NATO Talk Around the Brandenburger Tor
Berlin, November 11, 2008
Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr.

As prepared for delivery.

Ambassador Hunter,
Ambassador Nowak,
Ambassador Volker,
Member of Parliament von Klaeden,
Karl Lamers,
Professor Stürmer,
International Members of the Atlantic Treaty Association,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to our new Embassy. It is a privilege and a pleasure to co-host the General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association with other Brandenburg Gate neighbors. Given the goals of this organization, it is very appropriate that the German Atlantic Association host the assembly at this time, in this place. Twenty years ago, a Wall stood here. It is fair to say today’s unified Europe started here where Ronald Reagan demanded Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.

The new U.S. Embassy, built on the site of its pre-World War II location at the Brandenburg Gate and along the fault line of the Berlin Wall, is symbolic of America’s commitment to German reunification and of the special bonds between our two nations. Our old building was occupied by tyrants and the opponents of freedom. They are gone and we who defend freedom are here today.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President George H. W. Bush were our special guests at our Grand Opening this past 4th of July. President Bush was the strongest supporter of German reunification. We were very proud to have him here.

Standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate, he looked back at the past two decades. He said that of the many dramatic developments to unfold during his presidency, the unification of Germany was the single-most important. It made possible the Europe “whole, free, and at peace” that he had foreseen in 1988.

Those of us who came of age during the Cold War still pause to marvel at what has been achieved in the past 20 years.

We are now embarking on a period of change in Washington, as the President-elect’s team works with the present administration on a transition of government. President Bush is committed to making the transition a smooth one. Our task is always to represent America, not any particular administration.

Since the end of World War II, successive American presidents have supported a strong transatlantic partnership. German reunification was the seal on one of the greatest success stories of modern diplomacy. It was also the beginning of a new era in which Germany was at the center of a rapidly changing, democratic Europe. The relationship between the United States and the nations of Europe is still America’s most important foreign relationship. That will not change.

We share a strategic global vision based on a belief in democratic values and a world in which peoples are empowered to seek their own futures. The election of Senator Barack Obama last week demonstrated to the world the vitality of America's 233 year old representative democracy.

NATO, through its Partnership for Peace program, has played a key role in encouraging and supporting the democratic change that characterizes Europe today. By leaving its door open to any European country that has the desire and willingness to fulfill the strenuous conditions for membership, NATO has created powerful incentives for many fledgling democracies to resist nationalist impulses and to stick to the difficult path of reform and rule of law.

Thanks to NATO -- in close partnership with other key European institutions, like the European Union -- Europe has been much more peaceful over these past postwar years than it might have been otherwise.

In April, the Alliance launched its third round of enlargement since the end of the Cold War by inviting Albania and Croatia to join, so the process of NATO enlargement continues to be a work in progress. I look forward to the discussion of this theme by our panelists, and I thank the Atlantic Treaty Association for its efforts to highlight the many facets of the transatlantic partnership.

Again, welcome to our new home.

Professor Stürmer, the floor is yours.