Speeches/ Op-Eds 2008
University of Limoges
February 8, 2008
Monsieur le Président de l'Université,
Mesdames et Messieurs les Professeures,
Dear friends from Charlotte and from Limoges,
I am proud to represent today Ambassador Craig Stapleton who unfortunately had to stay in Paris. I would like to thank you for this opportunity to meet you all and to talk about the relations between our two great nations, France and the United States.
I am especially pleased to do so during the visit of the delegation from Charlotte, North Carolina, Limoges's Sister-City in America. And thank you for allowing me to practice my English with you!
Relations between the United States and France are a complex and very old subject, certainly by American standards. Our long shared history underscores the strength, importance, and enduring nature of our partnership, which dates to the very earliest days of America's birth as a sovereign nation. France was among our very first friends, a key to winning our independence, and we have remained close allies and partners ever since. We have never been on opposing sides during any armed conflict -- which, if you think about it, is quite remarkable and something that cannot be said about even our friends in Britain.
Our alliance worked effectively to end aggression during both World Wars and during the Cold War that followed. Today we continue to work closely on many of the world's most important issues.
The basis for this friendship is ultimately the core values that our nations and our people share. These would include a deep and abiding commitment to freedom and democracy, and the benefits that freedom and democracy provide. Our shared commitment to these values has always linked the American and French people, and, I firmly believe, will continue to do so.
From time to time, we may, of course, have different views on a given issue. But, as Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner noted during a recent visit to Washington, what the U.S. and France sometimes find frustrating about each other are not our differences but the fact that we are so much alike, as I mentioned just a moment ago.
Like siblings, we can -- and do -- disagree. Sometimes, one side takes a step that the other does not support. Such was the case when President de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO’s Integrated Military Command Structure in 1966. And it is no secret that our two sides at one point seriously disagreed over Iraq.
The strength of our friendship, however, allows us to speak out when we disagree but without damaging the essential nature of that friendship. And this underlying permanent friendship invariably means that we continue to work together, and to resolve our differences over time, which has usually resulted in an even stronger and more cooperative relationship. We have done so throughout our entire shared history and we have done so concerning Iraq.
I might add that any lingering differences over Iraq have narrowed considerably since Foreign Minister Kouchner visited Baghdad last August.
I can report that America and France thus continue to work closely in many areas:
in combating terrorism in Europe and around the world, in working to stop the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by Iran and North Korea, in building stability in the Balkans, in encouraging a more stable and democratic Lebanon, free from foreign influence, and in combating the Taliban and in creating a stable democracy in Afghanistan.
Our cooperation in these areas never faltered and remains close and strong.
The United States and France work together through a variety of mechanisms -- as bilateral partners, as NATO allies, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and through common membership in virtually all important international bodies.
The United States has as full a partnership relationship with France as it has with any other country in the world.
As we meet here in Limoges at the beginning of a New Year, the Franco-American friendship and alliance is secure, strong and vital. We are clearly entering a dynamic new era in U.S.-France relations, an era full of potential and positive energy. President Sarkozy and his government have signaled a strong interest in working with us and Washington has responded in a similar way.
Let me mention a bit more specifically some of the areas where we are working closely together.
First, the U.S.-France Alliance is grounded in NATO, the trans-Atlantic framework that ensured European and American security during the Cold War. NATO continues to serve as the basis for Europe's security and, increasingly, has become an instrument that we can use to foster stability in other parts of the world, as we have seen in Afghanistan. We are most encouraged by indications that France may seek to return fully to NATO by rejoining its unified command structure. Doing so would strengthen the Alliance and give France a more central role within the organization.
Second, the United States shares France's support for a dynamic European Union, which has been the other instrument that has helped ensure peace and prosperity in Europe following the disastrous wars of the 20th century.
We believe that President Sarkozy struck the right balance in stating clearly that he believes that NATO and the EU can and should be complementary organizations -- and not rivals or competitors.
Both organizations have a function, and they should work together on common objectives but without wasteful duplication and redundancy.
Moreover, the European Union has become an increasingly important actor in global security affairs, and the United States has supported, for example, the deployment of EU forces to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to Chad and the Central African Republic as part of the greater regional problem centered on Darfur.
Americans and Europeans, including our friends in France, tend to share a common view of today's priorities. A survey conducted recently by the German Marshall Fund demonstrates that both Americans and Europeans want to work together in addressing our present concerns.
There are many things Europe and America should be able to accomplish together in 2008. Here are some priorities:
In Afghanistan, France is contributing to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. This is an essential mission for peace in South Asia and it may continue for several years to come. President Sarkozy, during his recent visit to Afghanistan, reiterated France's commitment to staying the course until Afghanistan achieves stability and democracy. We very much welcome France’s recent announcement to send additional mentoring and training teams to support NATO forces in southern Afghanistan.
We also appreciate French leadership in the EU’s decision to help train Afghan police.
The EU, along with the United States, provides substantial reconstruction and development assistance to Afghanistan.
While there is still a long way to go in Afghanistan, our shared commitment should not falter. We have accomplished a great deal and are witnessing a nation’s emergence from the dark days of Taliban rule. The Afghan economy is growing. There is a constitution. There is an elected government.
We must continue to strengthen the Afghan state, support its institutions and build on the security and reconstruction already in place.
Iran is a major issue in our relationship. Last October, the U.S. announced new financial sanctions against Iran’s government agencies and banks that finance its nuclear program and its arms shipments to the Middle East’s most vicious terrorist groups – Hizballah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Taliban.
These sanctions are designed to strengthen international diplomatic efforts to deny Iran a nuclear capability and its ability to promote terrorism. Working with France and other key partners, we hope to see the UN Security Council strengthen these sanctions.
