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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWorth highlighting: Comment by Dutch Prime Minister Rutte
PRIME MINISTER RUTTE: There is no geopolitical conflict which can be solved without the United States. And therefore, I applaud the fact that President Obamas administration is active in every arena -- Ukraine, Iran, Syria, the Middle East peace process, and so many other parts of the world -- and takes initiatives Secretary of State Kerry is taking now in the Middle East peace process. I was, in December, in the region and I spoke with senior leaders both in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. They are extremely grateful for the fact that America is providing that leadership.
This is a difficult issue; it cant be solved overnight. There is no magic wand which can handle this. But progress is being made. Take Iran. I spoke with President Rouhani in Davos at the World Economic Forum in January. We have now interim accords. The fact that I was able -- the first Dutch leader in over 30, 40 years who spoke with an Iranian leader, President Rouhani -- was possible because of the interim accords, and it seems that it is holding. America provides leadership there.
So I really applaud President Obamas role in all these major issues. And it is necessary because the United States is leader of the free world and needs to provide that leadership, and he is doing that.
Then, on your question about President Putin, I cannot -- it would be difficult to exactly judge what is happening in the senior leadership in Moscow, in Russia, at this moment. But as I said earlier, a highly undiversified economy, like the Russian economy, which is so much oil and gas-dependent, which has not invested in infrastructure, invested in other areas of its economy -- it will be worried if there is a risk in the financial sector, or in weapons, or in trade, or indeed in energy. There could be potential sanctions; it will hurt them. And as I said earlier, we have to design them in such a way that they will particularly hit Russia and not Europe, the U.S., Canada or Japan. That is what we are working on and we hope we wont need them.
And then, on a red line, I cannot envision this conflict ending up in a military conflict. I dont think that is likely. I dont think anybody wants it. And at the same time, I totally agree with President Obamas answer on Article 5, when this conflict will be taken to the borders of one of the NATO countries. But, luckily, that is at this moment not the case.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/25/press-conference-president-obama-and-prime-minister-rutte-netherlands
This is a difficult issue; it cant be solved overnight. There is no magic wand which can handle this. But progress is being made. Take Iran. I spoke with President Rouhani in Davos at the World Economic Forum in January. We have now interim accords. The fact that I was able -- the first Dutch leader in over 30, 40 years who spoke with an Iranian leader, President Rouhani -- was possible because of the interim accords, and it seems that it is holding. America provides leadership there.
So I really applaud President Obamas role in all these major issues. And it is necessary because the United States is leader of the free world and needs to provide that leadership, and he is doing that.
Then, on your question about President Putin, I cannot -- it would be difficult to exactly judge what is happening in the senior leadership in Moscow, in Russia, at this moment. But as I said earlier, a highly undiversified economy, like the Russian economy, which is so much oil and gas-dependent, which has not invested in infrastructure, invested in other areas of its economy -- it will be worried if there is a risk in the financial sector, or in weapons, or in trade, or indeed in energy. There could be potential sanctions; it will hurt them. And as I said earlier, we have to design them in such a way that they will particularly hit Russia and not Europe, the U.S., Canada or Japan. That is what we are working on and we hope we wont need them.
And then, on a red line, I cannot envision this conflict ending up in a military conflict. I dont think that is likely. I dont think anybody wants it. And at the same time, I totally agree with President Obamas answer on Article 5, when this conflict will be taken to the borders of one of the NATO countries. But, luckily, that is at this moment not the case.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/25/press-conference-president-obama-and-prime-minister-rutte-netherlands
For all the RW/Republicans who question the President's leadership.
h/t karynnj
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Worth highlighting: Comment by Dutch Prime Minister Rutte (Original Post)
ProSense
Mar 2014
OP
ProSense
(116,464 posts)1. Kick! n/t
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)2. kick. nt
okaawhatever
(9,457 posts)3. K & R nt
ProSense
(116,464 posts)4. Another. n/t
Scuba
(53,475 posts)5. Another rec. The good people in Europe understand that Obama has been our best foreign policy ...
... President since, who, Roosevelt? He's used diplomacy and partnership, not bluster and bombs, to effect change in the world. In my opinion, foreign policy is the arena in which President Obama has performed best.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)6. Thanks. n/t
steve2470
(37,457 posts)7. kick ! nt
rollin74
(1,971 posts)8. K & R
spanone
(135,795 posts)9. k&r...
spanone
(135,795 posts)9. k&r...
spanone
(135,795 posts)11. k&r...
ProSense
(116,464 posts)12. Thanks. n/t