Europe
Documents & Texts from the State Department
Specific European issues:
09 December 2008 Press Statement on Kosovo EULEX Deployment
05 November 2008 United States Disappointed by Russian Missile Plans The U.S. is disappointed that Russia plans to deploy short-range missiles near the border with Poland and Lithuania. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russia plans to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad between Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic Sea. Medvedev said the missiles are to counter U.S. plans to locate a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
25 September 2008 State Dept. Briefing by Daniel Fried on U.S.-European Relations Among the topics addressed by Fried were U.S. support for Georgia, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
12 September 2008 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Unveils New Website Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) today marks the launch of its new website featuring more videos, blogs, photos and analysis from the 20 countries we cover, including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
26 August 2008 European Missile Defense System Is Limited, No Threat to Russia The development of a limited ballistic missile defense system in Europe creates an important capability for NATO allies that poses no threat to Russia, says a senior U.S. diplomat. "It can defend against all long-range missile launches" from a rogue state, but for example, the system would not be able to protect against shorter-range missile launches from the same state, John Rood, acting under secretary of state for arms control and international security, said at an August 25 briefing.
25 August 2008 New U.S. President Unlikely to Alter U.S. Policy Toward Europe Although Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain differ significantly on such national security issues as Iraq, the two presidential candidates’ positions on Europe fall within the broad consensus that historically has marked U.S. policy in the region. Their differences lie in nuance and points of emphasis.
20 August 2008 United States, Poland Sign Missile Defense Declaration A Bush administration plan to locate a two-part, limited missile-defense system in Eastern Europe has taken a giant step forward and when fully implemented will make a substantial contribution to NATO's collective security, the U.S. State Department says.
• Declaration on Strategic Cooperation Between U.S. and Poland
• Remarks from Secretary Rice and Polish President Kaczynski
15 August 2008 United States, Poland Sign Limited Missile Defense Pact A limited anti-missile defense system to be stationed in Poland and the Czech Republic will make a substantial contribution to NATO's collective security, the White House says. "I'm pleased to announce that negotiations are complete and that we have initialed an agreement" to place an American missile defense base in Poland, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said August 14.
23 July 2008 Kazakhstan Committed to Reforms, Says State’s Boucher Kazakhstan is earning America's support for its bid to lead the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) by committing to further progress on democratic reforms, says Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.
22 July 2008 White House Hails Arrest of Radovan Karadzic The White House congratulated Serbia following its arrest of one of the world’s most-wanted fugitives -- Radovan Karadzic, the 1990s Bosnian Serb leader during the horrors of "ethnic cleansing." "This operation is an important demonstration of the Serbian government’s determination to honor its commitment to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia," said White House press secretary Dana Perino in a July 21 statement. "There is no better tribute to the victims of the war’s atrocities than bringing their perpetrators to justice."
Related: U.S. Statement on Arrest of Bosnian Serb Wanted for War Crimes
14 July 2008 Georgia: Escalation of Violence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia The United States is concerned by the recent escalation in violence in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and calls upon all sides to return to direct negotiations and resolve their differences peacefully.
11 July 2008 United States Pledges $400 Million at Kosovo Donors’ Conference International donors meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 11 pledged $1.2 billion to assist with development efforts in Europe’s newest democracy, Kosovo. The U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Henrietta Fore, pledged $400 million, and the European Union pledged $789 million to help the country over the next four years.
U.S.-EU Summit, June 2008
15 June 2008 Kosovo's Constitution Enters into Force
13 June 2008 President Bush's Remarks in Paris, France On its 60th anniversary President Bush spoke about the legacy of the Marshall Plan and the current state of the relationship between Europe and the United States. The President said “Instead of focusing on issues within Europe, we're increasingly looking to matters of global reach. Instead of dwelling on our differences, we're increasingly united in our interests and ideals.”
11 June 2008 Bush Visits Europe 60 Years After Marshall Plan When President Bush touched down in Slovenia June 9 for his last major visit to Europe, he set foot on a continent that has reinvented itself. From the devastation and division of World War II to the thriving European Union of today, Europe has experienced a renewal that has roots 60 years ago in the American Marshall Plan.
11 June 2008 President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with Chancellor Merkel of Germany
10 June 2008 U.S.-EU Cooperation to Advance Freedom, Prosperity Worldwide
10 June 2008 2008 U.S.-European Union Summit Declaration
10 June 2008 Bush, European Leaders Support Additional Iran Sanctions European leaders at the U.S.-EU Summit in Slovenia have agreed to a proposal to consider expanded sanctions on Iran, including greater restrictions on its banking industry, in an effort to restrain Iran's nuclear development program.
04 June 2008 National Security Advisor Hadley Briefs on Bush’s Trip to Europe.
30 May 2008 U.S., Europe Need Collective Energy Security Strategy
When President Bush and his European counterparts meet June 10 in Brdo, Slovenia, one of their top priorities will be to move closer to a common approach to energy security.
27 May 2008 U.S.-EU Aviation Talks Bring Prospect of Broader Markets The U.S. wants to negotiate a multilateral agreement that would make cross-border investment in airlines easier. This idea was suggested by the U.S. delegation at the first round of second-stage U.S.-European Union negotiations on air services liberalization that took place in Slovenia earlier in May.
19 May 2008 The Transatlantic Relationship in the Next U.S. Administration Kurt Volker, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs speaks in Brussels.
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13 May 2008 The U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement: Making the Most of the Second Stage John Byerly, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs at the European Aviation Club.
