Panel discussion with the British, Czech, French, and German Ambassadors to the US - UCLA (December 5, 2008)
Panel discussion with the British, Czech, French, and German Ambassadors to the US - UCLA (December 5, 2008) - by QH7


UCLA Dean of Humanities Tim Stowell introduces the panel members Panel Moderator: Prof. Dominic Thomas Prof. Dominic Thomas Former Irish Prime MInister John Bruton Czech Ambassador Petr Kolar

French Ambassador Pierre Vimont Czech Ambassador Petr Kolar British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald Gertman Ambassador Klaus Scharioth UCLA Chancellor Gene Block


EU Ambassadors


Prof. Tim Stowell presenting appreciation plaques to the EU Ambassadors




Title of the discussion: The European Union Today: Internal and External Challenges


EU Ambassadors
Petr Kolar (Czech Republic)
Pierre Vimont (France)
Klaus Scharioth (Germany)
Sir Nigel Sheinwald (UK)
John Bruton - European Union Ambassador to the US (Ireland)


All Ambassadors stressed the need to work with the US on all levels. But Sir Nigel Sheinwald expressed his frustration with US foreign policy and cited a quote from Winston Churchill "The Americans will always do the right thing... after they've exhausted all the alternatives."

He also expressed the difficulty of negotiating with Iran over its nuclear activities. "We got a policy that we are happy with.its dual-track: pressure on the one hand and the openness and offer of better relations with Iran on the other. We are sure that is the right overall approach. But, at the same time we know that we are not being successful. We know that we have difficult decisions ahead. We know that centrifuges are spinning and we haven't stopped them. It's not going to take forever for Iran to develop nuclear weapons." Sheinwald said.


Listen to the podcast (1:11)


Sponsors: Center for European and Eurasian Studies, Germanic Languages, French and Francophone Studies, UCLA Humanities Division

Related Links
UCLA Center for European and Eurasian Studies


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