Main focus of Monday, February 9, 2009

A fresh start to transatlantic relations

The US and Europe want to cooperate more closely on an international level. US Vice President Joe Biden promised an end to unilateral US policy at the Munich Security Conference on the weekend, saying his country also expects more help from its partners. The European press comments on the fresh start in transatlantic relations.

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

The left-liberal Süddeutsche Zeitung comments on the speech by US Vice President Joe Biden at the Munich Security Conference: "Even more than the pathos engendered by this new era in US politics, Europeans should be encouraged by America's new sense of sobriety. Barack Obama's government is not guided by ideology, but by common sense. And what it needs is not an entourage of admirers, but partners - in Afghanistan, in closing the prison at Guantánamo, and in its dealings with Russia and Iran. America will do more, Biden said. This is the good news. But it will also demand more. This need not necessarily be bad news for those keen to shoulder responsibility. Notwithstanding the egocentricity of individual heads of state (France) or the silly bickering between camplaining coalition partners (Germany), this opportunity must be seized on. You can't start a new era just by pressing a button." (09/02/2009)

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Lidové noviny - Czech Republic

The conservative daily Lidové noviny identifies a policy of "both ways" in the speech delivered by US Vice President Joe Biden: "The Americans will continue with the construction of the missile defence shield, but only if it works and is worthwhile. Washington wants to renew relations with Moscow but at the same time opposes the recognition of the independence of the pro-Russian enclaves in Georgia. The new government is prepared to start talks with Iran, but without tolerating its nuclear ambitions. … Barack Obama's people want to be more obliging, but they're making sure this is not seen as a sign of weakness. We can only wait and see how all this works out." (09/02/2009)

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Turun Sanomat - Finland

The daily Turun Sanomat welcomes the wind of change in US foreign policy and praises the speech by US Vice President Joe Biden: "With his speech at the Munich Security Conference ... Vice President Joe Biden has done much to mend relations between the US and Europe. ... All in all, Biden's speech reconfirms that Barack Obama's government intends to fulfil its promise of a new US foreign policy by closing the Guantánamo prison camp and other centres of torture, withdrawing troops from Iraq, adopting a serious stance on climate issues and showing readiness for dialogue in matters large and small. After the fiasco of George W. Bush's catastrophic foreign policy, the Obama government's new line is being welcomed all over the world." (09/02/2009)

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Delo - Slovenia

Delo newspaper comments on the expectations now placed on the US following US Vice President Joe BIden's speech at the Munich Security Conference: "Now that the Bush era has ended, cooperation is important for the new America. The promises to pay more attention to the concerns of the allies in Munich … had an almost soothing effect. But the path towards cooperation … and … a distribution of the burden is long and thorny. The US is also now willing in principle to listen … to Russia's wishes. The problem is that the EU, and above all the old member states, are pursuing different goals regarding Russia to those of the US, which sees the former imperial power as a strategic rival in a post-Soviet area rich in energy resources. The US must follow up its promises to have an open ear for Europe and adopt a new tone with the right content so that the disappointment that follows the honeymoon with [US President Barack] Obama is kept to a minimum." (09/02/2009)

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The Guardian - United Kingdom

Writing in The Guardian, Jonathan Steele voices partial disappointment at Joe Biden's address to the Munich Security Conference: "On Russia, his remarks were especially welcome after the hysteria of many European politicians and pundits who talk of a new cold war and warn of Russian 'energy blackmail'. By contrast, Biden deplored the 'dangerous drift' in east-west relations in recent years. Going on to repudiate 'the zero sum mentality', he threw out the central calculus of the old struggle between Russia and the west – the notion of implacable enemies with no common interests. ... Where Saturday's speech and, by implication, the current state of thinking within the new administration are disappointing is on the Middle East and Iran. Biden advocated an international reconstruction effort for Gaza that strengthened the Palestinian Authority, 'not Hamas'. This is as unrealistic as it is undemocratic." (09/02/2009)

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Corriere della Sera - Italy

Commenting on the speech by US Vice President Joe Biden, the liberal conservative daily Corriere della Sera writes that everything now depends on giving Nato a new direction: "The crux of the matter is Nato. The German chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a change in Nato's strategic doctrine. It must become a security network, not a military but a political alliance. ... A radical change has not taken place. But an agreement was reached in Munich that it will come in the near future. Perhaps in April, between the G20 summit and the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Nato, which will be jointly organised by France and Germany. US President Barack Obama will be there too." (08/02/2009)

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