06 May 2008 State’s Kurt Volker's Remarks on U.S., European Challenges.
06 May 2008 United States, Russia Sign Civil Nuclear Pact Once nuclear rivals but today partners, the United States and Russia have signed an agreement to allow the development of nuclear energy for civilian purposes, expand trade and strengthen efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. President Bush approved the agreement May 5, and it was signed by U.S. Ambassador William Burns and Rosatom Director Sergey Kiriyenko May 6 in Moscow. Rosatom is Russia's state nuclear corporation.
23 April 2008 The Bucharest Summit and the Way Forward for NATO Testimony by Daniel Fried Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Europe
15 April 2008 Remarks by Secretary Rice at the American-Turkish Council Luncheon
03 April 2008 Czech Republic, U.S. Agree to Missile Defense Radar Installation Advanced tracking radar technology -– key to protecting central European nations against long-range ballistic missiles launched from trouble spots –- will be installed in the Czech Republic by 2012. The stationing of the radar there is critical to the unfolding of a larger, but limited missile defense plan for Europe that will require the deployment of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
18 March 2008 Remarks by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in Moscow.
8 March 2008 Remarks by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
14 March 2008 Kosovo Independence Significant in Muslim World, Envoy Says Kosovo may be Europe’s newest nation, but its significance extends well beyond the region, especially to the Muslim world. "To be able to secure a Muslim-majority state inside the European whole is a terrific signal that the Muslim world and the non-Muslim world can live side by side in peace and cooperation, one with the other," says Ambassador Frank Wisner, U.S. special envoy for Kosovo.
See also:
What Kosovo Means for the Muslim World
12 March 2008 The Balkans After the Independence of Kosovo and on the Eve of NATO Enlargement Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried provides an overview of the policies of the U.S. government toward the Balkans. He says “It is a key region for us and for our European allies. We have made progress helping this region move from war to peace, from disintegration to sustainable development, and from a European to a Euro-Atlantic future. We have much work to do, though we have already achieved much.”
29 February 2008 U.S. Will Not Support Any Effort To Partition Kosovo The U.S. will not support any effort to partition newly independent Kosovo, a senior U.S. diplomat says. An independent Kosovo is viewed as a crucial way to enhance stability in the Balkans.
22 February 2008 Kosovo's Independence a Just Solution, Says Burns The establishment of new nation is a key step to stability in Balkans.
21 February 2008 State Department Spokesman Briefs on U.S. Embassy Belgrade All American staff safe and accounted for, McCormack tells reporters.
07 February 2008 Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement A Fact Sheet by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
23 January 2008 Kosovo's Final Status: A Key to Stability and Prosperity in the Balkans
10 January 2008 Statement on Kosovo's New Government Coalition Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns congratulated Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) today on the formation of a government coalition.
07 January 2008 Statement on Presidential Election in Georgia U.S. congratulates the people of Georgia on competitive presidential election.
17 November 2007 State Department Statement on the Elections in Kosovo The U.S. welcomes the commitment to democratic development shown by the people of Kosovo. We are pleased that both the pre-election campaign and the elections themselves were conducted peacefully and with respect by all parties for Kosovo's commitments in the ongoing status determination process.
09 November 2007 Iran's Nuclear Program Focus of European Leaders' U.S. Visits Growing international concern over Iran's controversial nuclear program is likely to dominate the agenda as German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at the Bush family ranch in Crawford, as it did for French President Nicolas Sarkozy's first official visit to Washington earlier in the week.
08 November 2007 State Department Statement on the Need for Restraint and Respect for Rule of Law in Georgia
18 October 2007 The Transatlantic Community and Two Great Challenges Remarks by Kurt Volker, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.
01 August 2007 U.S. Supports Period of Intensive Engagement on Kosovo U.S. welcomes U.N. announcement of the Contact Group's initiative to undertake a period of intensive engagement with the Serb government and the Kosovar Albanian authorities to discuss Kosovo's future status.
02 July 2007 Trans-Atlantic Alliance More Vital than Ever The global roles of the U.S. and Europe are not the same, but they are inextricably linked, says a senior U.S. diplomat. That connection forms the foundation of a vital partnership.
20 June 2007 Revised Kosovo Resolution Submitted to U.N. Security Council The U.S. and two European members of the U.N. Security Council have submitted a revised resolution that would pave the way for Kosovo's independence.
10 June 2007 Vote on Independence for Kosovo Should Move Forward, Bush Says Many European Union members, as well as the U.S. and Albania, support U.N. special envoy Martti Ahtisaari's proposal for supervised independence for Kosovo, and now is the time to move forward on the issue, President Bush says.
06 June 2007 Remarks by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates at the Visitor Center Dedication Normandy American Cemetery
17 May 2007 U.S. Hails Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Election to Human Rights Council U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated the 14 new members of the Human Rights Council and said the May 17 election bodes well for the reform of the U.N. human rights body.
16 May 2007 John Negroponte's Remarks to the French-American Foundation The Deputy Secretary of State discussed the United States-France partnership, a historical perspective on the partnership between the United States and Europe, and the modern transatlantic partnership.
16 May 2007 U.S. Secretary of State Concludes Intensive Diplomacy in Russia Policy differences over European-based missile defense and the future of Kosovo should not overshadow the strength of the common interests underlying U.S.-Russian relations, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says after a two-day visit to Moscow.
