BELGIUM: OUTGOING U.S SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING RELATIONS BETWEEN USA AND EUROPE

Record ID: 222846

  • Title: BELGIUM: OUTGOING U.S SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING RELATIONS BETWEEN USA AND EUROPE
  • Date: 8th December 2004
  • Summary: (W5) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 8, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF RESIDENCE PALACE WITH POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES 0.07 2. SLV COLIN POWELL ARRIVING AT THE PALACE AND WALKING UP THE STEPS 0.15 3. SLV COLIN POWELL ARRIVING AT GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE AND SHAKING HANDS 0.23 4. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL SAYING: "I know that some of president's key decisions these last four years have been controversial in Europe, especially decisions were made about Iraq. Whatever our differences about the past and about Iraq, we are now looking forward. We are reaching out to Europe and we hope that Europe will reach out to us. Amid all the background noise of the past few years, we have seen a transformation in the transatlantic partnership. It is increasingly gone global." 0.54 5. WIDE/ PAN AUDIENCE 0.58 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL SAYING: "Ever since the cold war birth in Helsinki in 1975, the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) has been about freedom, democracy and peace. Now long after the cold war, the OSCE continues its vital work. The OSCE is where North America and Europe come together to fight for human rights and against anti-semitism, anti-muslim, bigotry and bigotry of all kinds. We can be proud that the OSCE has also developed critical expertise at monitoring elections. Had it not been for OSCE and other monitors, in the Ukrainian elections last month, the will of the Ukrainian people would almost certainly have been flouted and defrauded. The stakes were enormous and still are, which is why we gave full support yesterday for continuing OSCE monitoring in upcoming Ukrainian elections. Elections in young democracies can be galvanising events, events that can instil confidence and bravery and entire nation as people stand up for the rights and demands in the elections as they assemble, as we saw them in Tiblissi last fall, and in Ukraine over the past couple of weeks. We see it happening as we saw it happening in October in Afghanistan when the people came out to vote, to let their voice be heard." 2.25 7. WIDE OF STAGE WITH POWELL AND AUDIENCE 2.29 8. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL SAYING: "Now is the time for the OSCE to expand its work still further. We want Afghanistan's success to be replicated in the Palestinian elections that are coming up on January 9th, and I hope the OSCE will be there. Also I believe it is our obligation, in the spirit of Helsinki final act, to help the Iraqi people to have the kind of election that they deserve. I hope that we can come together so that the OSCE will play a role in the Iraqi elections on January 30th." 3.01 9. PAN OF AUDIENCE 3.10 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL SAYING: "We support the second run off elections on December 26th as the best way to restore confidence in the integrity of Ukraine's political institutions. We think Ukraine's highest court has judged wisely, and I am very pleased to learn this morning that so does the Rada, their Parliament. They have passed the necessary legislation to put in place a process that will lead to a second run off election on December 26th. Ukrainians are coming together to find an Ukrainian solution to this problem. And we all standby to help. All we ask, all we want, all we have ever wanted is a free fair open election so the will of the Ukrainian people can be heard." 3.57 11. WIDE / PAN AUDIENCE APPLAUDING 4.05 12. SLV COLIN POWELL SHAKING HAND AND WALKING OFF STAGE 4.21 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Reuters ID: LVA4I3KL32ECEGN8PGO289ILO3ES
  • Story Text: On his last trip to Europe as U.S. secretary of
    state, Colin Powell called for a strengthening in relations
    between America and Europe.




    Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell began
    his visit to Europe on Wednesday (December 8). He will
    attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
    foreign ministers meeting, held on December 9 and 10 and a
    EU-US meeting held on December 10.

    In a conference on Wednesday Powell spoke of the
    transatlantic relationship between and the United States
    and Europe and the strains on the relationship in the last
    couple of years.

    "I know that some of president's key decisions these
    last four years have been controversial in Europe,
    especially decisions were made about Iraq. Whatever our
    differences about the past and about Iraq, we are now
    looking forward. We are reaching out to Europe and we hope
    that Europe will reach out to us. Amid all the background
    noise of the past few years, we have seen a transformation
    in the transatlantic partnership. It is increasingly gone
    global," Powell said.

    He spoke of the important role of the Organisation for
    Security and Cooperation in Europe in particular in respect
    of elections in Ukraine.

    "Elections in young democracies can be galvanising
    events, events that can instil confidence and bravery and
    entire nation is people stand up for the rights and demands
    in the elections as they assemble, as we saw them in
    Tiblissi last fall, and in Ukraine over the past couple of
    weeks. We see it happening as we saw it happening in
    October in Afghanistan when the people came out to vote, to
    let their voice be heard," he told the audience.

    The United States and the European Union, working in
    step, welcomed new laws voted by parliament on Wednesday
    aimed at ensuring a fair rerun on December 26.

    "We support the second run off elections on December
    26th as the best way to restore confidence in the integrity
    of Ukraine's political institutions. We think Ukraine's
    highest court has judged wisely, and I am very pleased to
    learn this morning that so does the Rada, their Parliament.

    They have passed the necessary legislation to put in place
    a process that will lead to a second round of election on
    December 26th. Ukrainians are coming together to find an
    Ukrainian solution to this problem. And we all standby to
    help. All we ask, all we want, all we have ever wanted is a
    free fair open election so the will of the Ukrainian people
    can be heard," he said.

    Ukraine's parliament approved on Wednesday a series of
    laws and constitutional changes aimed at resolving the
    post-election crisis which has pushed the ex-Soviet state
    into turmoil.


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