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CONDOLEEZZA RICE’S FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE (FEBRUARY 3 – 10, 2005)
MAR 1, 2005 - 12:31AM PDT
by Molly Claflin

The following is a summary of U.S. and international news and analysis about U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent state visit to Europe. Countries visited included: London, Berlin, Warsaw, Ankara, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Rome, Vatican City, Paris, Brussels, and Luxembourg City. Old Europe’ Enjoys The Sweet Talk But Awaits Proof Of Us Intentions (Catherine Field, Paris, The New Zealand Herald, 14 February 2005) A European trip by US President Bush’s major advisors Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld gave hope to Europe that trans-Atlantic relations may be on the mend. However, Europeans are wary, wondering if the US’s actions will match Rice’s diplomatic words. Rice 'The Rock Star' Steals Hearts in America with Jetset Diplomacy (Alex Massie, Scotland On Sunday, UK, February 13, 2005) Condoleezza Rice’s predecessor Colin Powell made little secret of his dislike for traveling, preferring to conduct telephone diplomacy. That reluctance to sell American policy abroad in person became a favorite argument against Powell by his enemies. "Secretary Rice believes public diplomacy should be a conversation, not a monologue," said one senior aide, indicating that the US will spend more time and effort on public diplomacy now than it has in the past. Condoleezza Passes Muster – For Now (Editorial - The Nation, Thailand, February 12, 2005) Condoleezza Rice's diplomatic panache took Europe by storm on her first trip abroad as the new US secretary of state. European media reports were favorable, but Asia could be a different matter, as China and democracy remain touchy issues. Rice's Tour: Your Turn, Europe (Reginald Dale, International Herald Tribune, February 12, 2005) All European eyes this week have been glued on the peripatetic Condoleezza Rice as she issued her plea for a “new chapter” in trans-Atlantic relations after two years of acrimony and misunderstanding. If, however, the Europeans think they do not need to do anything to respond to Bush’s conciliatory efforts, then the rebirth of the alliance will be stillborn. Rice's Whirlwind Tour Succeeds In Thawing Ice (Tyler Marshall, The Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2005) At every stop of her European tour, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered the same message – overcoming our differences and working together on the goal of freedom. The official response to her visit was positive from all countries, even those most opposed to the conflict in Iraq. Yet behind all the warm words, there was no movement on the difficult issues that originally drove the U.S. and most of Europe apart. Rice On Tour: "Look, This Is America!" (Rich Lowry, National Review, February 11, 2005) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's just-concluded trip to Europe signals that the United States is back in the diplomacy business in earnest again. Part of the reason is that after four years of Colin Powell, the United States now has a secretary of State in full. Friendship -- And Business – Editorial (Chicago Tribune, February 11, 2005) In case after case, grudges and jealousies have divided Old Europe (although not, generally, the newer democracies of…... FULL TEXT

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