10 May 2007 U.N. Security Council Begins Debate on Kosovo Resolution The United States and Europe have submitted a preliminary draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council that would set the groundwork for internationally supervised independence for Kosovo, a move that senior U.S. diplomat R. Nicholas Burns says is “inevitable.”
07 May 2007 U.S. Sees Room for Greater Cooperation with France The Bush administration said it looks forward to working with French President-elect Nicholas Sarkozy and officials expressed confidence that the United States and France, despite policy differences on Iraq, will be able to cooperate on many issues.
26 April 2007 U.S.-EU Summit Shows Trans-Atlantic Partnership Going Global When President Bush welcomes European Union leaders April 30 to the White House for an annual summit, officials say the leaders will showcase how half a century of trans-Atlantic partnership has created a wide-ranging partnership on a host of political, security, and economic issues.
26 April 26 2007 The West Needs a Defense System that Works By Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates
25 April 2007 Experts Say Rejecting Kosovo Plan Likely To Provoke Violence Kosovo might achieve independence even if Russia blocks such a move in the U.N. Security Council, and the advantages of independence outweigh the risks, say independent observers who took part in online discussions sponsored by the State Department.
17 April 2007 U.S. To Co-Sponsor Kosovo Resolution in U.N. Security Council Following a visit by the U.N. Security Council to Brussels, Belgium; Belgrade, Serbia; and Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, the U.S. plans to co-sponsor a U.N. resolution that would allow Kosovo’s provisional government to declare independence, U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns says.
13 April 2007 Congress Examines Rationale for European Missile Defenses Members of Congress are examining closely a U.S. proposal to extend limited missile-defense protection to Central Europe.
04 April 2007 U.S.-Russian Relations Strong, Complex, Rice Says Relations between the U.S. and Russia are strong and complex, but also are marked by U.S. concerns about some aspects of Russia's political and economic transition, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
04 April 2007 Independent Kosovo Only Solution, U.S. Envoy Wisner Says Negotiations on Kosovo's future status have reached the "crucial and final stage," the U.S. special envoy for Kosovo status talks says, and the international community should accept the U.N. settlement plan to help bring peace and stability to southeastern Europe.
03 April 2007 Missile Defense System Uses Nonexplosive Interceptor, U.S. Says The proposed U.S. missile-defense system in Central Europe would not fire any explosive projectiles, only an unarmed interceptor, a senior U.S. official says, adding that the U.S. would like to link the system with NATO and, possibly, Russian defenses.
27 March 2007 U.S., European Union To Expand Trans-Atlantic Investment Market The U.S. and the EU seem poised to move their economic integration to a new, higher level by lowering regulatory and other hurdles to mutual direct investment and integration of financial markets, according to official statements and experts' opinions.
26 March 2007 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaties of Rome Says Deputy Secretary Negroponte, "As the European Union celebrates the half century mark, we in the United States are honored to applaud its immense accomplishments. For five decades now, the EU has been a force for positive change not only in Europe but around the world."
26 March 2007 U.S. Supports U.N. Report Endorsing Independent Kosovo The U.S. and the European Union support a U.N. mediator’s proposal to grant Kosovo independence from Serbia, but keep the province under international supervision until a multiethnic democracy is established.
23 March 2007 Resolving Kosovo Status Offers Region Path to Europe, U.S. Says Settling Kosovo’s international status would be a major step in reuniting the Balkans with Europe and reviving the prosperity and political clout the former Yugoslav region enjoyed before the end of the Cold War, U.S. diplomats say.
21 March 2007 U.S. Believes an Independent Kosovo Would Not Set Precedent The U.S. believes that if Kosovo is separated from Serbia under a U.N. plan, the move would not set a precedent for other breakaway regions, particularly the "frozen conflicts" near the boundaries of the former Soviet Union.
16 March 2007 Building a Stronger Transatlantic Partnership
Peter Chase, Director of European Union and Regional Affairs at the State Dept. talks on U.S.- EU issues including air transport, climate change and Kosovo.
 (MP3 5 MIN 12 SEC)
15 March 2007 U.S. Commander Reviews Planned U.S. Troop Cuts in Europe The U.S. plans to send its first rotational Army brigade to Bulgaria and Romania in the summer of 2007, and the senior U.S. and NATO commander in Europe told Congress he is reviewing a previous decision to withdraw more than 40,000 American troops from Europe over the next several years.
12 March 2007 Majority of Serbs Intend To Stay in Kosovo, U.S. Diplomat Says Kosovo’s Serbs strongly disagree with a settlement proposal being sent to the U.N. Security Council, but a senior U.S. diplomat says most Serbs now living in Kosovo intend to stay there and seek a future of peace and prosperity.
02 March 2007 European Missile Defense Would Protect Against Mideast Threats Although the U.S. advocates placing limited missile defense capabilities in Europe, a senior U.S. government nonproliferation expert says it has no interest in sparking an arms race with Russia.
26 February 2007 U.S. Sees Ruling on Bosnia as Opportunity for Healing The Bush administration views the ruling by the International Court of Justice on Serbia’s involvement in genocide during the early 1990s in Bosnia as an opportunity for reconciliation among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia.
21 February 2007 The U.S.-European Alliance
Remarks by R. Nicholas Burns, to the Atlantic Council.
13 February 2007 U.S., EU Expanding Cooperation on Environmental Research An implementing arrangement intended to expand cooperation between the United States and the European Commission (EC) on environmental research was signed in Brussels, Belgium, by the EC’s director-general for research, Manuel Silva Rodriguez.
