Working Together

Q: Why do you come so frequently to Brussels?

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Volker: There are three reasons, i.e. NATO, the EU, and Belgium. Transatlantic relations used to be principally about Europe, but today, given the global challenges that we face, the transatlantic relationship is principally on how the United States and Europe work together on issues beyond Europe, such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the Middle East conflict, Lebanon, Syria, terrorism, China, Islamic extremism, WMD, and Africa. About Belgium, an important element is its upcoming OSCE Chairmanship as of next January. There is a lot of coordination that we want to do with Belgium.

Q: How do you view U.S.-EU relations, knowing the criticism against President Bush’s unilateralism?

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Volker:  Working with Europe on the challenges that we are facing based on our shared values is central to the President’s foreign policy. We form one single democratic community with Europe. Faced with long-term challenges -- terrorism, violent Islamic extremism -- we must present a unified message and a common effort. That is the reason why we are doing so much consultation with Europe. And I think that things are going relatively well. On Iraq, some European countries and the U.S. may have disagreed in 2003 and 2004, but I think that we all agree on the ultimate goal, i.e. establishing a stable, secure, and democratic society in Iraq that would play a responsible and constructive role in the region and without depending on foreign troops for its security. We must see with Europe how, starting on what exists, we can get to that result. It is difficult, but we are making progress.

Q: Did the United States change its attitude or would you say, as other do, that President Bush has always been multilateralist?

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Volker: I would say that there was a continuing evolution on how the U.S. understands the challenges and how to deal with them. The fight against terrorism is in fact a struggle for our values - freedom, democracy, and human rights, i.e. the kind of civilization we believe in. It is a war of ideas, in which Europe also plays a central role. If we present a unified front, we will succeed in reinforcing democracy, freedom, and economic opportunities in the Middle East.

Q: To which extent did the United States influence the United Kingdom in its EU Presidency?

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Volker: The United Kingdom is assuming the EU Presidency in very difficult conditions, having to manage the impact of the ‘no’ to the EU Constitution, the budget, and EU enlargement to Turkey. It is these challenges that set the agenda, no one else. The United Kingdom is doing admirable job in keeping the consensus together to open membership talks with Turkey. It is the good strategic choice, in the interest of Europe, of Turkey, and of the world.

Q: But European public opinions are very reluctant…

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Volker: Yes, but not opening membership talks would have had very serious consequences. It is now up to Turkey to fulfill the democratic, political, economic, and legislative criteria to join the EU. It will long and difficult and we must encourage it as much as we can. If Turkey is successful, that will have an impact on public opinion.