| Rebuilding Transatlantic Relations. Dialogue between US and European Democrats |
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Rome, February 24-25 1. We are deeply convinced that the United States and Europe should actively pursue a renewed strategic partnership capable of exercising shared responsibilities and of asserting their own values and own economic, political and security power towards improved world governance. A stronger, more cohesive and integrated Europe is neither an alternative nor much less an adversary to the United States, but represents an opportunity to jointly meet the challenges of globalization, security and the fight against terrorism, and the promotion of democracy, human rights, and the environment. 2. We are aware that one of the principal causes of the weakening of transatlantic relations is the insufficient weight of Europe as a single global political actor. Given the advent of the European Constitution and the progress in the area of shared foreign and security policy, the United States is no longer served by “à la carte” alliances with individual countries in the Union or by distinctions between “old” and “new” Europe. Instead, this is the time to launch a partnership with the whole of the European Union, based on the conviction that integration represents a common strategic interest. 3. We believe the role of NATO is still relevant. It should be re-established as the transatlantic forum for common decisions on geostrategic issues, but should be reconsidered in light of the new tasks to be assumed by the European Union following enlargement and possible new commitments in the Balkans and the Middle East. Given the results obtained in Afghanistan, NATO’s weight can increase with respect to the objectives of non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism in the entire Mediterranean region and the Middle East. We emphasize our positive view of the strategic and logistical integration between a common European defense and NATO as defined in the Berlin Plus accords. 4. The fight against global terrorism is a priority for prevailing over insecurity in our communities. Greater effort is therefore necessary to improve the efficacy of political responses towards the prevention and fight against terror that include joint initiatives for removing the root causes of instability and under-development that nourish a favourable environment for the proliferation of terrorism, as well as an even greater integration of intelligence and repressive measures. The birth of EU police and anti-terrorism organisms should be greeted positively and these organisms should be developed to make collaboration between the two sides of the Atlantic simpler and more effective. 5. Following the Iraqi elections on January 30, the United States and Europe should return to a common path with the objective of stabilizing the country and accompanying the process of democratic growth and consolidation, with the awareness that it is paramount to respect the stages established in the United Nations calendar and that much remains to be done to guarantee minimum conditions of security and daily livability. To this end we propose launching a strategic dialogue between America and Europe through the promotion of a new Contact Group composed of the U.S., EU, the principal European nations with military and reconstruction commitments, and the principal regional actors. We believe the role of the European Union in the area of reconstruction projects should be increased, as should that of NATO in the training of police and security forces, and that a possible plan for withdrawal should be discussed together with the coalition, the U.N. and the new Iraqi Government. 6. We reaffirm our joint and full support for the Road Map based on “confidence building” that has as a final objective the existence of two sovereign States amid conditions of mutual security. Within this framework, we welcome the creation of a new coalition government in Israel, the withdrawal plans for the Gaza Strip and the essential initiative engaged by the new Palestinian Government to fight and uproot terrorism. 7. The United States and the European Union share the objective of nuclear non-proliferation. In this context, the dialogue begun between the EU and Iran to suspend and end the program for the enrichment of uranium for non-civilian purposes should be supported. In case of unsatisfactory results, the two parties commit themselves to proposing a UN Security Council resolution that envisages the use of enhanced diplomatic and economic measures. 8. The above-mentioned commitments will be increasingly coordinated with a long-term plan for the promotion of democracy and human rights. “Promotion of democracy” should become a priority in the European political agenda and should significantly condition foreign policy on both sides of the ocean. Development aid should be re-oriented to favor new democracies and democracies in transition, and programs to support social forces that promote multiparty systems, secular education, respect for human rights, women’s rights, religious tolerance, and tools for promoting the independence of the press should be put in place. 9. The European Union and the United States should work together to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur. The strenthening and modification of the mandate of the African Union’s Amis mission should be supported in order to provide the security guarantees to interrupt the flow of refuges into camps and create the conditions for a return to villages of origin. The United States and the European Union should encourage the implementation of the recent peace accord between the North and South of Sudan. The United States will not use its veto if European countries ask the Security Council to entrust the International Criminal Court with the task of pursuing accountability for acts documented in the UN report on the war in Darfur. 10. The United States and the European Union should define a common strategy after the recent entrance into effect of the Kyoto Protocol. It is a strategic interest of the European Union to promote every effort to involve the United States in mechanisms of “emission trading,” and it is in the common interest to promote renewal sources of energy and research into clean energy. We believe the United States and the European Union should put into practice the commitments undertaken towards reaching the “Millennium Development Goals” by 2015. In particular, the European Union and the United States must by that date gradually reach the objective of devoting 0.7% of GDP to development projects in less developed nations. In order to overcome the difficulties of the international organizaitons born after World War II, in particular the UN, WTO, IMF, and the World Bank, we must promote reforms based on the principles of efficiency, efficacy, transparency, accountability, and openness to issue raised by developing countries. 11. To define a Common Agenda and pursue the political promotion of these shared objectives, we decide to establish the “Alliance of American and European Democrats” through the constitution of a permanent secretariat for consultation and debate among the political groups and forces that undersign this document. |
The Alliance of Democrats express the most sincere congratulations to the new Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr Naoto Kan.
Naoto Kan was among the founders of the Alliance of Democrats.
