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

———————————
Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Al-masakinNewsAgency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/feed/
http://twitter.com/AlMasakin

Secretary of State Clinton will attend and participate in the donor’s conference for Gaza recovery hosted by Egypt on March 2, to meet with Palestinian officials in W. Bank thereafter

Missoula, Feb. 26 (Al-Masakin)–U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton arriving in Egypt March 1 will meet with Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell and other high-level representatives and will attend and participate in the donor’s conference for Gaza recovery at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on March 2. 

Thereafter the Secretary will meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials in Israel and in the West Bank respectively.  The Secretary is not expected to visit Gaza.

On March 5 Mrs. Clinton will meet with NATO officals in Brussels to discuss the upcoming NATO summit where the allies will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the organization.  The date of that summit has not been announced.  While in Brussels the Secretary will meet separately with EU officials.  She will then travel to Geneva.

After meeting with Swiss officials to discuss U.S.- Swiss cooperation the Secretary will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest, including possibilities for a follow-on agreement to START, and U.S.-Russian cooperation in areas such as Afghanistan.

After that the Secretary will meet with Turkish officials in Ankara.  The tour will end March 7.

EHC / EHC