Brussels / Washington, 08/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The first meeting between the new US administration and the representatives of the European Union allowed "positive and constructive exchange" on the main issues of common interest, commented US Secretary of State Colin Powell after his meeting on 6 March with EU Council President Anna Lindh, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten. A long series of international policy issues were discussed at the meeting, including the Middle East, the question of adopting a resolution on Chechnya at the UN, the transformation of the sanctions regime against Iraq, and the draft UN resolution on human rights in China announced by the United States. Anna Lindh and Colin Powell insisted on the following points during a joint press conference:
European security and defence policy. Colin Powell told the press he "made clear that the United States welcomes the development of a European Security and Defence Policy that strengthens the NATO Alliance and increases Europe's capacity to deter and manage crises". He added: "we agreed that we need to ensure that ESDP complements NATO, that there is no duplication of planning or operational capabilities, and that all NATO members are assured the fullest possible participation in EU defence and security deliberations affecting their interests". Anna Lindh specified that, with ESDP, it is really a matter of having better intervention capability in the event of crises in Europe, and not of duplicating NATO. The debate was positive, far more positive than expected, but the United States nonetheless insisted that the EU should develop real intervention capabilities, said one European source.
Missile shield. In answer to questions put by the press, Anna Lindh said that, personally speaking, in her capacity as Swedish minister, she had not changed her opinion and continues to oppose the missile shield project. As Council president she remarked that the EU attaches great importance to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) and that "we do not want this ABM Treaty threatened".
Macedonia: Both parties shared concerns regarding the troubled situation on the Kosovo border of the former Republic of Macedonia. Europeans recalled the EU's plan to move additional observers to the region. Colin Powell held telephone contacts with the Greek Foreign Minister, Georges Papandreou. He said he supported his effort and his intention to go to the region to "seek a solution" with the FYROM President and with the Atlantic Alliance. "We are calling on both sides to show restraint", said Colin Powell, adding that "we are examining how we can begin to transfer the ground safety zone back to Yugoslav authorities over time - not all at once, but perhaps beginning with the most difficult area in the south". (On Thursday, NATO gave its go-ahead to the deployment of Yugoslav forces in that area).
Ukraine: Both parties spoke of the problems of freedom of expression and democracy in Ukraine. Ms Lindh noted that the troika on visit in Ukraine just two weeks ago clearly saw the situation is very difficult. "Obviously they do have a lot of both political and economic problems, but at the same time it's important to continue to cooperate with Ukraine, not to let them fall down even deeper", she added. Colin Powell affirmed that both the "United States and the European Union are standing by wanting to help Ukraine but they've got to get these kind of political difficulties beyond them", declared Colin Powell.
Death penalty: Europeans urged for abolition of the death penalty in the United States, during what Commissioner Patten saw as a perfectly courteous exchange. This is an issue that is the subject of broad consensus in the United States, and the two candidates to the US Presidency shared it, replied Colin Powell.