For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 23, 2001
Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair
President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair reaffirm the
uniquely close relationship that exists between the United States and
the United Kingdom: a relationship rooted in common history, common
values and common interests around the globe. We commit
ourselves to the shared goals of a stronger Transatlantic alliance and
to helping build a Europe whole, free and secure.
We affirm that NATO will remain the essential foundation of
Transatlantic security. In this new century, NATO will
continue to adapt itself to meet new missions and challenges by
strengthening its capabilities; seeking to reinforce cooperation with
Russia, Ukraine and other members of the Partnership for Peace; and
continuing to admit to its ranks European democracies prepared to
assume the responsibilities of membership.
We support efforts of NATO's European Members and other European
nations to assume greater responsibility for crisis management in
Europe by strengthening NATO's capabilities and developing the ability
to manage efforts where NATO as a whole chooses not to
engage. In this regard, the United States welcomes the
European Union's European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), intended
to make Europe a stronger, more capable partner in deterring and
managing crises affecting the security of the Transatlantic
community. The United Kingdom is committed to taking ESDP
forward on the basis agreed by the EU at the recent Nice
summit. This involves:
- Working with other EU members to establish and
provide resources for an ESDP that improves Europe's capabilities and
enables the EU to act where NATO as a whole is not engaged;
- Developing EU capabilities in a manner that is
fully coordinated, compatible and transparent with NATO;
- Providing for the fullest possible
participation of non-EU European Allies in the consideration of
execution of EU-led operations, reflecting their shared interests and
security commitments as NATO members.
The United States supports these efforts and welcomes the progress made
toward our shared goals.
We reaffirm our commitment to promoting peace and stability in the
Balkans. We declare our intent to work together and with our partners
in the European Union and beyond to consolidate the peace so recently
won. Our common vision is of a region, fully embedded in
Europe, where commerce supplants conflict, where borders are venues for
cooperation and not reasons for conflagration, and where the rule of
law prevails and war criminals are brought to justice. Our
two countries are committed to NATO-led military operations in the
region and agree to work with allies and partners to build a region
where the democratic leaders themselves take on the responsibility for
implementing the peace, enabling the progressive drawdown of
international military forces and in due course of the international
civilian organizations.
We recognize the existence of a common threat stemming from the growing
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and increasingly
sophisticated missiles for their delivery. We are already
working together in this area, and agree on the need for further
substantive bilateral consultations, as well as close consultations
with other allies. This consultation process, which will
involve contacts with other interested parties, will include a review
of our common strategic assumptions so that they reflect the
contemporary security setting, and especially the growing threat from
WMD-armed adversaries in regions of vital interest. We need
to obstruct and deter these new threats with a strategy that
encompasses both offensive and defensive systems, continues nuclear
arms reductions where possible, and strengthens WMD and missile
proliferation controls and counter-proliferation measures.
We reaffirm our determination to oppose the development or use of WMD
and ballistic missiles by Saddam Hussein and the threat his regime
poses to its neighbors, while seeking to protect the Iraqi people from
the brutality of Saddam Hussein and his indifference to their
humanitarian needs. We call on Iraq to comply with relevant
UN Security Council Resolutions.
In the wake of the verdict issued by the Scottish High Court at Camp
Zeist on January 31, we reiterate our condolences to the families of
the victims of Pan Am flight 103, and call on the Libyan government to
comply with the requirements of relevant UN Security Council
resolutions.
The President pledges the continuing support of the United States for
the Northern Ireland peace process. The Prime Minister
welcomes that support.
We are both committed to taking advantage of the new possibilities for
democratic development and free markets in Africa in order to address
the problems of insecurity and poverty on the continent. We
support the idea of a new partnership with Africa to address, in a
systematic way, conflict and disease -- especially HIV/AIDS -- and to
promote economic growth and good governance. It is in all of
our interests to create a more stable and peaceful world and to make
available the benefits of globalization to all peoples.
We recognize the depth of our nations? economic connection and the
United Kingdom acknowledges the importance to European economies of
measures designed to sustain economic growth in the United
States. We commit to work together and with other European
states to deepen Transatlantic economic relations and to seek solutions
to trade disputes. To maintain support for the WTO, we
recognize that it is important that we work for solutions to trade
disputes which are in accordance with its rulings. We
reaffirm our commitment to the multilateral trading system and strongly
support the launch of a new Round of global trade negotiations this
year. It is our goal to open markets, both regionally and
globally. We agree to intensify our efforts to liberalize
fully our bilateral civil aviation relationship. We reaffirm
our commitment to increased cooperation in the sphere of Transatlantic
defense trade and the removal of unnecessary governmental barriers and
impediments to such trade.
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