Washington, Jan 25, SPA -- The United States and the European Union are in agreement on what progress means to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), but have differing views on the approach that must be implemented in order for those goals to be achieved, according to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scott Carpenter. There has been much harangue over the foreign policy rifts splitting apart the old transatlantic allies, Carpenter said, but much of this concern has been exaggerated, and the United States and European Union have "found common ground" on a number of important issues in the broader Middle East. "We both want to see stability in Iraq; a lasting solution to the Palestinian and Israeli problem; political and economic reform in the Middle East; and to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction," Carpenter said. "The United States and European Union have common objectives, but slightly different approaches on how to achieve those objectives." Carpenter concluded that the United States and European Union will continue to work to better their relationship to defeat terrorism and help promote democracy in the Middle East. --SPA 1120 Local Time 0820 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/234723