A Beautiful Friendship

The United States must learn to trust Europe in the key crises we must confront together. In the case of Iran, Europeans believe that sanctions and a political offer must go hand in hand. In the Middle East, we must press together to a long-lasting peace settlement.

Let us also join our efforts to reform the international institutions that were born in the aftermath of World War II, from the United Nations to NATO. Let us combine the reshaping of our military alliance with a stronger European defense effort.

I would like to believe that it was no accident that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—the 60th anniversary of which will be celebrated in 2008—arose from the efforts of two extraordinary individuals, one French, Ren? Cassin, and one American, Eleanor Roosevelt. Let us be inspired by their legacy as we move forward together.

Kouchner is France’s minister of European and Foreign Affairs.

© 2007