Europe
Documents & Texts from the Washington File
04 February 2009
Clinton, European Partners Set Common Agenda
By Jaroslaw Anders
Staff Writer
Washington — In recent meetings with two key European allies, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed a number of top challenges the Obama administration wants to focus on with its European partners in the coming months.
Meeting separately February 3 with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Clinton mentioned Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle East, as well as the fight against nuclear proliferation and terrorism, as chief tasks that the United States wants to engage in together with NATO allies in Europe.
While thanking Miliband for the commitment of British troops in Afghanistan, Clinton said the United States and the United Kingdom will be working closely in the weeks and months ahead with other NATO allies "to enhance our support for the people in Afghanistan."
Clinton also mentioned the need to work closely on Pakistan, because, she said, "we see those countries as linked together."
After the meeting with Germany's Steinmeier, she said that "we need our close allies, like Germany, to help us ensure the success and stability of the Afghanistan nation."
In both meetings, the secretary of state underscored the need for a coordinated approach to Iran to compel Tehran to comply with the U.N. Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency decisions on Iran's nuclear program. She also stressed the importance of coordinated international action to assure a sustainable cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Issues discussed with the German foreign minister included, in Clinton’s words, "the need to work constructively and develop a common approach with Russia in the coming months on issues like Afghanistan, Iran, Georgia and others."
Meetings with Miliband and Steinmeier are part of a series of consultations with key foreign allies and partners conducted by the new U.S. administration.
Transcripts of Clinton's remarks with Miliband and her remarks with Steinmeier can be found on America.gov.
What foreign affairs actions should President Obama consider? Comment on America.gov’s blog.
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