Transatlantic Relationship

Assistant Secretary Fried: I think the important thing is for Germany and the United States, Europe and the United States and the world to cooperate to prevent global warming, to get control over carbon emissions, to do something about the actual problem. Anybody can posture; anybody can make demands and appeal to constituencies. That won't help. That won't sequester any atoms of carbon, any molecules of carbon dioxide. We have a common problem. It's serious. It's universally recognized to be serious. We've made great progress thanks to the leadership of Chancellor Merkel, particularly at the U.S.-EU Summit, agreeing on common approaches rather than rushing to the very few places where we disagree. So let's get to work and solve the problem.

N-TV: Another major topic, Afghanistan. Recently three German soldiers died in a suicide attack. Now there is some discussion in Germany to withdraw the troops. What does the American side expect from Germany? I mean now they're just in the northern part of the country. Do you think they should hold onto it or do you think they should also support other troops in the south?

Assistant Secretary Fried: First of all, German soldiers have lost their lives in the service of freedom and support for the Afghan people, and we should honor their memory. These are terrible things, and the German troops are doing a good job in a tough part of the world.

I've been up to Kunduz; I've seen what the Germans are doing. They deserve full respect.

Troops have lost their lives. The Canadians have lost a lot, the Dutch, the Americans, others. So losses are part of what this is about, unfortunately. We need to persevere. We need to get right the military side and especially the non-military side, the civilian reconstruction side of the struggle in Afghanistan. We have to stick to this so we help the Afghan people. I think the Germans are doing a good job in the north. I think all the NATO contingents, all the countries, have to be able to go where they're needed in cases of emergencies. But look, somebody's got to be in the north. So if the Germans are there, let them use that as their base and get the job done there as long as they're willing to help their Dutch or Canadian or other colleagues and allies when they're in trouble. I think that's fine.

N-TV: Many German politicians including the General Foreign Minister Steinmeier criticized the U.S. about the defense missile system that's being implemented in Poland and the Czech Republic. They said you should have talked earlier to the Russian side. What's your response to it?

Assistant Secretary Fried: We did talk earlier to the Russian side. That's just a fact. We've been talking to the Russians about this for 18 months. However, after the Russians escalated the politics of this we went to the Russians with a very far-reaching offer of missile defense cooperation. Secretary Gates told the Russians, look, this is not directed against you, this is to deal with common problems. If you have common problems, let's work together. He then flew to Berlin. Secretary Gates flew to Berlin, briefed Foreign Minister Steinmeier about our cooperation. The Foreign Minister welcomed this U.S. offer and urged the next day in Oslo at the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, urged Lavrov at the NATO-Russia Council to accept it. I find this German position to be entirely logical.

We want to work with the Russians, not against them. Missile defense is not directed against them. It's directed against a common problem. Didn't ElBaradei just say a couple of days ago that Iran could have nuclear weapons within a very short period of time? I think the phrase three to five years was used. Let's concentrate on the real problem at hand and not a diversionary problem. But I think this is a very logical position for Germany. It's for NATO cooperation on missile defense, cooperation with Russia on missile defense, and for transparency. Very logical.

N-TV: But you understand the concerns in Moscow. They don't like so much to have the system being implemented in their neighborhood.

Assistant Secretary Fried: They know perfectly well that ten unarmed interceptors in Poland cannot pose any, I repeat, any threat to Russia's nuclear arsenal. It can't. Gates said to the Russians, if you're concerned about the future, let's sit down and discuss it. Let's have transparency. Let's have arrangements to address your concerns. That offer stands on the table.

If the Russians are concerned about military cooperation with Poland, the answer to them is, well, the Soviet Union is gone, the Warsaw Pact is gone, so let's deal with real problems in a serious way.

N-TV: One major topic of the last EU-U.S. Summit in Washington was the transatlantic economic partnership --

Assistant Secretary Fried: Quite right --

N-TV: -- Transatlantic Council. Lately we haven't heard much about it, but do you think this is a major step forward also as an answer to in the age of globalization? Do you think it makes sense we need to achieve this?

Assistant Secretary Fried: I think this is one of the most interesting and serious initiatives in transatlantic economic relations in a long time. I applaud the Chancellor. This was her initiative. It's a good initiative. I can tell you that our economic officials are excited about the prospect of working together with the European Union to advance this. Even as we try to achieve success in the Doha Round, even as we move forward multilaterally and globally. A strong transatlantic, economic community. And I use the term in a non-technical sense.

A strong platform can be an engine of world development and growth. It can be good for everyone. So I think this is an excellent initiative and look forward to moving ahead on it.

N-TV: The last question already. What do you expect from the new cast of European leaders? From France, Sarkozy; in Great Britain, most likely Gordon Brown in the future. Do you think the German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the most reliable European partner of President Bush?

Assistant Secretary Fried: I would say this. Chancellor Merkel has proven herself to be a strong leader. She sometimes disagrees with the United States, but she does so always in a constructive way and in a constructive spirit. The way she handled the EU-Russia Summit was frankly magnificent. She was strong and yet constructive. She found that perfect spot of strength and a positive outlook. I think she's one of the outstanding leaders in Europe today.

We look forward to working with President Sarkozy. He's a man with enormous energy and vision. He's forward-looking. There have been various comparisons made. I'll throw one in and say he has adopted, whether consciously or not, the model of John Kennedy. Let's get this country moving again.

It looks like Europe; the European engine is going to move forward. We hope so. We want a strong Europe as a partner in the world. We need a strong Europe. And we need to work together with Europe out in the world where the problems are and the opportunities lie.

N-TV: Ambassador Fried, Thank you very much.

Assistant Secretary Fried: My pleasure.