, we can reduce or eliminate that threat, it obviously shapes the way that we look at missile defense. We are also open to the possibility of cooperation with Russia and with our NATO partners on new missile defense configurations which can take advantage of assets which each of us have. We want to consult with Russia and with our NATO partners to see if we can’t develop cooperative approaches to missile defense which protect all of us,” Mr. Burns said.

The United States and the Russian Federation will discuss economic issues April 2 at the G-20 summit in London. START negotiations are likely to begin at the NATO summit in Strasbourg later that month.
EHC / EHC

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