New US Under-Secretary outlines Transatlantic policy

7 April 2005

The collective might of the United States and Europe should be a force for advancing democracy in the Middle East and in other parts of the world said R Nicholas Burns, US Under-Secretary of State, in a speech tonight at Chatham House.

Ambassador Burns, the former US ambassador to NATO, outlined the administration's second term foreign policy objectives and warned that Iran must cease its nuclear programme and criticized the European Union's decision to end the arms embargo with China. He said that NATO had a new purpose - to extend democracy through Europe and the Caucuses towards Asia.

He said that the UK is an 'indespensible partner' and very effective bridge between the US and the rest of Europe.

Notes for editors:

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in as Under Secretary for Political Affairs only a few weeks ago. He was Permanent Representative to the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on August 7, 2001 until February 2005. Ambassador Burns was Spokesman of the U.S. State Department from 1995-1997. From 1990-1995, he served on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House, under President George H.W. Bush as Director for Soviet Affairs and for Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, and under President Clinton as Special Assistant and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Affairs. His other diplomatic postings include Cairo and Jerusalem.

Wednesday 6 April, 18.30-19.30
The Future of Transatlantic Relations
R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, US Department of State - appointed 18 March 2005.

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