02 February 2007 United States Welcomes U.N. Envoy’s Proposal for Kosovo The proposal by U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari recommending that Kosovo govern itself democratically and be allowed to make international agreements is “fair and balanced,” according to the Bush administration.
30 January 2007 Transnational Capital Markets Challenge U.S., European Regulators As global financial markets become integrated and crossborder capital flows become easier, securities regulators are struggling to maintain investor protection while encouraging international foreign direct investment.
29 January 2007 European Missile Defense Would Protect Against Mideast Threats The U.S. goal to have elements of a missile defense system based in Europe by 2011 is intended to protect American and allied assets against emerging hostile Middle Eastern threats -- not against Russia, a senior U.S. military official says.
18 January 2007 U.S. Seeks Pro-Europe Outcome for Serbia Election, Kosovo Ruling Serbians vote in parliamentary election January 21; Kosovo decision to follow. The United States would like to see pro-European political parties defeat nationalists in Serbia’s elections January 21, which will be followed by an international decision on Kosovo’s future status, a senior U.S. diplomat says. "We would like to see a Serbia that chooses Europe, that chooses a European future," Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, says in an interview with the Voice of America.
04 January 2007 President Bush Welcomes Chancellor Merkel of Germany to the White House President Bush and Chancellor Merkel of Germany discuss a wide range of issues including Afghanistan, NATO, Iran as well as the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Georgia
18 December 2008 Agreement Eludes Russia-Georgia Peace Talks Mediators in Geneva made progress, but fell short of an agreement to stabilize a fragile peace following the August 2008 conflict over Georgia's Moscow-backed separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, says Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
12 December 2008 Monitoring Mission Can Play Key Role in Georgia Dispute The 56-nation Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has a key role to play in resolving the conflict over Georgia's Russian-backed breakaway regions, U.S. diplomats say. "This is a moment of truth for the organization and we should act," says U.S. representative Kyle Scott, responding to his Russian counterpart's concerns about conditions in South Ossetia by calling on the body December 11 to approve a new monitoring mission to supervise humanitarian aid deliveries and security in the region.
19 November 2008 U.S. Envoys Report Progress in Russia-Georgia Peace Talks Mediators in Geneva have successfully restarted peace talks between Russia and Georgia, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, who urged sending more international monitors to the region to strengthen security and help refugees return home following the August 2008 conflict over the Moscow-backed separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
22 October 2008 U.S. Leads Surge of Donors Rebuilding Georgia The United States joined 67 nations, international financial institutions and private-sector donors to deliver $4.55 billion for Georgia following Russia’s August 2008 invasion. "We share a commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity," Henrietta Fore, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, told delegates at a European Union-sponsored donors’ conference in Brussels, Belgium.
16 October 2008 Geneva Talks Seek Stability, Security in Georgia, U.S. SaysThe U.S. welcomes international talks on security and stability in Georgia and its two breakaway regions, said Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
• State's Daniel Fried on Georgia Talks
08 October 2008 U.S. Committed to NATO Membership for Ukraine, Georgia The United States remains committed to NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia, and it calls on southeastern European nations to send more troops to Afghanistan. At the Southeast European Defense Ministerial meeting in Ohrid, Macedonia, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said October 8 that the U.S. commitment made by President Bush at the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit remains unchanged.
06 October 2008 U.S. Military Aid to Georgia Was Never Directed at Russia Contrary to repeated claims by Russian authorities, the U.S. took careful steps to ensure that its military training efforts in Georgia never constituted any kind of threat to Russian security interests, according to the official who oversaw the program in 2007 and 2008.
25 September 2008 Trans-Atlantic Unity Stabilizing Situation in Georgia Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed the ongoing Georgia crisis with her European counterparts, who reaffirmed their unified commitment to support Georgia’s recovery and ensure Russia honors its cease-fire commitments. “The solidarity shown was quite striking,” Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried told reporters on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
• State Dept. Briefing by Daniel Fried on U.S.-European Relations
25 September 2008 Russia's Use of Kosovo Analogy for Georgia False, Experts Say U.S. officials and foreign policy specialists virtually all agree that Russia’s attempts to cite Kosovo as a precedent for its military actions in Georgia are both misleading and unsupported by even a cursory examination of the facts. In justifying its assault on Georgia in August, Russia has attempted to echo NATO’s military campaign to halt the systematic ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians with its own campaign based on charges of atrocities committed by Georgian forces — charges now shown to be without foundation.
18 September 2008 Statement on EU Observers to Georgia As delivered by Ambassador Julie Finley, United States Mission to the OSCE, to the Permanent Council, Vienna.
15 September 2008 Allies Launch NATO-Georgia Commission The 26 NATO allies met in Tbilisi, Georgia, to launch the new NATO-Georgia Commission aimed at helping Georgia rebuild following Russia’s August 2008 invasion and prepare for future NATO membership.
12 September 2008 U.S. Warns Against New Russian Troop Deployments to Georgia Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s proposal to position large troop garrisons in Georgia’s separatist regions threatens to further undermine the fragile European Union-brokered truce in the ongoing crisis in the South Caucasus, a senior U.S. official says.
11 September 2008 Russian Support of Georgian Separatists Raises New Questions The Georgia crisis began long before Russia’s August 8 air and ground assault, says a top State Department official, and followed years of provocative acts engineered in Moscow to obstruct international peacemaking efforts in the region.
10 September 2008 Russian Attack on Georgia "Pre-planned," Says Pentagon In the months leading up to Russia's invasion, top U.S. military officials joined diplomats in sending a clear message to Georgia: resist Moscow’s attempts to provoke Georgian military action in South Ossetia or Abkhazia.
