NATO and Russia – Time to engage
Remarks by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the Munich Security Conference
Thank you very much, Wolfgang, for this opportunity to discuss an issue
which is central to Europe and Euro-Atlantic security: the relationship
between NATO and Russia.
This was the topic of my first speech as NATO-Secretary General, in
2009. I said then what I am convinced remains true
today: that of all NATO’s partner relations, none holds greater
potential than that between NATO and Russia. But today, that
potential is not being fully met.
We face a clear choice. Between accepting cold cooperation.
Or aiming for constructive engagement. And moving forward towards the
strategic partnership which offers the common security we seek.
The fact is that we do more together today than ever before. Russia
supports our operation in Afghanistan with transit. Together
we train officials in the region to stop drugs from crossing our
borders. We are developing technologies to stop terrorists
carrying bombs in the Metro or hijacking airplanes. We are
taking old, dangerous weapons out of the ground and out of service in
Kaliningrad. We have agreed on supporting the efforts to
remove chemical weapons from Syria.
And we are right now exploring how we can help in practical terms in
the framework of our NATO-Russia Council. I count on Russia
to do its utmost to press the Syrian Government to deliver on its
commitments.
And overall in our relationship, I think we should be more
ambitious. We should be bolder in addressing our challenges. Because we
share fundamental interests.
We share the need for stability in our neighbourhood and the whole
Euro-Atlantic area.
The need to stem terrorism, extremism and proliferation in the Middle
East and North Africa which threaten all of us. And the need
to deepen economic cooperation and trade between our nations in a
globalised world.
I am convinced that the vision that we agreed in 2010 in Lisbon remains
the right one: a true strategic partnership between NATO and Russia.
But I am concerned that in key areas, we remain too far apart.
I get concerned when I hear talk of deploying offensive -- not
defensive, but offensive -- weapons systems. Such as fighter
detachments to Belarus, Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad, or more
military forces to the Arctic. I get concerned when I hear
our missile defence system consistently – and falsely - described as
offensive by Russia. And I get concerned when I hear that
Russia views NATO’s Open Door policy as a threat like international
terrorism.
Let me be clear. None of us wants a return to the dividing lines and
the hostility of the past. So let us stop using the words and the ways
of the past. And move forward.
In Lisbon, NATO and Russia agreed to contribute to the development of a
common space of peace, security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic
area. This does not mean new treaties. It means
sticking to principles and taking concrete steps.
First, we must refrain from threats against each other. This
is what we agreed in the NATO-Russia Founding Act in 1997.
And it is why the deployment of new offensive weapons has no place in a
true strategic partnership. Instead, we should build
confidence and transparency, as outlined in our 2002 Rome Declaration.
Second, we must comply with the principles of the 1999 OSCE Charter for
European Security.
This reaffirmed the inherent right of each state to be free to choose
or change its security arrangements and alliances. Ukraine
must have the freedom to choose its own path without external pressure.
And democratic principles and the rule of law must be
respected. And minorities must be protected -- not persecuted.
And third, we should reach an agreement on missile defence
cooperation. We have heard Russia’s concern that
NATO’s system would undermine its strategic nuclear
deterrent. But frankly, this ignores the facts and the laws
of physics. NATO has offered to link our two missile defence
systems. It would bring our experts together on a 24/7
basis. It would build trust and transparency. And
it would improve protection for all of us – in Russia, and in Europe.
But so far, Russia has rejected NATO’s proposal. If we want to move
forward, we have no time to waste. Now is not the time for
excuses. It is the time to engage. So I propose
that we set a reasonable deadline and find a pragmatic agreement on how
to move forward.
Fourth, we need to get arms control back on track.
We need to see progress on reductions in sub-strategic nuclear
weapons. At NATO, we are prepared to talk about the
transparency of these weapons. And I call on Russia to engage
in talks with us. But Russia has to be ready to discuss these
issues without preconditions. The Russian demand for NATO to
remove all nuclear weapons in Europe, before we even start
negotiations, will lead nowhere.
We also need to discuss our conventional weapons. Russia has
said it will never come back to the Conventional Forces in Europe
Treaty. But we do need to discuss how to rebuild a regime that makes
all of us more secure.
And we need to return to reciprocal, regular exchanges on military
exercises. We need to be more transparent with each other
about all of our military exercises and activities to increase trust
and confidence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
None of this will happen overnight. But with political will, we can
avoid the risk of cold cooperation. We can move forward
towards constructive engagement. And the true strategic
partnership we agreed to achieve.
Thank you.