Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs

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The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary Philip H. Gordon, implements U.S. foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia. The Bureau promotes U.S. interests in the region on issues such as national security, NATO enlargement, coordination with the European Union and other regional organizations, support for democracy, human rights, civil society, economic prosperity, the war on terrorism, and nonproliferation.

The Obama Administration's European Agenda; Travel to Portugal for Summits
Date: 11/17/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon delivers remarks at the Atlantic Council. © Atlantic Council ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (Nov. 17): "Global problems today are so complex and interrelated that they are beyond the scope of any one country to dictate solutions. In seeking partners to meet these new global challenges, the United States can have no closer friend than Europe. Together – and only by working together – we can build a world with more freedom, more opportunity, and more security for all our citizens." Full Text» More» Briefing» Travel to European Summits»

The United States and Europe: A New Era of Engagement
Assistant Secretary Gordon (Nov. 10): "In the last century, we focused our joint efforts on building a democratic, secure, prosperous, and unified Europe. And though there is still important work to be done to extend that vision to every corner of Europe, it is fair to say we succeeded. The task before us now is no less momentous or important to the world. It is to take the transatlantic partnership, which has been such a force for progress in Europe, and turn it toward making progress around the world." Full Text» More»

Travel to Europe
Date: 05/15/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: Official portrait of Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Phillip Gordon. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon travelled to Russia, Germany, and Poland from October 25-29. In Russia he met senior Russian government officials to discuss bilateral issues and European security in preparation for the NATO-Russia Council summit in Lisbon and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit in Astana. He also met with academic, civil society, and human rights leaders. He then travelled to Berlin, Germany and met with senior German government officials and members of Parliament, as well as held discussions on U.S. and European engagement on global issues at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Assistant Secretary Gordon concluded his trip in Warsaw, Poland, where he led the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-Poland Strategic Dialogue and gave a speech highlighting the important strategic relationship between the United States and Poland as part of the European Security Round Table.  More» 

The United States and Europe: An Agenda for Engagement
Date: 10/18/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon delivers remarks at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (Oct. 18): "When the Obama administration came into office, we made re-engaging with our European allies one of our top priorities. President Obama did so because he recognized that we faced such a daunting international agenda that we could not possibly deal with it alone. And we recognized that in meeting these challenges, there could be no better partner than Europe, where we work with democratic, prosperous, militarily-capable allies who share our values and share our interests." Full Text» Video»

Secretary Clinton's Travel to the Balkans and Brussels
Date: 10/12/2010 Description: SecretaryClinton speaks during town hall meeting at the National Theater, Tuesday Oct. 12, 2010 in Sarajevo. © AP ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (Oct. 8): "[F]rom October 11 to 14th, Secretary Clinton will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Brussels. She’s going to the Balkans to underscore the continued commitment of the United States to supporting all the Balkan states as they build prosperous, peaceful, and democratic societies and move to take their rightful places as full members of the European and Euro-Atlantic community." Full Text» More»

Transatlantic Meetings and NATO-Russia Council Meeting
Date: 09/22/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon during press availability at NATO-Russia Council Ministerial. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (Sept. 22): "We see this as an opportunity. At the meeting this morning, the Secretary was able to give our view of NATO-Russia cooperation, which is that we don’t see NATO – we don’t see Russia as an adversary; we see Russia as a partner. There is a long list of practical areas in which we’d like to cooperate more with Russia, including missile defense, counter-piracy, counternarcotics, counterterrorism, Afghanistan. And that was the focus of the meeting; that was the focus of the Secretary’s intervention – how can we work practically with Russia on areas of common interest." Full Text»

2010 Transatlantic Trends Report
Date: 09/15/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon delivers remarks at the German Marshall Fund. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (Sept. 15): "...overall we think this is a very positive result because we value the cooperation of Europeans. I would go so far as to say we need the cooperation of Europeans given what we’re dealing with around the world. We are more likely to get that cooperation when Europeans have a favorable view of our President, of our policies, and of our leadership in the world." Full Text»

The International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on Kosovo's Declaration of Independence
Date: 07/22/2010 Location: Washington D.C. Description: Legal Adviser of the Department of State Harold Hongju Koh (left) and U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Christopher Dell brief on the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on Kosovo's Declaration of Independence at the Washington Foreign Press Center. - State Dept ImageLegal Advisor Koh (July 22): "Today in the Hague, in response to a request for an advisory opinion from the UN General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, principal judicial organ of the United Nations, decisively found that Kosovo’s declaration of independence of February 17, 2008, is in accordance with international law. The court by a vote of 10 to 4 concluded that adoption of Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate rules of general international law, nor did it violate UN Security Council resolution 1244 or the constitutional framework that had been established to guide interim stabilization of Kosovo." Full Text» Secretary's Statement» Assistant Secretary Gordon's Telephonic Press Conference»

U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission
Date: 06/24/2010 Description: U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission. - State Dept ImageRecognizing the need to make a fresh start in relations between the U.S. and Russia, President Medvedev and President Obama created the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission to improve coordination between our countries to address shared challenges and to explore new opportunities for partnership in areas of mutual interest. Learn More»

