NATO Headquarters 3 April 2003 Audio file (.MP3/3351Kb)

Press Statement by the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson Following the NATO-EU Informal Working Luncheon NATO Headquarters, It is a pleasure to welcome you at NATO Headquarters. Today, the Foreign Ministers of 23 NATO and European Union nations came together as friends, allies and partners to discuss transatlantic relations and how best to assist the people of Iraq in creating a free, prosperous and united country after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. Expressions such as “mending fences” or “defusing tension” have been used in the run-up to today’s meetings at NATO. “Continuity” and “cooperation” are better words. There may have been strains but there have never been any irreconcilable differences among us. There have been divisions in the past, but I see a growing consensus for the future. There was broad agreement that the conflict in Iraq should be brought to an end as quickly as possible, that civilian casualties be minimised and that aid should be delivered to the people of Iraq as a matter of urgency. As far as post-conflict reconstruction is concerned, ministers made it clear that they see a need for the international community, including the United Nations with other international organisations, to engage as quickly as possible once the situation allows it. The international community must be ready to act. NATO and the European Union have a strategic relationship and partnership. Together, we have demonstrated today the unbreakable bonds which tie Europe and North America together. Our determination to work together in pursuit of our common interests is as strong as ever. George Papandreou (Greek Foreign Minister, EU Presidency): Thank you Lord Robertson. The European Union welcomes this initiative for a dialogue. We stressed the humanitarian situation and our commitment as the European Union to provide help towards the humanitarian problems we all see on our screens. We also reiterated our position that we want to see stability in the region, the territorial integrity of Iraq. We acknowledged and welcomed the statements of Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul that they were not to get involved with Northern Iraq and this is an important statement that they've made. And we are ready, of course, to assist with problems in the neighbouring countries, particularly the candidate country Turkey of the European Union in dealing with humanitarian problems. We have stressed that in dealing with regional stability, it is our priority to move forward on a Middle East peace process, the publication and the implementation of a road map. We, in this, have also stressed the very important relationship Europe and the European Union have with the Arab world, our close contacts and our need to further and strengthen a dialogue... a dialogue of civilisations. This is not a clash of civilisations. This is a dialogue which we are developing for peace and stability in the region. We also said that it is of utmost importance to restore, I would say even reshape our transatlantic relationship in order to deal with the new threats, the new problems, but also with a number of questions that arose in the... in the debate and the discussions, and even divisions that we have seen in the UN Security Council on Iraq. And I think on this point, all of us stressed, and I stressed as the Presidency, the importance that we place on the United Nations' role in all phases of the Iraqi crisis and certainly from now on. I would agree with what Lord Robertson said. We are seeing an emerging consensus on these issues. It was an important exchange of views and I do hope that this will be something that will move us forward in the future world community of greater peace and stability. Moderator: I will invite questions. In the interest of time, please keep them short and only one question, not multifaceted questions. Q: Nick Mackee, Deutsche Welle Television. Do you sense support for a NATO role in the post-war Iraq? Lord Robertson: This was an informal discussion we had today. It was co-hosted by Minister Papandreou, as presidency of the European Union, and by myself, as the NATO Secretary General. It was not a decision-making lunch and discussion here. But as I said, we discussed and will continue to discuss in many fora the issue about how post-conflict Iraq is going to be dealt with, especially in the context of the United Nations. But ministers, I think, were more than willing to seek whether other international organizations like NATO might have a role in helping in that situation. The one word that I have repeated most often today at the lunch was the word pragmatism and I think that that is a critical word here in the context of dealing with what is a fast-moving situation and one that will pose very serious challenges to the whole international community. Q: (Mia Doornaert, De Standaard) A question to the EU presidency. Lord Robertson mentioned the free and democratic Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. You did not. Does that mean the EU prefer Saddam to stay in power? Thank you. Papandreou: The EU has been clear on that. The EU has been first of all clear on its common purpose for the disarmament of Iraq, differing on how this is to be done of course as you know. But we also have mentioned in our summit meeting two weeks ago that we do want to see an open, democratic, stable, integral Iraq. Moderator: We still have about 10 minutes. Q: Was there a consensus... including the EU as regarding the role of the United Nations? Papandreou: Which...? Whom should (inaudible)... Lord Robertson: We can both answer. Papandreou: We can both answer. Lord Robertson: It'll be the same answer I'm fairly certain. (Laughter) Papandreou: Well, Lord Robertson said earlier and I repeated emerging consensus. We didn't get into details. And I think this is... the importance that we place on the UN role is recognized by the United States. Obviously, the UN itself has not yet had this discussion. But I think here is very it's very important, in our transatlantic relationship to make this a point of consensus rather than a point of diversion. Lord Robertson: As I predicted, I agree with everything the other George said. (Laughter) Moderator: We have one more minute. So please... Q: Do you consider that it could be a solution to have NATO as a really important game player as it has been done in Kosovo? Lord Robertson: It's much too premature I think to get to that stage. And all the ministers talked about in this informal setting was the necessity to start thinking about what might happen, and the fact that a lot of international organizations, including the one that jointly hosted this, or the two that jointly hosted today's lunch might well be involved. At least, we are not at that stage yet. Moderator: Last question. Q: Laurent Zecchini, Le Monde. Mr. Papandreou, do you think that a UN mandate should be a pre-condition for a possible role for NATO in post-war Iraq? Papandreou: Well, I don't speak here as NATO. But I can say that the UN resolution will be a pre-requisite for full involvement of the European Union in the post-conflict...the reconstruction. Moderator: Thank you very much. We'll see you at 4:15.