Press conference

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

You will agree with me, and that's where I start, that February will be a good month for the transatlantic relations and transatlantic cooperation, that is, with our meeting today, our meeting tonight and tomorrow, the informal NATO Defence Ministers' meeting in Nice, in France, and of course the Summit with President Bush here in Brussels on the 22nd of this month.

Secretary Rice's first meeting with her fellow NATO Foreign Ministers, which ended just a moment ago, has been, I think, an important and successful first step.

We've had an open discussion, amongst close Allies, on the key security issues, of course, are... we share, I should say, on the transatlantic agenda: Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Balkans and our important partnerships with Russia and Ukraine.

On Iraq, ministers agreed that we have turned a corner. After the landmark elections in Iraq Sunday... Sunday week ago, now behind us, the entire Euro-Atlantic community is very much looking forward to support the political process in Iraq.

What we need to do now is to pull together in the same direction. NATO is helping to make that happen by helping to train and equip the Iraqi security forces. NATO's mission, training mission, equipping mission, which as you know has already started work in Iraq, will train over one thousand officers per year. Tomorrow... tonight, tomorrow in Nice, NATO Defence Ministers will discuss how to upgrade that very important mission to help provide Iraq for its own security.

Let me state my goal on the Iraqi training mission. My goal is that as soon as possible, but of course at the latest on the 22nd of February, all 26 NATO allies will be contributing to the training mission. And you know that either training inside Iraq or outside Iraq, or through financing under a NATO umbrella. And you know, we're setting up trust funds, NATO trust funds, to that effect. And I may say that I think over lunch we have made good progress for the mission both in terms of personnel and of funding. The luncheon wasn't a pledging conference, as such, but I can report some beginning of positive news in this respect.

What ministers, of course, also addressed, was the political future of Afghanistan; NATO's big priority. As you know, NATO is expanding its mission of ISAF to the west of the country, and then to the south, and Defence Ministers will discuss this subject, of course, in Nice as well.

But what we also need is a long-term political vision for Afghanistan beyond the upcoming elections in the spring in Afghanistan, which as you know, NATO will support, like we have supported the presidential elections. And that's, of course, that needs to be a vision that includes coordinating how we help the government of President Karzai to tackle the many problems he is facing, and that, of course, includes counter-narcotics.

I can tell you that ministers had a profound discussion--almost every minister intervened on the subject--on the situation in the broader Middle East, including, of course, the peace process in the Middle East and the positive news we are hearing from the region.

Of course, Secretary Rice has informed her colleagues about her visit to the region, and Allies discussed NATO's various initiatives to reach out to the region, including the Dialogue, the Mediterranean Dialogue, well-known to you. As you know, I'm travelling the region at the moment. I'll be in Morocco next week. I'll be in Israel the week after, and to the other countries of the Mediterranean, a Dialogue region, very soon after that. And the responses are positive.

And ministers discussed this. And ministers discussed NATO's outreach into the broader Middle East in the framework of the so-called Istanbul Cooperation Initiative; where we also see positive reactions on the trip... the trips, I should say, my deputy, Ambassador Minuto Rizzo, has been making to the region.

What also was discussed, of course, is the subject what role or roles NATO could play in the broader Middle East in the future. We see a positive beginning, but it is noteworthy, I think, that this was discussed by ministers.

How can NATO, by its Mediterranean Dialogue, by its outreach into the ICI, or perhaps at a later stage in a more direct sense, be instrumental in playing a role in that region?

It will not come as a surprise to you that the Balkans were very much on the agenda. Kosovo's political future will, of course, be assessed by the international community this year; the standards evaluation. Ministers stressed that NATO will continue to backstop this political process, including of course, through KFOR, which should have--let me repeat that once again--which should have the same operational capability as it has now. I mean, there's no argument, and no reason for KFOR to diminish in strength.

Finally, we discussed NATO's political and practical partnerships. Ministers agreed that the relationship NATO has built with Russia in a NATO-Russia Council must be strengthened and can be strengthened with more practical partnership. I'll meet Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov later today in Nice. And tomorrow, as you know, in Nice we have a NATO-Russia Council in the presence of Defence Minister Ivanov.

Strengthening the NRC on practical cooperation, but certainly also with more open and frank political dialogue across a broad horizon of issues.

It goes without saying that Ukraine too was and is an important topic for the discussion. The distinctive partnership we have with Ukraine and the fact that we all have a NATO-Ukraine Summit on the 22nd of February with President Yushchenko coming here.

Today ministers, of course, discussed the preparations for this meeting and how we can support the reform efforts of the newly-formed Ukrainian government.

