Condoleezza Rice today urged Europe to bury past disagreements and open "a new chapter" in the transatlantic alliance.

The new United States Secretary of State also said Israelis and Palestinians had the "best chance for peace" that they will see for years, following their agreement on a ceasefire earlier today.

"This is a time of unprecedented opportunity for our transatlantic partnership," Ms Rice said in a speech in Paris - the centrepiece of her inaugural eight-nation tour of Europe.

Ms Rice welcomed a stronger and more unified Europe but made it clear that Washington viewed the European Union as a partner and not as a counterweight to US power.

She made no explicit defence of the invasion of Iraq which drew fierce opposition in France and other European countries but emphasised moving forward after the success of the January 30 national elections.

"We have not always seen eye-to-eye,"Ms Rice told the audience of 500 gathered in the Institute of Political Studies in the Latin Quarter."We have had our disagreements. 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 urged a dialogue to establish a common agenda on issues ranging from terrorism and nuclear non-proliferation to the Middle East, development and the spread of democracy around the world.

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

"The US welcomes the growing unity of Europe. America has everything to gain from having a stronger Europe as a partner in building a safer, and a better world. So let each of us bring to the table ideas, experience, and resources, and let us discuss and decide, together, how best to employ them for democratic change."

Ms Rice said that Europe and the US had identical interests in helping speed an end to the Middle East conflict, after the first summit between Israel and the Palestinians in four years produced agreement on a ceasefire.

She said there were "deep divisions to overcome" but added: "This is the best chance for peace we are likely to see for years to come and we are acting to help Israelis and Palestinian seize this chance."

Ms Rice also stressed the need to work together on combatting poverty, disease, injustice and organised crime around the world. "Our ties are unbreakable," she said. "The key to our future success lies in getting beyond a partnership based on common threats and building an even stronger partnership based on common opportunities, beyond the transatlantic community.

"This is a time of unprecedented opportunity for our transatlantic partnership. If we make the pursuit of global freedom our overarching, ongoing principle for the 21st century, we will achieve historic global advances for justice and prosperity, for liberty and for peace."

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