Press Releases

Open New Chapter in Our Alliance, Rice Urges Europe (Feb. 9, 2005)

Secretary of state says U.S. ready to work with Europe on common agenda

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appealed to Europe February 8 to set aside past disagreements with the United States, and open a new chapter in the transatlantic alliance based on the unprecedented opportunity to achieve "historic global advances for justice and prosperity, for liberty and for peace."

"It is time to turn away from the disagreements of the past," Rice said in a speech at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques-Sciences Politiques de Paris. "It is time to open a new chapter in our relationship, and a new chapter in our alliance."

"America stands ready to work with Europe on our common agenda -- and Europe must stand ready to work with America," said Rice in the major policy speech of her weeklong trip to Europe and the Middle East.

Calling the present "a time of unprecedented opportunity for the transatlantic Alliance," she said that if Europeans and Americans "make the pursuit of global freedom the organizing principle of the 21st century, we will achieve historic global advances for justice and prosperity, for liberty and for peace."

Rice began her speech by recalling that the founders of both the French and American republics were inspired by the very same values. Citing examples of men and women who have launched revolutions for freedom ranging from American civil rights champion Rosa Parks to those who brought down the Berlin Wall in 1989, she likened their courage to those of Afghans and Iraqis who have voted for freedom.

Rice said the purpose of her trip is to talk with Europeans about how America and Europe can work together to advance common ideals worldwide; President Bush will continue the conversation on his February 21-25 trip to Europe. "We on the right side of freedom's divide have an obligation to help those unlucky enough to have been born on the wrong side of that divide," she said.

Describing in more detail the new chapter she envisions in a U.S.-European partnership based on common opportunities rather than common threats, Rice spoke of supporting democratic reform in the Middle East in general, and in Afghanistan and Iraq in particular.

She cited efforts to encourage political pluralism, economic openness and the growth of civil society through the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative.

Rice acknowledged that, as President Bush has said, the spread of freedom is the work of generations, but "spreading freedom in the Arab and Muslim worlds is also urgent work that cannot be deferred."

In Iraq, she said, "the transatlantic partnership must rise to the challenge that the Iraqi people have set for us."

"We must support them as they form their political institutions. We must help them with economic reconstruction and development. And we must stay by their side to provide security until Iraqis themselves can take full ownership of that job," she said.

Rice also called for Europe to join with the United States in supporting a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to what the Israelis and Palestinians must do, there is a "need for all of us to make clear that Iran and Syria must stop supporting terrorists who seek to destroy every chance for peace," she said.

"This is the best chance for peace that we are likely to see for some years to come; and we are acting to help Israelis and Palestinians seize this chance. President Bush is committed. I am personally committed. We must all be committed to seizing this chance," Rice said.

"Development, transparency and democracy reinforce each other," she said in closing. "That is why the spread of freedom under the rule of law is our best hope for progress."

Rice said America has everything to gain from having a stronger Europe as a partner in building a safer and better world. "So let each of us bring to the table our ideas and our experience and our resources; and let us discuss and decide, together, how best to employ them for democratic change."

After concluding her speech, Rice took questions from the audience on subjects ranging from the development of Iraqi democracy to biological weapons.