That's, ladies and gentlemen, in a nutshell... not so much in a nutshell was it? It was short, but I think it was fruitful. And it has helped to set the stage for tomorrow's discussion in Nice, and certainly it has helped to set the stage for the Summit as the first meeting in what is politically a very important month.

Thank you very much.

Questions and answers

Q: Monsieur le Secrétaire Général, (inaudible)..., Al-Alam News, j'ai deux questions.

Madame Rice a davantage demandé l'implication de l'OTAN dans l'Irak. Est-ce que l'OTAN dispose réellement des moyens sûrs pour le faire? Et deuxième question, comment comptez-vous gérer la situation en Afghanistan, ce pays qui est voisin de... de l'Iran.

de Hoop Scheffer: Si je commence avec l'Irak, Madame Rice a demandé vraiment laissé une question que je mets dans un sens rhétorique, "rhetorical question", c'est que c'est très important que les alliés participent à la mission de formation de l'OTAN en Irak ou bien par l'entraînement en Irak, en dehors de l'Irak ou bien par participation dans les fonds d'affection, "the trustee funds". Je crois avec elle que c'est le point le plus important si on voit le sommet au 22 janvier. Je peux répéter en français ce que j'ai dit en anglais que ce déjeuner aujourd'hui a bien sûr... On a bien sûr vu le début des "pledges" des alliés sur les fonds d'affectation.

Sur l'Afghanistan, j'ai dit ce que j'ai dit. On a des bonnes nouvelles sur l'Afghanistan. On est en train d'élargir la FIAS dans l'Ouest de l'Afghanistan. Les augures sont bien pour plus tard cette année, à la fin de cette année, je crois, pour l'expansion dans la phase 3 en Afghanistan. Et ça reste... c'était... et ça reste bien sûr une priorité de l'Alliance.

Q: Mr. Secretary General, Mac Yussef(?) from the Nile News, Egyptian Television.

Mr. Secretary General, you were talking about a role... expected role or future role for NATO in the Middle East after the (inaudible)... if. I'm just wondering if you can explain to us more which type of role you are talking about: a political role or military role there? Thank you.

de Hoop Scheffer: It's good that you mentioned the ifs, because as you know, when I answer these questions, it is of course on the basis of the ifs to prevent the impression that NATO would rush in.

All ministers agree that we see positive signs. And NATO has to ask itself the question, what role could NATO play? And let me repeat the elements I mentioned in my introductory statement.

Of course, it is important, for the reason as such, and may I say that Egypt of course plays a pivotal role here, that NATO builds upon the Mediterranean Dialogue, strengthens the Mediterranean Dialogue, and discusses with the countries in the Mediterranean Dialogue, and you know my opinion about the two-way street. It is not NATO going and then saying we're going to do this. No, it is NATO, not imposing itself, but on the basis of a two-way street asking what role could NATO play.

I'll also go to Egypt, to my joy, probably briefly after the Summit, to discuss exactly the things you are now asking me.

But I think NATO can be constructive in strengthening the Mediterranean Dialogue. NATO can be constructive by setting up a dialogue in the broader region by being pragmatic at the same time, by building up programs with the individual Mediterranean Dialogue nations.

I could tell you that... I can tell you that, as I said, I go to Israel the week after next. Israel has come forward with a plan... with a program. I know and I'm sure that other Arab nations are also going to come forward.

So this is the way I see this role. If you look into the future on the basis of what we all hope that once there would be a stable and sustainable peace agreement, it is... but here my big ifs come, of course, into play, and it is, of course, definitely not unthinkable that if the parties would so wish NATO could play a role in assisting a peace agreement.

But let's take this step-by-step. Let's not rush it and let's first of all see how NATO, by building up trust, can have a position, a constructive position in the region. Because you know as well as I do, and we realize that, that there's a lot to do in the region about NATO's image. And that's why I go into the countries myself, that I speak at universities, I have discussions with think tanks, because I know that we have to work hard on perceptions, and sometimes misperceptions about the role of NATO.

So let's not rush it, but let's agree that also NATO, apart of course from the European Union, from the United States of America, can play a constructive role in the region. I'm quite convinced of that. And I'm also convinced that the leaders in the region are of the same opinion.

Q: A small follow-up. Might that NATO force go in the corridor in Gaza eventually?

de Hoop Scheffer: Well, this is exactly what I'm...what I say we should not do, which is because you're now precipitating. Let the parties, let the quartet, have their negotiations. It has now started with positive developments between Prime Minister Sharon and Abu Mazen. Mahmud Abbas, Abu Mazen. Let's give the process its time. Let's have the responsibility where I think it should be, and that is first of all with the parties concerned, assisted by the people who want to assist.