U.S.-Russia Relations Under the Obama Administration
Date: 06/16/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon delivers remarks at the German Marshall Fund. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (June 16): "And so the idea behind the reset was a simple one: The United States and Russia have significant common interests and where the United States and Russia have common interests, we should cooperate. Where we have differences, we will be honest about them, both in private and in public, and work to move the Russians to more reasonable positions. We will pursue a better relationship with Russia in our mutual interest and we will do so without sacrificing our principles or our friends. With these basic propositions as a guide, we have pursued a path of principled engagement. And we believe that path has yielded considerable results." Full Text» Video» Audio»

Unfinished Business in Southeast Europe: Opportunities and Challenges in the Western Balkans
Date: 04/14/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon delivers statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (Apr. 14): "Today, I would like to do four things. First, I would like to explain why the integration of the Western Balkans into the Euro-Atlantic community is a high priority for the United States. Second, I will outline the progress we have seen in recent years in the region. Third, I will describe challenges that remain in the region – in particular, the absence of political compromise in Bosnia, the stabilization of Kosovo, and the dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the latter’s name. Finally, I would like to describe policies that the Administration will pursue, in close coordination with our European partners – and in consultation with Congress – to achieve our long-term objective of successfully integrating the region into the Euro-Atlantic community." Full Text» Video»


Travel to Prague; Signing of New START Treaty
Date: 04/08/2010 Description: U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, right, sign the newly-completed New START treaty reducing long-range nuclear weapons at the Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 8, 2010. © AP ImageSecretary Clinton (Apr. 8): "Today the United States and Russia will sign the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in Prague, reducing the number of strategic nuclear warheads in our arsenals to levels not seen since the first decade of the nuclear age. This verifiable reduction by the world’s two largest nuclear powers reflects our commitment to the basic bargain of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) -- all nations have the right to seek the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but they all also have the responsibility to prevent nuclear proliferation, and those that do possess these weapons must work toward disarmament. This agreement is just one of several concrete steps the United States is taking to make good on President Obama's pledge to make America and the world safer by reducing the threat of nuclear weapons, proliferation and terrorism." Full Text» New START Treaty» Protocol» More from Travel» Photos»

The United States and Turkey: A View from the Obama Administration
Date: 03/17/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon delivers remarks at The Brookings Institution. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Gordon (Mar. 17): "The topic that I wish to address is the relationship between the United States and Turkey – a dynamic and multi-faceted relationship that is beneficial to both our countries. This could hardly be a more important or timely subject and this is a particularly appropriate moment to reflect on it. Almost a year ago, President Obama traveled to Turkey during his first overseas trip. He went to deliver a message of partnership, saying 'Turkey and the United States must stand together – and work together – to overcome the challenges of our time.' Turkey and the United States have been partners for decades and that partnership is as important today as it has ever been." Full Text» Video» Press Availability»


NATO Strategic Concept Seminar
Date: 02/22/2010 Description: Secretary Clinton delivers remarks at the NATO Strategic Concept Seminar. - State Dept Image Secretary Clinton (Feb. 22): "A few weeks ago in Paris, I put forward the principles that will guide the United States' engagement in Europe as a whole. And today, I want to speak specifically about NATO. I want to outline some of the basic goals that I hope will define the new Strategic Concept, discuss some of the key questions we will need to answer as we formulate that document, and explore our vision for a revitalized Alliance for the 21st century." Full Text» Special Briefing»

The Obama Administration's Vision for Southeastern EuropeDate: 02/17/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary Gordon speaks for the Kokkalis Program at Harvard University. Photo courtesy of Rose Lincoln/Harvard University News Office.
Assistant Secretary Gordon (Feb. 17): "This is a region that is vital to Europe’s future and for that reason it is the focus of continued and intensive engagement by the Obama Administration." Full Text»


The Future of European Security
Date: 01/29/2010 Description: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers a speech on European security at France's military academy, in Paris, France. © AP ImageSecretary Clinton (Jan. 29): "European security remains an anchor of U.S. foreign and security policy. A strong Europe is critical to our security and our prosperity. Much of what we hope to accomplish globally depends on working together with Europe. And so we are working with European allies and partners to help bring stability to Afghanistan and try to take on the dangers posed by Iran’s nuclear ambition. We are working with Europe to help meet the crisis of climate change and revitalize the global economy. And we’re working in the fight against extreme poverty, gender-based violence, and pandemic disease. Human rights and universal values, shared as part of our common history between Europe and the United States, must always be a cornerstone of our security efforts, because if Europe is not secure, Europe cannot lead. And we need European leadership in the 21st century." Full Text» Fact Sheet» Assistant Secretary Gordon's Briefing» More from Travel»

Berlin Wall Commemoration
Date: 11/09/2009 Location: Berlin, Germany Description: Secretary Clinton at the Brandenburg Gate Celebration, during the commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989. - State Dept ImageSecretary Clinton (Nov. 9): "It is indeed an honor and a great personal privilege to be here on behalf of President Obama and the United States of America – (applause) – to commemorate with you that night 20 years ago when history broke through concrete and barbed wire and signaled a new dawn, not just for the people of Berlin, not just for the people of Germany, but for the entire world. And that night, that night was built by the efforts, the prayers, and the work of so many." Full Text»

For speaking and interview requests on European and Eurasian Affairs, please fax your request to the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs' Office of Press and Policy Outreach at 202-647-5116.


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