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We
Cannot Fail the World
December 17, 2003
Contact : Claire Le Goc, Director of Communication: clegoc@europeaninstitute.org
Fred Olsen, Director of Programs: folsen@europeaninstitute.org
Washington, DC - On December 16, The European Institute
presented the Transatlantic Leadership Award to Senator Chuck
Hagel, (R-Nebraska), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee's Subcommittee on International Policy, Export and Trade
Promotion and Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee's Subcommittee
on International Trade and Finance. Throughout this troubling year,
Senator Hagel has been an outspoken proponent of the need for good
US-European relations, and an advocate for the common strategic
agenda.
Dr. Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the
European Union and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security
Policy, the 2000 recipient, came from Brussels to present the Award.
Dr. Solana stressed that, unlike some who have recently doubted
the value of the enduring US-European alliance or questioned the
existence of common values and interests, Senator Hagel admits
publicly that the transatlantic alliance is irreplaceable. Speaking
on last Friday's meetings of the European Council on the European
Constitution, and the adoption of the first European security strategy,
the Solana Doctrine, he stated that the EU's message to the US
is very clear: "We want to be partners with the United States,
we are ready to share the burden and to shoulder our part of the
responsibility, and we are determined to attack the root causes
of the ills befalling the world of today."
In his remarks, Senator Chuck Hagel stated that the EU's strength and
determination to advance a common foreign and security policy, which has frightened
some American policymakers in the last few years, is a positive development for
both Europe and the US. Making up the most important alliance in the history
of mankind, the US and Europe depend on each other to face the new challenges
of the 21st century: "These great threats that we face today will not be met
by, achieved by nor won by one nation."
"If we crack the very base of the one vital partnership that has done so much
for this world, we will crack mankind." In Senator Hagel's opinion, today's transatlantic
leaders have the opportunity to show the same strength and vision demonstrated
at the end of World War II, which kept the world safe and prosperous for 50 years
and created dozens of multilateral institutions for mankind, including the UN,
the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO. We have "this magnificent opportunity to
do more good for more people than any nation, any partnership in the history
of men.We cannot fail the world."
On the Middle East and the fight against terrorism, Senator Hagel said: "We are
endeavoring in a very complicated, unpredictable, dangerous part of the world.
This is a long term effort. This is going to require a commitment from all of
us." Despite the importance of military power, the Senator insisted on the fact
that the war against terrorism will not be won unless the United States and Europe
together turn their attention to the underlying causes of fundamentalism and
radicalism. If they fail, "my two young children will inherit a far more dangerous
world than I inherited and every generation of Americans inherited."
Senator Hagel also serves as the Co-chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission
on China. Other recent recipients of the Transatlantic Leadership Award have
included the Secretary General of NATO Lord Robertson of Port Ellen; Senators
Joe Biden (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN); European Commissioner of Trade Pascal
Lamy; former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright; and former Prime Minister
of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus.
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