OREANDA-NEWS. April 09, 2010.  “European security used to be a problem until the end of the Cold War; now that the problem has been solved through NATO and European Union enlargement, we all need to think innovatively. Therefore, the future of trans-Atlantic relations lies in resolving new problems together,” said the President, Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, last night in Prague, at the meeting of the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, with the presidents or heads of state of 11 European countries.

According to the Estonian Head of State, the United States, NATO, and the European Union will succeed if they act together and rely on each member’s strengths and capabilities.

President Obama agreed, saying that NATO does not have new or old members, only members who have equal responsibilities and will be ensured equal security.

The Estonian Head of State mentioned achieving success at the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan as one of the most important issues to require the combined efforts of all stakeholders.

“This is the symbol of the reliability and credibility of the alliance,” President Ilves said.

The Estonian Head of State acknowledged the administration of the United States, which was capable of bringing Russia back to dialogue with western countries after opposition from Russia and especially following the Georgian war in 2008, as this has presented a new milestone, the signing of a new agreement on restricting the numbers of nuclear weapons each country holds, which was signed yesterday in Prague.

President Obama assured that such an agreement will not serve to diminish the ability of the United States and NATO to deter threats and has not lost its meaning for the security of the ember of the alliance.

At a meeting, which lasted for two hours, the issues of fighting international terrorism, enhancing energy security, restraining the nuclear ambitions of Iran, and the stability problems of the Western Balkan were discussed.