Newsletter #1, February 2005   AMERICAN EUROPEAN INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER KEY AMERICAN EUROPEAN INSTITUTE ACTIVITES Launch of the American European Institute Newsletter This is the first monthly newsletter which will collate information on key political and diplomatic developments for a key target audience with an interest in transatlantic relations and will form part of a future membership package. Inauguration debate The American European Institute co-hosted with the Democrat Society an inauguration day debate on the future of American European relations at the London School of Economics. The speaker panel brought together leading politicians, academics and journalists from Europe, United States, and Canada. See the AEI website at www.americaneuropeaninstitute.com for more details. GLOBAL NEWS REPORT KEY DEVELOPMENTS: UNITED STATES President George W Bush sworn in for a second term of office President George W Bush was sworn in for a second term of office in Washington on Thursday 20 January 2005. During his inauguration address President Bush honored the friendship of allies and called upon all free nations to come together to join the United States in its efforts to support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in the world. For further details see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01 President Bush to meet with NATO and EU leaders in Brussels in February President Bush will travel to Brussels on the 22 February for meetings with Heads of State of both EU and NATO members. The President will also meet with the EU Presidency, European Council and the European Commission President. President Bush has expressed his desire to reach out to friends and allies in the EU and NATO to help deepen transatlantic cooperation during his second term of office. For further details see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01 Dr Condolezza Rice becomes the 66th Secretary of State Dr Condolezza Rice became the 66th Secretary of State at a Whitehouse Ceremony on the 26 January. Dr Rice stated in her Senate confirmation hearings that “we must use American diplomacy to help create a balance of power in the world that favours freedom and the time for diplomacy is now” Prior to becoming Secretary of State Dr Rice served as National Security Advisor to the President between 2000-2004. She also served in the Administration of George H Bush between 1989-1991 when she served as Director and Senior Director of Soviet and East European Affairs. For further details see : http://www.state.gov/secretary/ Dr Condolezza Rice will visit Luxembourg on the 9/10 February Dr Rice will visit Luxembourg on the 9 and 10 February where she will hold a series of meetings with the Luxembourg Prime Minister and President of the European Council, Jean Claude Juncker. She will also meet with the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Havier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner. The focus of the meetings will be the state of the transatlantic relationship and preparations for the Presidents visit later in the month Global Attitudes the Spread of Anti Americanism Anti- Americanism is deeper and broader that any time in modern history. It is most acute in the Muslim world but it spans the globe from Europe to Asia from South America to Africa. This is according to the latest review of global attitudes towards the United States published by the Pew Research Centre in Washington For further details see : www.people-press.org KEY DEVELOPMENTS : EUROPE European Commissioner for External Relations visits Washington The European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero Waldner visited Washington on 12-13 January to meet key political figures including outgoing Secretary of State, Colin Powell and his successor Dr Condolezza Rice. The visit was aimed a highlighting the importance given by the Commission to transatlantic relations. During her visit the Commissioner delivered a speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. For further details see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/news/ferrero/2005/csis_130105.htm Benita Ferrero Walder’s remarks to the Foreign Affairs Committee The Commissioner appeared on the 25th January and commented about her recent visit to Washington, and also the Middle East, European Neighbourhood Policy and Ukraine, and the Tsunami in Asia For further details see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/news/ferrero/2005/ip05_41.htm US Vice President joins other World Leader at Auschwitz Memorial Vice President Cheney joined other world leaders at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland to mark the 60TH anniversary of the liberation of the camp by the Russian army in January 1945. The Vice President made a keynote address at the Galacia Museum in Krakow as part of the memorial event. For further details see : http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050126-6.html Annual EU Report on US Trade Barriers The European Commission’s 20th annual report on barriers to trade and investment in the US underlines the importance of developing a new strategy to strengthen the transatlantic relationship to add new impetus to efforts to resolve to these trade problems. The report includes details on the obstacles that EU exporters and investors face in the US market. For further details see: http://eurunion.org/News/press/2004/200400174.htm EU/US Agreement on Terms for Negotiating an End to Subsidies for Large Civil Aircraft The EU and US have reached an agreement on the terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations which will last 3 months is to eliminate different types of subsidies and to establish fair market based competition between Boeing and Airbus For further details see : http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2005/2005003.htm KEY DEVELOPMENTS : MIDDLE EAST President Bush Welcomes Palestinian Elections President Bush welcomed the election of Abu Mazen as the new President of the Palestinian Authority. The President stated that “America and all free nations strongly support the efforts of the Palestinian people to create lasting democratic institutions”. The President reaffirmed the US Governments support for the Palestinian aspirations to establish a sovereign independent viable democratic state that can live alongside a safe and secure Israel. For further details see : http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01 European Parliament Welcomes Election Result MEP’s say Palestinians have conducted an election of which they can be proud. The European Parliament deployed a 28 member delegation to the region to monitor the elections (the largest European Parliament electoral observation mission to date deployed). For further details see : http://www.europarl.eu.int/press/index_en.htm Israeli Foreign Minister Optimistic about Progress on Diplomatic Front Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met with world leaders in Davos in Switzerland at the World Economic Form and voiced optimism about the hope for a diplomatic break through and an end to terrorism following the election of Abu Mazen as the new Palestinian President. For further details see : http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/ New EU Aid Package for Iraq The European Commission has proposed an additional package of 200 million to assist with the reconstruction of Iraq. The new aid package is aimed at supporting political and economic developments following the first democratic elections in Iraq on the 30 January. For further details see: http://www.eurunion.org/news/press/2005/2005010.htm President Bush Congratulates Iraqis on Election President Bush welcomed the Iraqi Elections on the 31January stating that “in great numbers and under great risk, Iraqis have shown their commitment to democracy. By participating in free elections, the Iraqi people have firmly rejected the anti-democratic terrorists.” For further details see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050130-2.html