Rice asks Europe to help spread freedom

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PARIS -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for a new chapter in trans-Atlantic relations yesterday, asking Europe to join forces with the United States to spread freedom and democracy around the world.

"It is time to turn away from the disagreements of the past. It is time to open a new chapter in our relationship and a new chapter in our alliance," she said in a speech at the prestigious Institute of Political Science in Paris.

"America stands ready to work with Europe on our common agenda, and Europe must stand ready to work with America," she said. "After all, history will surely judge us not by our old disagreements, but by our new achievements."

The top U.S. diplomat flies to Brussels to the headquarters of the European Union today, with America and key European states at odds over negotiations to end Iran's suspected nuclear-arms programs and weapons sales to China.

The United States has stood on the sidelines of Europe's efforts to negotiate the end of Iran's nuclear endeavors. It also has opposed European arms sales to China.

Speaking in France, the axis of European opposition to the war in Iraq, Miss Rice's appeal invoked the spirit of the allies' Cold War cooperation.

"Wise leaders are opening their arms to embrace reform, and we must stand with them and their societies as they search for a democratic future," Miss Rice said.

But as during the Cold War, she said, military power should not be the main tool to achieve that goal.

"Reformers and peacemakers will prevail in the Middle East for the same reason the West won the Cold War, because liberty is ultimately stronger than repression and freedom is stronger than tyranny," Miss Rice said.

"This is not an issue of military power," she said. "This is an issue of the power of ideas, of the power of being able to support people in those societies who are just tired of being denied their freedom."