Hillary received with open arms for dinner by the Europeans
(B2) The star of the "transatlantic" dinner - bringing together the foreign ministers of the EU and NATO (*) - was unquestionably Hillary Clinton. This one, dressed in white (it's important, the look, for the images), arrived a good half hour late. As a result, the bilateral planned with the Belgian minister was canceled. And dinner started right away. "A very rich discussionconfided the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Karel De Gucht to a few journalists at the end of dinner. “Everyone was really impressed by the knowledge of all these files of the new American Secretary of State.” But above all, it is the change in tone between Europeans and Americans that is striking. “We have nuances, obviously between us, explainable by our different historical pasts. But there is considerably greater convergence than six months ago. he explained. And summing up the general sentiment: “We really have a common analysis of what is happening in the Middle East. We feel a desire to get involved very quickly, from the start of the legislature, on the conflict in the Middle East. "
On Russia, the position of the new administration is more open. The Atlantic Council should thus reach Thursday - during its formal meeting - a majority to resume discussions between NATO and Russia " without illusions”. But being aware of the need to have to do this ". There is a “willingness to work with Russia on the basis of common interests”. " It is obvious that we must engage with Russia. It is a global force to be reckoned with. But that doesn't mean you have to be naïve or there will be no problem.(To compensate for this openness, NATO-Georgia and NATO-Ukraine commissions are scheduled for Thursday).
As for Afghanistan – Pakistan, who are "We have a shared idea of the facets of the same problem". And to add a more personal sentiment:Putting Pakistan and Afghanistan on the same plane is not possible. There is a big difference between Pakistan, which is a nuclear force, has a larger, urban elite, while Afghanistan has remained medieval in its structures.". But, during this dinner, he did not "no question of an exit strategy", assures the Belgian minister. " It's very premature to talk about that. When we go into the field, the soldiers we meet tell us: “We are here for a generation”, that is perhaps a bit exaggerated. But, at one stage of the conflict, that is not what we are discussing. We see how to move forward, and what strategy to get results. Discussion is not about devising an exit strategy.”
(*) NB: This informal dinner is a tradition of meetings of NATO Foreign Ministers. The day before the official meeting, a dinner brings together at the Palais d'Egmont, in general, the prestigious residence of Belgian diplomacy, all the ministers of both the EU and NATO (with the presence of the secretaries general of the EU and NATO, respectively Javier Solana and Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner). A moment of exchange, in general, welcome to allow everyone to prepare for the meeting the next day.
NB: All the States were represented at ministerial level on Wednesday evening... except for four countries represented by their ambassador: Cyprus, Ireland (these two countries have a special relationship with NATO), Iceland (the government does not does not include a Minister of Defence) ... and France!. Apparently Bernard Kouchner is waiting for the full reintegration of NATO -:)). Joking aside, the French minister doesn't like this kind of meal... Too bad!