09 September 2008 Georgia Crisis Will Affect U.S.-Russian Relations in Long Term The United States will take a "steady, determined and patient" approach to Russia as it reassesses relations following the Georgia crisis, working with allies to resist further aggression from Moscow while leaving the door open for future cooperation, says Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
• Current Situation in Georgia and Implications for U.S. Policy.
08 September 2008 New U.S. Aid to Georgia to Target Displaced People Meeting the needs of people displaced from their homes by Georgia's ongoing conflict with Russia is an immediate priority of the United States' new humanitarian aid commitment for Georgia, a senior State Department official said.
08 September 2008 Trans-Atlantic Unity Key to Resolving Georgia Crisis, Says Cheney While the Georgia crisis continues to raise questions about Russia’s future, Vice President Cheney offered several questions of his own for the Kremlin to consider.
• Cheney Remarks at Ambrosetti Forum, Cernobbio, Italy
04 September 2008 Cheney Condemns Russia's Invasion of Georgia Vice President Cheney called Russia's war against Georgia "an illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to re-draw Georgia's borders by force, which has been condemned by the free world.
• Cheney, Georgian President Saakashvili Remarks in Tbilisi
03 September 2008 United States Pledges $1 Billion to Rebuild Georgia The U.S. will deliver a new $1 billion recovery package to help Georgia meet immediate humanitarian needs, enhance its stability and regain its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. "The people of Georgia withstood the assault from the Russian military, and the international community rallied to stand with the people of Georgia and their democratically elected government," President Bush said in a statement announcing the new aid effort.
• Statement by the President on Georgia
• Fact Sheet: U.S. Support for Georgia
• Secretary Rice Remarks On U.S. Economic Support Package for Georgia
• Briefing On U.S. Economic Support Package for Georgia
03 September 2008 Cheney Begins Consultations with Former Soviet Republics Vice President Cheney is beginning a series of consultations with the leaders of three former Soviet republics in the aftermath of Russia's recent incursion into Georgia and its recognition of the breakaway Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
02 September 2008 U.S. Praises European Union Efforts on Georgian Crisis The White House welcomed the support of the 27-nation European Union in trying to convince Russia to withdraw its combat forces that occupy sections of Georgia in violation of a cease-fire agreement.
27 August 2008 Russia's G8 Partners Condemn Its Role in Georgia Crisis Russia's Group of Eight (G8) partners unanimously condemn its military incursion into Georgia and reject Moscow’s attempt to recognize the independence of the emerging South Caucasus democracy’s two separatist regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
• Foreign Ministers' Joint Statement on Georgia
26 August 2008 U.S. Rejects Russia's Recognition of Georgian Separatists Russia's move to officially recognize the independence of Georgia's separatist regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia is a "regrettable" violation of international peace-building efforts that Moscow itself once helped shape, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, joining in widespread international condemnation of Moscow’s latest action in the ongoing Georgia crisis.
• President Bush Condemns Actions Taken by Russian President in Regards to Georgia
25 August 2008 Russia Still Violating Cease-fire in Georgia, Says White House Russia has reduced its troop presence in Georgia, but still is violating a cease-fire deal brokered by the European Union following Moscow’s strike on the South Caucasus democracy, says White House spokesman Tony Fratto.
“We still see large numbers of Russian troops in undisputed territory,” Fratto told reporters August 25 from President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas. “We still see them maintaining checkpoints. We still see the activity in Poti. So there’s no question that Russia remains in violation of that agreement.”
21 August 2008 United States Will Help Rebuild Georgia’s Military The Pentagon plans to deliver new security assistance to Georgia to help safeguard the emerging South Caucasus democracy, say U.S. Defense Department officials.
20 August 2008 Russia Must Accelerate Withdrawal from Georgia, U.S. Says The size and pace of the withdrawal of Russian armored combat forces from Georgia need to increase, and sooner rather than later, a White House spokesman says.
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Remarks by President Bush at Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention
20 August 2008 Russian Provocations Contributed to Georgia Crisis Russia’s attack on Georgia followed several months of provocative acts engineered in Moscow to destabilize the emerging South Caucasus democracy, says America’s top envoy to the region.
In an August 19 press briefing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza said that U.S. officials repeatedly advised that direct military conflict was unwinnable, and worked behind the scenes with all sides in an effort to cool simmering tensions in the region. “The provocations have been going on for a long time,” Bryza said. “Russia was involved in this from the very outset.”
19 August 2008 NATO Strengthens Ties with Georgia NATO will strengthen its ties to Georgia through a newly created commission designed to support reconstruction and stabilization in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian conflict that erupted over two Georgian breakaway regions.
18 August 2008 NATO Ministers Weigh Response to Georgia Crisis NATO's 26 foreign ministers will meet in an emergency session to underline the alliance’s commitment to Georgia's future and weigh future relations with Russia in the wake of its air and ground attack on the emerging South Caucasus democracy.
• Remarks by Secretary Rice En Route to Brussels, Belgium
18 August 2008 Bush Says Russia Has Damaged Its Global Credibility President Bush met with then-Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Black Sea resort of Sochi in early April to discuss security relations between the two former Cold War superpowers. At the end of the conference, the two presidents issued a new U.S.-Russia Strategic Framework Declaration designed to give the next administrations of both nations something to guide them through the first years of their presidencies.