NATO has no direct role in the peace process. But I think NATO, as I said to your colleague from Egypt, NATO can help to create an atmosphere in which the process could get a stimulus. And I'm not discussing, certainly not at this moment, and at this moment of time, what NATO could exactly do in the framework of forces, or where NATO should exactly be. It's much too early for that.

Q: Andrea Koppel with CNN. You said that NATO's going to be training over a 1000 security forces. Can you give us a sense as to if all of the members of NATO will be participating in this training process, or who would be participating and how many trainers you expect to have on the ground?

And also, when you mentioned that you've turned a new corner in the relationship since the election, how much of this is sort of NATO wishing, and by force of will hoping for a better relationship with the United States, and how much of this is actually based on evidence that you've seen that the Bush administration really does see the light?

de Hoop Scheffer: Well, as a former, I should say, long-term politician, I have learned that you also discuss the optimum and I want to discuss the optimum.

I made the political remark I made because the atmosphere in the meeting was clearly that ministers would echo, if they were on this stage what I just said about turning the corner. That there is a strong feeling that within the possibilities allies have and might choose, there is one very dominant factor that all allies agree, all 26 allies agree, that we should support the Iraqi people after the brave things they have done Sunday a week ago. And that this Alliance should play an important role in doing what the Iraqi government has asked this Alliance to do; and that is training the Iraqi security forces.

And that means, as I said, I can repeat it, either outside Iraq, inside Iraq, or by participating in these trust funds, and all 26 shall do that.

And if we have the mission up and running, that is a number I can give you, we should be able to reach the 1000 a year I mentioned. We are beefing up the mission at the moment, and that will be on the basis of the number of trainers, NATO trainers and Iraqi trainers, because we're also training the trainers, which will lead to the output of 1000 security forces a year.

de Hoop Scheffer: That's all we have time for. Okay. Is it?

Q: How many trainers will there be?

de Hoop Scheffer: Well there will be a sufficient number of trainers, as I said, to guarantee the output I mentioned. And the number of trainers will build up as far as the training mission progresses. Because as you know, it will start, and has already, in fact, started in the international zone. And the second phase will be that we set up the Training, Educational and Doctrine Centre in Ar Rustimaya near Baghdad.

For that we need more trainers. There need to be some reconstruction work. I've seen it in Ar Rustimaya, that will be done on the basis of Iraqi participation as well. So that will be at a somewhat later stage. My expectation would be that we would see that start after the summer.

Q: Mr. Secretary General, 22nd new president of Ukraine will visit NATO. So he will declare that Ukraine is going to apply to be NATO member in couple of years. What would be your answer?

de Hoop Scheffer: I do not exactly know, quite honestly, what President Yushchenko will declare, but I'm very glad, and we are very glad that he'll be coming. And let's wait till President Yushchenko, Foreign Minister Tarasyuk, Prime Minister Tymoshenko have set out, let's say, the main lines of their foreign policy.

What NATO has, and what NATO and Ukraine... Ukraine and NATO are going to build on, is a distinctive partnership with Ukraine. Which, in fact, has all the ingredients--the action plan, the annual target plans--of making this distinctive partnership work.

I can add that, as you know, NATO has an open door policy, that all European democracies who fulfil the conditions for NATO membership can go the long and sometimes complicated road to NATO membership. As we see the seven new allies who acceded to the Washington Treaty last year have done. That's a long and winding road, that's a long and winding road, and NATO can assist Ukraine in giving body to the action plan and giving body to the annual target plans, and that is the way we'll operate.

And we listen, of course, very carefully, with great interest, to what President Yushchenko will have to say on the 22nd of February.

de Hoop Scheffer: Yeah, yeah.

Q: Secretary General, you said that the political future of Kosovo was discussed. Is there disagreement between United States and European allies on that issue? And are Americans going to remain committed to military, to the mission in Kosovo?

de Hoop Scheffer: Absolutely. On Kosovo this in-together, all-together, as you know, and there is no... not the slightest difference of opinion about the... what the international community should do as far as the future of Kosovo is concerned.

Madam Secretary.

Condoleeza Rice (United States Secretary of State): Thank you.

de Hoop Scheffer: Let me welcome you once again, very warmly, to NATO.

Rice: Thank you.

de Hoop Scheffer: It's a great pleasure that you've come. I just told the members of the press that we've had a very successful luncheon; that there is, on the other hand, much work to do, and I'm sure you're going to answer the questions how much work and where it is to do.

But may I say, here in front of the cameras, that I wish you, as all ministers did, in fact, success, very much success in your coming career as U.S. Secretary of State.