Deputy Secretary Robert B. Zoellick, fourteen European capitals

Deputy Secretary Zoellick Travel to Europe

Deputy Secretary Robert B. Zoellick will visit fourteen European capitals March 28-April 5, 2005. During this time he will make stops in Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain. Near the end of the trip, Zoellick will participate in a session with the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and the North Atlantic Council at NATO.

This will be Deputy Secretary Zoellick’s first overseas trip in his new post. Secretary Rice pledged that either she or Deputy Secretary Zoellick will visit all NATO capitals early in the President’s second term.

Deputy Secretary Zoellick will reiterate America’s support for Europe as a strong, effective partner, and discuss how the United States can best work with our alliance partners to face common challenges over the next four years. He also wanted to visit each capital, so as to better understand the country’s particular interests and ideas.

In meetings with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and the North Atlantic Council at NATO, Zoellick looks forward to in-depth exchanges with elected representatives and NATO Ambassadors from throughout Europe.

2005/344 Released on March 24, 2005 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC March 24, 2005