18 August 2008 More U.S. Relief Headed for Victims of Georgia Conflict U.S. humanitarian assistance will continue to flow to victims of the conflict between Georgia and Russia, despite concerns that have arisen over access by relief groups to the breakaway region of South Ossetia.
17 August 2008 Bush Says Russia Must Honor Agreement with Georgia President Bush says Russia must honor the cease-fire accord it signed with Georgia to resolve a conflict that erupted 11 days ago over Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
16 August 2008 Remarks by Secretary Rice to the Travel Pool
16 August 2008 President Bush Discusses Situation in Georgia following Secretary Rice's visit to Georgia
15 August 2008 President Bush Discusses Situation in Georgia.
14 August 2008 Rice Rejects Russian "Protector" Role in South Ossetia, Abkhazia Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rejected recent statements from senior Russian officials that they would serve as "protectors" of South Ossetia and Abkhazia ahead of international mediation or that Georgia should "forget" about both regions.
• Briefing by Secretary Rice on Developments in Georgia
• Rice, French President Sarkozy Remarks on Situation in Georgia
• Secretary Rice: Travel to France and Georgia, August 13-17, 2008 (State Dept. site)
14 August 2008 President Bush Acts to Ensure Peace, Security, Aid in Georgia U.S. takes public, non-public action to stem crisis.
13 August 2008 Russia Must End Military Assault in Georgia, Bush Says The U.S. will "rally the free world in the defense of a free Georgia," says President Bush, announcing that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to Europe to support mediation efforts with Russia. He also announced that the U.S. military will lead a humanitarian aid mission to Georgia.
• Text of President Bush's remarks
13 August 2008 Rice Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations in Georgia Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Russia must end military operations in Georgia immediately as it agreed to in a cease-fire agreement worked out by the European Union just days ago. "This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can threaten its neighbors, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it. Things have changed," Rice said at a State Department.
13 August 2008 United States Airlifting Emergency Aid to Georgia The U.S. is beginning an airlift of emergency relief supplies into Georgia to help victims of the recent fighting there. A C-17 cargo plane from the U.S. military’s European Command will arrive in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi the evening of August 13 with medical supplies, according to the State Department’s acting deputy spokesman Robert Wood.
12 August 2008 Rice Welcomes Progress Toward Resolving Georgia Crisis The U.S. welcomes reports that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a halt to Russian military operations in Georgia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. "Calm needs to be restored," Rice said after she briefed President Bush on U.S. diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. "There then will be international efforts to facilitate the withdrawal of forces from the zone of conflict. We can then look to the issue of how to resolve the long-standing frozen conflicts of South Ossetia and Abkhazia."
• Remarks by Secretary Rice on Situation in Georgia
11 August 2008 President Bush's Remarks on Situation in Georgia at White House President speaks in Rose Garden after meeting with national security team.
11 August 2008 Russian Attack on Georgia Unacceptable, Says Bush Russia's continued attacks despite a proposed Georgian cease-fire mark a "dramatic and brutal escalation" in the crisis over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, says President Bush. "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," Bush said in the White House Rose Garden.
11 August 2008 Georgia to Get U.S. Humanitarian Assistance The U.S. is providing an initial $250,000 in emergency assistance to Georgia to aid people affected by the current fighting between that country and Russia. The funding, announced August 11 by the U.S. Agency for International Development, will be used for relief supplies that can assist as many as 10,000 people.
09 August 2008 President Bush Concerned by Escalation of Violence in Georgia “This situation can be resolved peacefully. We've been in contact with leaders in both Georgia and Russia at all levels of government. Georgia is a sovereign nation and its territorial integrity must be respected. We have urged an immediate halt to the violence and a stand-down by all troops.”
08 August 2008 Russian Actions in Georgia Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte summoned Russian Charge d’Affaires Darchiyev today to press Moscow to cease military operations in Georgia.
Kosovo
07 October 2008 Gates Meets With Kosovo Leaders, Promises Continued U.S. Support Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today congratulated the citizens of Kosovo on their progress in establishing the newest nation on Earth. Gates became the first U.S. cabinet officer to visit Kosovo since it declared its independence from Serbia in February.
18 July 2008 Rice Receives Leaders of Newly Independent Kosovo U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed top officials from Kosovo in their first visit to Washington, highlighting the new democracy’s progress toward strengthening government institutions and protecting Serb communities. She also reaffirmed American support for Kosovo’s new administration.
04 March 2008 State's Fried Opening Remarks on Kosovo's Independence U.S. Department of State Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs.
19 February 2008 President Bush Discusses Kosovo "Sunday, the people of Kosovo declared their independence. They have asked the United States for diplomatic recognition, and yesterday the United States formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent nation. In it's declaration of independence Kosovo committed itself to the highest standards of democracy, including freedom and tolerance and justice for citizens of all ethnic backgrounds. These are principles that honor human dignity, they are values America looks for in a friend, and soon we will establish full diplomatic relations with the new nation of Kosovo. "
18 February 2008 U.S. Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State Says Secretary Rice, "The United States has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion. President Bush has responded affirmatively to a request from Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations between our two countries. The establishment of these relations will reaffirm the special ties of friendship that have linked together the people of the United States and Kosovo."
• Teleconference Briefing on Kosovo by Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Turkey
24 June 2008 Invigorating the U.S.-Turkey Strategic Partnership "Like Turkey itself, U.S.-Turkey relations have navigated remarkable transitions over the past 50 years. Today, we are living in perhaps the most exciting period. Timeworn clichés about Turkey, such as “bulwark against the Soviet Union,” or “NATO Ally since the Korean War,” or “bridge between East and West” are being updated with new concepts, such as “energy hub” and “vibrant emerging market.”"
