11 April 2002

Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman to Travel to Europe

Following is the text of a media note issued by the Department of State April 11 on Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman's travel to Europe from April 13 - 19 for consultations on the NATO Prague Summit agenda:

U.S. Department Of State
Office of the SpokesmanApril 11, 2002
Media Note
Under Secretary For Political Affairs Marc Grossman To Travel To Europe

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman will lead a delegation of officials traveling to Europe from April 13 - 19 for consultations on the NATO Prague Summit agenda.

Under Secretary Grossman will visit nine cities, beginning with a meeting with the North Atlantic Council at NATO Headquarters in Brussels and continuing to Ankara, Berlin, Lisbon, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Rome and The Hague for intensive bilateral discussions.

He will present the U.S. view of the NATO Summit agenda, which can be summarized as "new capabilities, new members and new relationships." This policy seeks to ensure NATO has the capabilities needed to meet current and future threats; to extend NATO's membership to more of Europe's newer democracies; and to intensify NATO's relationships with Russia, Ukraine and other partners.

The Under Secretary's consultations follow Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage's participation in the recent Vilnius Group Summit of NATO aspirant countries, which took place in Romania on March 25 - 26, and subsequent consultations at NATO headquarters. At the Summit, Deputy Secretary Armitage urged the NATO aspirant countries to continue efforts at democratic, economic, and military reforms in order to make themselves the best possible candidates for the next round of enlargement.