Article published in the daily newspaper "Eesti Päevaleht" on January 5, 2004

More in Common Than Different

Ambassador Aldona Wos

During my first four months in Estonia, I occasionally have heard the argument that Estonia, now that it is a member of the EU, must choose between strong partnership with Europe and its trans-Atlantic ties with the United States. People argue that Estonian progress on one front necessarily means a setback in the other relationship. This is simply not true. The Estonia's partnership with the United States is growing at the very same time that Estonia is strengthening its connection to the rest of Europe.

The United States steadfastly supported Estonia's accession to the EU. With accession, Estonia became part of the 2.5 trillion dollar U.S.-EU trade and investment relationship, the largest in the world. Although we have had differences with our European partners, what draws us together vastly outweighs what pulls us apart. By helping to build a stronger Europe through its defense, foreign, and economic policies, Estonia is creating a stronger, more effective, better partner for the United States. We welcome this.

The European Union has a new Commission. Soon, America will inaugurate President Bush to a second term. This is a good time for us to find common ground and move forward.

Our European friends want Americans to recognize the scale of Europe's recent accomplishments - the successful embrace of Estonia and the other nine new EU members, many of whom suffered under the Communist yoke, and the forging of a Constitution, a unified and stable currency, a European Parliament that is coming into its own, and a prosperous single market with 450 million citizens.

Americans want Europeans to recognize America's contributions to security, prosperity and development. Working through international organizations, the Bush Administration has mobilized the world to combat terror and helped salvage the Doha WTO negotiations that are our best hope for free global trade and worldwide development. The United States has launched major development initiatives such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which offers a $5 billion global increase in U.S. development aid to developing nations that commit themselves to better governance, and a $15 billion global HIV/AIDS campaign. U.S. Official Development Assistance has increased 60% since 2000.

The current economic relationship between Europe and the United States is the most fruitful partnership the world has ever known. It's hard to imagine addressing the challenges we will face without a strong U.S.-EU partnership. We see Estonia as a central partner in our common journey ahead. Let me suggest a few immediate areas of cooperation going forward:

To win the war on terror, we must work together like never before to disrupt terrorist financing and defuse security threats before they reach American or Estonian shores. We must make travel documents more secure and screen airline passenger lists for potential terrorists while respecting individual privacy rights. We think Estonia's cooperation on this front has been excellent.

We must remain focused on a just and peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict based on two democratic states -- Israel and Palestine -- living side-by-side in peace and security. We are certain that Europe -- including Estonia -- has much to offer in this context.

To ensure that political and economic reform in Afghanistan and Iraq do not wane, we must continue our reconstruction, security and election support. European and American forces, including a decorated Estonian contingent, are on the ground in Afghanistan. Democracy used to be a distant dream to most Afghans, but in October more than eight million men and women turned out to cast ballots for a President. This spring, they are scheduled to vote on a new parliament. In the immediate future, we must continue the efforts of the international community to rid the country of narcotics, to place police on city streets, and to establish honest courts.

Europe and the United States fully share an interest in promoting a stable and democratic Iraq. We saw it in the recent discussions among 20 nations in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. We saw it in November when the EU presented Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi with a 30 million euro package to support elections and an additional 200 million euros to promote reconstruction in 2005. And most significantly, we saw it when Paris Club creditors, many of whom are EU members, reached an historic agreement to write off 80% of Iraq's debt. I am aware of no European leader or Parliament who is not in favor of democratic success in Iraq. Estonia's troops in Iraq are a clear manifestation of that. We thank Estonia for its commitment to the mission in Iraq, and thank the Estonian Defense Forces personnel for their difficult work there.

We can build on these successes, with America and Europe working together. It's the best way that I know to ensure that peace and prosperity thrive. It's the only way to move forward.