04 February 2002

State Dept.'s Haass Outlines Broad-Based Foreign Policy

New York City -- The United States is pursuing a multi-faceted foreign policy that goes beyond the campaign against global terrorism to promote development, open markets and calm regional tensions wherever possible, says State Department Director of Policy Planning Richard Haass.

"Our policy, as befits that of a great country, has multiple dimensions," he said February 4 during the final plenary session of the five-day World Economic Forum in New York.

Haass said the United States intends to remain a leader in global development, reaffirming Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement that fighting poverty is a key element of U.S. foreign policy -- and one that complements strategic interests.

"Taking just the narrow issue of terrorism, for example, what we've learned is that in countries that have failed or are collapsing ... are breeding grounds for terrorism," Haass said. "For a country like the United States with global strategic concerns, [these concerns] automatically translate into dealing with poverty and dealing with development," he said.

At the same time, he cautioned that the U.S. commitment to development "should not be measured simply by the level of its aids flows."

"There are many ways in which development can be contributed to, and I would think that aid, in many cases, is one of the less important," he said. The economic benefits of open markets and private investment flows "dwarf" those of development aid, he said.

Haass also said countries must help themselves through economic and social policies that enhance stability and act as magnets for investment. Development is "truly a shared responsibility -- not one that can be placed on the back of the United States" or other developed countries, he said.

On the issue of trade, Haass noted that the Bush administration worked successfully with the House of Representatives to win trade promotion authority (TPA) for the president, and is working with Senate leaders to win TPA approval in that body as well.

Asked whether there is real hope for progress on the thorny issue of market access for agriculture, Haass said that domestic political pressures make the goal of a "pure" open market difficult. But he emphasized that the United States already offers significant openings for products from overseas, and that the clear trend is to make the U.S. market more accessible to foreign goods, not less.

In more general comments on foreign policy, Haass said that in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the paramount concern of the United States is fighting the "nexus of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction."

He rejected, however, any suggestion that most U.S. energy is being taken up with the military campaign in Afghanistan and the hunt for those linked to the September attacks. "Dealing with evil" is the number one U.S. priority, "but it would be a caricature of our foreign policy to say it's only that," Haass said.

To illustrate, he listed a series of issues on which top U.S. policy makers devote considerable time, energy and leadership.

The United States is a leader in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and was the first contributor to the global fund established to fight the disease, Haass said. Other assistance in the form of research funds and foreign aid raises the total U.S. contribution to fighting AIDS to "several billion" dollars a year.

Secretary of State Colin Powell spends "more time on the Middle East [conflict] ... than on any other subject," and is in regular contact with parties outside the region to craft a coherent and consistent international message on the need for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Haass said.

On the arms control front, the United States and Russia have declared an "historic commitment" to reduce strategic arsenals by two-thirds, he said.

Both Powell and President Bush have been personally involved in seeking to calm tensions between India and Pakistan, Haass said.

The United States has for several years been a key participant in the Northern Ireland peace talks, which Haass described as a "collaborative effort" which has made "considerable progress."

He said that on most of the difficult issues facing the world, the United States "welcomes partnerships" with like-minded governments. Conflict resolution is an undertaking that will usually succeed "only if it has a multilateral dimension," he said.

The WEF gathering convened in New York City under the theme "Leadership in Fragile Times: A Vision for a Shared Future," and drew more than 2,700 world leaders from business, government, academia, religion, the media and civil society.

Traditionally held in Davos, Switzerland, the WEF moved to New York as a signal of support for the city following September 11. Organizers say they plan to return to Davos for the 2003 meeting.