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Joschka Fischer, the 2007 Bartels World Affairs Fellow, speaks at Cornell University.

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Ambassador Palouš discusses new opportunities for transatlantic agenda

Posted on: 3/16/2009

Obama’s new administration brings a revival to transatlantic relations, said Ambassador Martin Palouš, Permanent Representative and Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, during his talk on "Transatlantic Relationships Between Past and Future" on March 11 in G10 Biotechnology. Valerie Bunce, Aaron Binenkorb Professor of International Studies and Professor of Government, introduced Ambassador Palouš as a speaker in the Einaudi Center’s Foreign Policy Distinguished Speakers Series.

Ambassador Palouš highlighted the different viewpoints involved in transatlantic relations. “Transatlantic relations” historically refers to the primarily political but also cultural relationship between Europe-America and Russia. Modern transatlantic relations formalized during the Cold War as a war-weakened Europe slowly began forming the European Union. John F. Kennedy said of this new union, “We do not regard a strong and united Europe as a rival, but as a partner.” The New Transatlantic Agenda of 1995 focused on a “new European security architecture,” and delineated four major goals for the transatlantic partnership: 1) to promote peace and stability, democracy and development around the world; 2) to respond to global challenges such as drug-trafficking and terrorism; 3) to contribute to the expansion of world trade and closer economic relations; and 4) to build more communicative bridges across the Atlantic.

Palouš discussed the controversial issue of the enlargement of NATO. According to Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, NATO membership is flexible towards any European country and is the basis for the “open door policy,” where any country that satisfies a stipulated set of entry criteria should be considered for admission. Palouš is in favor of such enlargement, saying that it is a “noble democratizing mission,” and that “NATO itself needs to enlarge or else it will be doomed and become irrelevant.” European reaction to NATO expansion has been rather reluctant because of the following concerns about the former Soviet Union countries: 1) while NATO membership is important, it is secondary to EU membership and integration; 2) the political situation in the region is fragile due to the new “security vacuum between Germany and Russia” after the fall of communism; and 3) NATO enlargement should only take place in these countries as a strategic response to moves by Russia, so until then “NATO should give Moscow every chance, treating them as true partners and avoiding doing anything to facilitate a turn for the worse in Russia.”

Lastly, Palouš addressed the Czech perspective on transatlantic relations. Since joining the EU in 2004, Czech priorities have become a reflection of not only Czech interests but also of the interests of other EU member states and thus serve as mediators between the East and the West. On EU-NATO relations, Palouš believes that “cooperation between the EU and NATO should be established in systematic, mutually complementary cooperation in the development of military and non-military capabilities.” Also, he believes that “the coming months will provide a unique opportunity for the EU to work out a new transatlantic agenda with the new US administration.” The election of and first steps in the Obama administration have been positive signs of the “confirmation or the re-confirmation of the basis of transatlantic relationships.”  

Ambassador Palouš’ talk was part of the Foreign Policy Initiative at Cornell led by the Einaudi Center to maximize the intellectual impact of Cornell’s outstanding resources in this area.

 

Contact Information
Heike Michelsen
Einaudi Center
255 8926
hm75@cornell.edu

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