“Cooperation and tension in the transatlantic relationship: Which force will prove stronger in the long run?”

27 November 2001

The Pharos Trust and the Oxford University Society jointly organized a lecture by Professor Victor Bulmer-Thomas who is Director of the Royal Institute for International Affairs at Chatham House, London. He is also Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of London. Professor Bulmer-Thomas has worked as a consultant to the European Commission, the US Agency for International Development and the Inter American Development Bank among others. At the beginning of his remarks Professor Bulmer Thomas said that the events of September 11 2001 in New York had brought about a much more cooperative state between Europe and the United States. However previously, and especially under the new administration of George W. Bush there were already many areas of contention and disagreement across the Atlantic, ranging from trade issues and Defense to the verification of International Treaties as well as the issue of the International Criminal Court. In his view cracks would begin to develop in the convergence of views that had developed after September 11 and tensions would reemerge and contentious issues come to the front again. Professor Bulmer Thomas suggested that new mechanisms should be put into place to manage the Trans Atlantic relationship on a more proactive and sound basis. The lecture he gave in Cyprus was received with much praise. Before he left Cyprus, the Professor paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, Mr. Glafkos Clerides, who has acknowledged the importance of his work.