US-EU Trade Relations
see also World Trade Organization at Current Issues: Trade
30 April 2007 U.S., EU Agree To Reduce Regulatory and Trade Barriers The U.S. and the EU have agreed to expand economic ties by cutting barriers to trade and investment and liberalizing restrictions on air travel. Joint commitments on a broad range of economic and security issues were signed April 30 during the annual U.S.-EU summit in Washington.
Russia
09 October 2008 Russian Claims of Privileged Sphere Draw Criticism In the wake of Russia's assault on Georgia, its claims of a "privileged" sphere of influence within the boundaries of the former Soviet Union, along with the declaration of a right to intervene on behalf of Russian citizens outside its borders, have drawn expressions of confusion, dismay and outright rejection in the United States and Europe.
06 October 2008 Rice Says U.S. Seeks Closer Ties with Kazakhstan The U.S. is trying to build closer ties with Kazakhstan, but that is not intended to undermine Russian influence in Central Asia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says. "First of all, Kazakhstan is an independent country. It can have friendships with whomever it wishes, and I think Kazakhstan has wished to have friendships and relationships with all of its neighbors," Rice said during a three-day trip to Kazakhstan and India Octobe.
29 September 2008 Transatlantic Unity on Russia By Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
18 September 2008 Russia Must Change Course in Georgia, Says Rice The Georgia crisis is the latest example of a Russia that has become "increasingly authoritarian at home and aggressive abroad," says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "Our strategic goal now is to make it clear to Russia’s leaders that their choices are putting Russia on a one-way path to self-imposed isolation and international irrelevance," Rice said in a September 18 address in Washington to the German Marshall Fund.
• Rice Speech at German Marshall Fund on U.S.-Russia Relations
• State's Burns Testimony on Georgia, Russia Before Senate Panel
11 September 2008 NATO Enlargement Not Directed at Russia The post-Cold War enlargement of NATO was not directed against Russia, a senior U.S. official says. "NATO enlargement was intended to achieve emergence of a Europe whole, free and at peace — all of Europe, not just its western half," said Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
• State's Fried's Senate Testimony on North Atlantic Treaty
08 September 2008 United States Withdraws Russian Nuclear Agreement President Bush has withdrawn a U.S.-Russian civil nuclear cooperation agreement that was under consideration by Congress. The decision to withdraw the legislation, once billed as the cornerstone of a new era of nuclear cooperation between the United States and Russia, was made “in view of recent actions by the Government of the Russian Federation incompatible with peaceful relations with its sovereign and democratic neighbor Georgia,” according to a White House statement.
• Statement by Secretary Rice on U.S.-Russia 123 Agreement
19 August 2008 Russia Will Not Be Allowed to Destabilize Europe, Rice Says Russia will not be allowed to win in Georgia and destabilize Europe by creating spheres of influence along its borders, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after an emergency meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium.
18 August 2008 Bush Says Russia Has Damaged Its Global Credibility President Bush met with then-Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Black Sea resort of Sochi in early April to discuss security relations between the two former Cold War superpowers. At the end of the conference, the two presidents issued a new U.S.-Russia Strategic Framework Declaration designed to give the next administrations of both nations something to guide them through the first years of their presidencies.
09 August 2008 President Bush Concerned by Escalation of Violence in Georgia “This situation can be resolved peacefully. We've been in contact with leaders in both Georgia and Russia at all levels of government. Georgia is a sovereign nation and its territorial integrity must be respected. We have urged an immediate halt to the violence and a stand-down by all troops.”
08 August 2008 Russian Actions in Georgia Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte summoned Russian Charge d’Affaires Darchiyev today to press Moscow to cease military operations in Georgia.
22 July 2008 Missile Defense Plan Directed at Rogue Nations, Not Russia The U.S. has reiterated that its planned missile defense system in Europe is not directed against Russia but rather against the growing threat from rogue nations such as Iran, according to a senior U.S. military official. "Ten interceptors in Poland could absolutely not match the hundreds of interceptors and thousands of warheads that the Russians have deployed," Lieutenant General Henry Obering, director of the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency, said at a recent briefing.
07 July 2008 Bush, Russia’s Medvedev Highlight Agreement on Iran, North Korea President Bush and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev highlighted their agreement on security challenges posed by Iran and North Korea following their first formal presidential meeting.
31 May 2008 Russian Announcement of Intention to Send More Military Forces into Abkhazia The U.S. is dismayed by Russia's Defense Ministry announcement on May 31 that it intends to send more military forces, including railroad construction troops, into the Georgian region of Abkhazia without the consent of the Georgian Government.
15 May 2008 U.S.-Russia Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Joint leadership to enhance peaceful nuclear cooperation worldwide.
09 May 2008 U.S.-Russian Relations Reflect Differences, Concerns and Promise In a February 15 speech by then-presidential candidate Medvedev in Krasnoyarsk, he said that economic modernization of Russia would require support for the rule of law, a campaign against corruption, protection of property rights and investment in human capital, says Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
08 April 2008 U.S. Seeks to Advance Economic Partnership with Russia With U.S. exports to Russia on the upswing and the bilateral trade imbalance narrowing, Bush administration officials are optimistic that an improved U.S.-Russian economic relationship is in the offing. "We acknowledge the great potential for expanding bilateral trade and investment and the significant benefits this would bring to both our economies," says the U.S.-Russian Strategic Framework Agreement, issued April 6 following meetings between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia.