Conflict with Iran is neither desirable nor inevitable. We wish, instead, for successful negotiations leading to an Iran that is more responsible, more reliable, and less menacing. We seek a peaceful resolution of our disagreements, but only strong diplomacy will get us there. Americans, French, and all like-minded people should continue working together to achieve this goal.
We are also working together on the historic effort to produce a durable peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. President Bush's very recent visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories demonstrated American commitment to do everything possible to bring about a peaceful, two-state resolution to the conflict.
The United States and France share a vision of a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestinian state cooperating to ensure mutual peace and security, and are working together toward this goal.
We have been impressed by the initiatives France has taken in Africa, with which France has long maintained important ties.
Immediately after taking office, the Sarkozy government hosted a major international conference on Darfur and then took the lead in organizing the EU peacekeeping operation for Chad and the Central African Republic, which I have mentioned.
The United States, also highly engaged in that part of Africa, has supported and sought to work with our French friends in helping bring peace to Sudan and its neighbors.
The EU mission led by France in Chad and the Central African Republic will contribute greatly to that effort.
Let us also not forget Iraq. Although the French government at the time disagreed with the U.S. decision to end Saddam Hussein's brutal dictatorship, today we share several common goals: a stable, secure, democratic Iraq, with territorial integrity, a growing economy, and self-sufficiency in providing for its long-term security.
Helping the Iraqi government achieve these objectives is challenging and dangerous work given the number of armed groups aiming to stop such progress. But the Iraqi people deserve help, and we must all act in whatever ways we can to support them. France recognizes this and has re-engaged with the Iraqi government to offer its help in promoting national reconciliation.
In Burma, the world has been watching a courageous struggle between those championing freedom and those who would seek to repress it. As Foreign Minister Kouchner’s recent visit to the region demonstrated, the international community must keep the spotlight focused on the Burmese regime. We support increased engagement by the UN in Burma. We advocate tougher sanctions on the Burmese regime, including by the European Union.
Closer to home, France and the United States are both trying to find a solution to Kosovo's future status. President Sarkozy has already made an impact. Following his proposal at the last G8 Summit, we launched a final effort to reach agreement between the parties, a process that ended on December 10.
Our view -- which France shares -- is that the Ahtisaari plan calling for supervised independence for Kosovo is the only outcome compatible with long-term stability in the Balkans. The future of Kosovo is the key piece of unfinished business in the region.
Please recall the tremendous amount of effort, over more than a decade, that we have put into promoting peace and stability in the countries that emerged from the former Yugoslavia. The situation remains fragile. We must remain united and committed as this long process reaches its final stages, so that this troubled region will finally be able to look forward to a future based on peace, democracy, a market economy, rising prosperity, and fuller integration into European and trans-Atlantic institutions.
Our countries are also working beyond Europe on the global stage. Climate change presents one of the great challenges for mankind in the 21st century. Last summer, President Sarkozy launched an ambitious program of environmental initiatives in France.
Since 2001, the United States has materially advanced climate science and has put 37 billion dollars into research programs and into developing new, climate-friendly energy technologies.
Last September, President Bush and Secretary Rice convened in Washington the first Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change. This meeting helped set the stage for the UN talks in Bali in December, which succeeded in providing the world the vital "road map" it needs to create a truly multinational agreement to address the problem of greenhouse gases in the post-Kyoto era.
Another Major Economies Meeting took place a few days ago in Hawaii and France is planning to host another such meeting within a few months. These meetings will help provide the UN climate process the direction and attention it needs to develop a truly global solution to the climate change phenomenon.
The United States, a major economy and therefore a major emitter, takes this issue very seriously. As Secretary Rice has said, “It is our responsibility as global leaders to forge a new international consensus on how to address climate change.”
Our ties with France of course go far beyond political and security issues. To cite just a few figures, France is presently the 8th overall trading partner of the United States. We are France’s 6th largest export market, and its largest export market outside the European Union. U.S. direct investment in France reached a cumulative figure of 65.9 billion dollars in 2006, and French direct investment in the United States amounted to a cumulative sum of 158.8 billion dollars that same year.
In 2005, French non-bank affiliates of U.S. companies employed about 619,900 people in France, while U.S. non-bank affiliates of French companies provided employment to about 485,200 people in the United States. As we have seen in recent weeks, however, this means that disruptions on one side of the Atlantic can have serious and rapid repercussions on the other.
Our economies are closely linked, and our mutual prosperity depends on cooperative efforts both to reduce regulatory barriers to trade and investment and to encourage innovation and a science-based approach to policymaking.
As I conclude, let us return to the theme of the friendship and shared interests with which I began. The United States and France have so much in common both in terms of our shared history and our shared aspirations.
As President Sarkozy himself said, “I fully embrace the fact that France is a friend and an ally of the United States.”
We Americans could not agree more. Let’s continue the dialogue. Let’s keep working together. This is the spirit which has sustained our alliance for two centuries, and that will continue to motivate and guide us for the years and decades to come.
A wonderful example of this dialogue exists today in Limoges with the visit of a delegation of Limoges's Sister-City, Charlotte, North Carolina, facilitated by Sister-Cities International and the State Department. This program aims to allow four American and French sister-city partnerships to address issues regarding marginalized populations and to exchange concerns, information, and strategies. The program helps participants to meet and consult community stakeholders and develop action plans to help communities respond more effectively to the challenges of integrating immigrants and minorities into the general population.
A delegation from Limoges visited Charlotte last October and returned with much new information and perspectives. I am thrilled to participate this afternoon in the visit of Charlotte's delegation to Limoges. And I look forward to discussing with the delegation and its hosts the experiences both have gained during this exceptional exchange.
Again, I thank you very much for allowing me to meet with you today and for this opportunity to remind you of the very high value that we place on our friendship with France and with all French people.