Europe hopes for better "tone and style" in transatlantic ties: experts
5/12/2008 16:22
Europeans are hoping for a change of tone in transatlantic relations when
President-elect Barack Obama formally takes helms at the White House early next
year, experts of a German think tank said in United Nations
yesterday.
Annette Heuser, executive director of Washington-based Bertelsmann
Foundation (BF), and Laurie K. Dundon, director of transatlantic relations,
briefed UN reporters on BF's newly-published briefing book that offers
strategies for cooperation between Europe and the new American
leadership.
"It can't get any more down the hill, as we have seen in the last
eight years," said Heuser, when asked by Xinhua for comment on the legacy left
behind by US President George W. Bush in maintaining the transatlantic
alliance.
The Iraq War, which the Bush Administration launched in defiance of
UN authority in 2003, was seen by many analysts as a turning point that marked a
steep downturn in transatlantic relations.
The frequency of consultation and
coordination has increased in the last part of the Bush Administration, Dundon
noted.
"But the public thirst for a new relationship with the US is much
broader across Europe. It is looking for much more, and sees the Obama
presidency as tremendous opportunities," Dundon said.
Obama has expressed a
strong desire to reach out to partners all around the world to tackle global
challenges, Heuser said. "The expectations are really high on the European side,
as well as its expectations on this side of the (Atlantic) Ocean."
Heuser
said that a decision to close the Guantanamo detention center could be seen as a
symbolic gesture from the US side to improve relations with the
Europeans.
Germany has already signaled that it is willing to take a portion
of the prisoners in Guantanamo, Heuser said.
But both Heuser and Dundon
stressed the importance of "tone and style" when the United States communicates
with its European allies on certain agenda items.
Dunton said European
countries are wary of a strong American taking over the lead.
"They want a
close partner, but they don't want the US just to deliver a unilateral agenda
... and dump on them," Dunton said.
Global financial crisis, Afghanistan,
Iran, Iraq, Russia, the Middle East peace process and climate change are
expected to be areas where Europeans would like to forge closer cooperation with
the Obama team, they said.
Putting a hamper on exceedingly high expectations,
however, the experts noted a possible discrepancy between the two sides in terms
of policy priorities.
"The biggest challenge is what we call expectation
management and perception management between Europe and the United States,"
Heuser said.
Citing the Iranian nuclear issue as an example, Heuser said that
Europeans don't have the sense of urgency that the incoming Obama team
has.
While Europeans view the Middle East peace process as one top priority,
they fear the issue might slip from the agenda of the Obama administration in
the first six months or even one year, Heuser said.
"So there will be a lot
of unpromised expectations on both sides," Heuser said. "In international
relations, tone and style will also make a big difference. This is what the new
Obama administration will bring to Europe and the rest of the world."
"To
change the tone and style ... can be quite reassuring for the transatlantic
alliance," Heuser added.
Xinhua
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