06 April 2008 President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with President Putin of Russia
Related:
• U.S.-Russia Strategic Framework Declaration
• Fact Sheet: U.S.-Russia Strategic Framework Declaration
• In Focus: NATO.
04 April 2008 Cooperation Often Overlooked in U.S.-Russian Relations From his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Slovakia in 2001 to what will likely be his final official visit with the Russian leader in Russia;s Black Sea coastal resort of Sochi, President Bush has stressed the importance of building a close connection while navigating the complex relationship between Washington and Moscow.
04 March 2008 U.S. Expects Constructive Relationship with New Russian Leader The U.S. looks forward to continuing to work with Russia and Russian President-elect Dmitri Medvedev, U.S. officials say. "It's in our mutual interest for Russia and the United States to work together on areas of common interest such as nonproliferation, counterterrorism and combating transnational crime," said White House deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe.
16 January 2008 State Department Statement on Russian Actions Against British Council
12 December 2007 Statement Regarding Russian "Suspension" of the CFE Treaty
25 November 2007 U.S. Concern About Handling of Protests in Russia The U.S. is concerned by reports of aggressive tactics used by Russian authorities against opposition protestors yesterday in Moscow and other cities.
07 November 2007 Russian Action on "Frozen Conflicts" Can Save Key Security Pact The U.S. is committed to helping Russia take necessary steps toward resolving "frozen conflicts" in Georgia and Moldova and thus defusing the Kremlin’s threat to suspend the Conventional Forces Europe Treaty, one of history’s most successful arms control agreements.
22 October 2007 Secretary Rices's remarks at Conference on U.S.-Soviet Relations in the Era of Détente, 1969-1976 "What brings us together today is a truly remarkable achievement, both in the history of diplomacy and the diplomacy of history. Only two decades ago, the United States and the Soviet Union stood as enemies, separated by mystery and misunderstanding and prepared for war. Today, Americans and Russians are opening our archives, sharing old secrets, and trying to build newfound trust."
11 October 2007 Briefing with Secretary Rice En Route Moscow, Russia
05 October 2007 Upcoming Moscow 2+2 Meeting On-the-Record Briefing with Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs on Defence Secretary Gates's upcoming meetings in Moscow.
03 July 2007 Bush, Russia’s Putin Signal Cooperation on Nuclear Energy Aid Following an informal visit at the Bush family retreat in Kennebunkport, Maine, President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled a new spirit of cooperation on the peaceful use and spread of nuclear energy with a proposal to help the international community generate nuclear power.
02 July 2007 Missile Defense System Could Include NATO, Russia’s Putin Says President Bush, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kennebunkport, Maine, welcomed the Russian president’s proposal to expand a shared missile defense network to include Russia, the United States and European allies via the NATO-Russia Council.
28 June 2007 Bush Approach to Russia on Human Rights Backed by Expert The Bush administration has adopted a reasonable approach in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on human rights, says a prominent U.S. expert on Russia.
21 June 2007 U.S. Should Voice Concerns to Russia, Official Says Although the United States and Russia share many similar foreign policy goals, the two countries need to find better ways to discuss differences on security issues and democratic progress, a top U.S. diplomat told senators June 21.
15 June 2007 Azeri Radar Would Not Replace Czech Anti-Missile Site, U.S. Says NATO’s 26 nations have agreed to assess by February 2008 the political and military implications of planned missile-defense systems in Europe, and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said alliance members have voiced no criticism of the U.S. portion of the plan.
14 June 2007 U.S. Seeks "Creative Compromise" To Keep Russia in Key Pact The U.S. and other European nations want to address "seriously and creatively" Russia’s concerns over the future of the Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) Treaty, one of history’s most successful arms control agreements, a senior U.S. diplomat says.
07 June 2007 White House Welcomes Russian Missile Defense Offer President Bush welcomed an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin that could transform a dispute over a proposed European missile defense system into a new partnership opportunity for Washington and Moscow.
06 June 2007 Bush Stresses Need for Strong U.S.-Russian Relations Although the complexity of the U.S.-Russian relationship has at times led to disagreements, the two countries should maintain open relations and work together on a variety of issues including nonproliferation, energy and climate change, President Bush says.
04 June 2007 Bush, Russia’s Putin To Discuss Missile Defense Plan President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet on the margins of the Group of Eight leaders’ meeting and discuss the proposed U.S. missile defense system in Europe, said U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.
01 June 2007 Bush Urges Russia To Reconsider Missile Defense The U.S. would welcome Russian participation in a European-based missile defense system, President Bush said in a series of interviews. Bush told reporters that, during the upcoming Group of Eight Summit, he plans to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the U.S. offer to join in a missile defense system.
15 May 2007 Secretary Rice's Remarks With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Secretary Rice And her Russian counterpart discussed a range of issues from missile defense to Kosovo.
27 April 2007 U.S.-Russia Cooperation Touted for Reducing Nuclear Threat Russia is one of the strongest partners of the U.S. in countering the global terrorist threat and in restraining countries from becoming “nuclear weapons states,” says Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.
26 April 26 2007 The West Needs a Defense System that Works By Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates
24 April 2007 Secretary Gates Offers Missile-Defense Partnership with Russia The U.S. has invited Russian officials to visit U.S. anti-missile sites in Alaska and California, and is offering unprecedented partnership in missile defense while trying to address concerns about the proposed placement of missile interceptors in Central Europe, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said during a visit to Moscow.
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