Believer in miracles
November 3rd, 2008, 07:49 PM
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=68696a07-0d7e-49a5-afbc-2e935aaa5c6a
MARSEILLE, France - EU foreign ministers Monday agreed on a joint message to the next U.S. president, calling for a partnership of equals on key challenges from the Middle East to the global finance crisis.
French Foreign Minister Kouchner, whose country holds the European Union presidency, said the 27-member bloc had put the seal on a six-page letter to the winner of the U.S. election outlining how to update trans-Atlantic ties.
Kouchner said the European letter was being kept under wraps to be sent to either Democrat Barack Obama - overwhelmingly popular among European voters - or his Republican rival John McCain when the White House race is over.
But he said it called for increased cooperation on the Middle East, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on relations with Russia, ties with China and other emerging powers, and for multilateral decision-making on key global issues.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said earlier that Europe wanted to work with Washington to shape the global agenda for the years to come.
The EU's external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also said relations with Washington should reflect Europe's new "leadership" in world affairs.
The 43-nation union brings together EU members with states from north Africa, the Balkans, Arab nations and Israel in a bid to foster cooperation in one of the world's most volatile regions.
MARSEILLE, France - EU foreign ministers Monday agreed on a joint message to the next U.S. president, calling for a partnership of equals on key challenges from the Middle East to the global finance crisis.
French Foreign Minister Kouchner, whose country holds the European Union presidency, said the 27-member bloc had put the seal on a six-page letter to the winner of the U.S. election outlining how to update trans-Atlantic ties.
Kouchner said the European letter was being kept under wraps to be sent to either Democrat Barack Obama - overwhelmingly popular among European voters - or his Republican rival John McCain when the White House race is over.
But he said it called for increased cooperation on the Middle East, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on relations with Russia, ties with China and other emerging powers, and for multilateral decision-making on key global issues.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said earlier that Europe wanted to work with Washington to shape the global agenda for the years to come.
The EU's external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also said relations with Washington should reflect Europe's new "leadership" in world affairs.
The 43-nation union brings together EU members with states from north Africa, the Balkans, Arab nations and Israel in a bid to foster cooperation in one of the world's most volatile regions.