EU-US Summit Ends on High Note, With Closer Transatlantic Cooperation Promised

EU-US Summit Ends on High Note

2009-04-06 03:45:35  

    PRAGUE, April 5 (Xinhua) --

A one-day summit between the European Union (EU) and the United States ended on Sunday on a high note, with closer transatlantic cooperation promised for the future.

    The summit in Prague is "a symbol of a new level reached in EU-U.S. relations," Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, told reporters after the meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.

    Prague was the last leg of Obama's first European trip since he took office in January.

    Before the EU-U.S. summit, Obama had been in London for the G20summit on global financial and economic crisis and in Strasbourg of France for a NATO summit on the 60th anniversary of the military alliance.

    "There is indeed great willingness on both sides to reinforce this very important relationship," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

    Barroso said the meeting between Obama and all leaders of 27 EU member states was focused on three main challenges, namely climate change, energy security and trade.

    He said there is an increasing convergence between Europe and the United States on the global fight against climate change and both sides would cooperate more.

    "The EU and the U.S. must also work together on helping developing countries reach their own goals in terms of reducing emissions," a joint declaration issued by the EU-U.S. summit said.

    "Together, the EU and the U.S. will be in a stronger position to get on board key international actors and emerging countries and achieve an ambitious outcome at the UN negotiations in Copenhagen later this year," the document said.

    Earlier in the day, Obama said in a public speech that the United States was ready to take the lead in tackling climate change.

    "To protect our planet, now is the time to change the way that we use energy," Obama told a crowd that gathered in downtown Prague. "I pledge to you that in this global effort the U.S. is now ready to lead."

    On boosting trade, the EU and the United States said they remain committed to reaching an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the long-stalled Doha Round of global trade talks.

    The leaders also turned to regional issues, making a joint call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

    "We call on North Korea (DPRK) to honor its commitment to abandon all nuclear weapons programs, to abide by recognized norms of international relations, and to work to promote peace and stability in northeast Asia," the EU and the U.S. said in a joint statement.

    The statement, issued during the EU-U.S. summit on Sunday, came after the DPRK successfully launched a rocket carrying a communications satellite. But the EU and the U.S. said it was a missile.

    "The launch of a missile by North Korea (DPRK) defies UN Security Council resolutions and harms peace and stability in northeast Asia," they said.

    The statement warned that the latest DPRK launch "demands a response from the international community, including from the UN Security Council to demonstrate that its resolutions cannot be defied with impunity."

    On Iran, the other country which was accused by the western governments of secretly developing nuclear weapons, the EU and the United States said they want to seek engagement and constructive ties with Tehran.

    But the EU and the U.S. said there is growing concern about Iran's failure to comply with its international obligations in the nuclear area, adding they will continue to work with others on a dual track approach.

    Tehran denies the accusation, saying its nuclear programs are only for peaceful means.

    Earlier on Sunday, Obama said that the U.S. missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland will go forward "as long as the threat from Iran persists."

    "As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven," said Obama in its first public speech in Europe as U.S. president.

    But he also said if Iran makes concessions, the missile defense system in Europe can be removed.

    "If the Iranian threat is eliminated, we will have a stronger basis for security, and the driving force for missile defense construction in Europe will be removed," he said.

    In the same speech, Obama made an even bolder proposal to build a world without nuclear weapons.

    "Existence of thousands of nuclear weapons is the dangerous legacy of the Cold War, and the world could be erased in a single flash of nuclear weapons," Obama said.

    "Today, the Cold War disappears ... but the threat of nuclear attack has gone up," he said, noting that nuclear testing still continues and the black trade of nuclear materials and technology still exists.

    "We must stand together for the right of people everywhere to live free of (nuclear) fear in the 21st century," Obama said.

    Afghanistan was another major issue for the United States and the EU.

    They agreed at the one-day summit that further expansion of the police training capacities in Afghanistan should be ensured, as well as intensification and coordination of the assistance in the areas of capacity building, good governance, rule of law and economic development.

    Although EU countries endorsed Obama's new Afghan war strategy, they were reluctant to make real contributions by sending more combat troops to the war-torn country, despite repeated calls from Washington.

    The EU and the United States also discussed the Middle East, another regional hot spot.

    They said peace in the region requires a comprehensive solution through a lasting and just settlement of the conflict in all its tracks.

    "The EU and the U.S. both support a durable ceasefire, reconciliation and an inclusive government in the Palestinian territories, substantive reconstruction and forward movement in the peace process through the Quartet towards a two-state solution," the joint declaration said.

    Despite the warming-up of transatlantic ties, analysts said the "policy substance" of the White House toward relations with Europe has not changed.

    "The music has already completely changed in his (Obama's) manner of handling transatlantic relations. Europeans both admire and like Obama and find him easy to talk to," said Stanley Crossick, former chairman of the European Policy Center, a Brussels-based think tank, in an interview with Xinhua.

    "However, this does not mean that the policy substance has necessarily changed," he said.

    Crossick noted that whether the Obama visit is a "milestone" for transatlantic relations would "depend not on words and communiques but on whether there is a clear mutual understanding and agreed action."

Editor: Yan