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| Updated: 15-May-2003 | NATO Speeches |
| NATO HQ 14 May 2003 |
Press conference with General Harald Kujat, Chairman of the Military Committee GENERAL HARALD KUJAT (Chairman of the Military Committee): Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. It seems that you are very interested in the work of the Military Committee. Well, we had, as you are aware, a meeting of the different committees on the military side of the house. We of course had the NATO military committee meeting near here. We had the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in the Military Committee format meeting here. We had the NATO-Ukraine Committee on the military... on the military side. And we had the NATO-Russia Council in military session here in these two days of a meeting session. Well what we...what we have discussed is, of course, against the background of the NRC meeting in Moscow, how we could intensify and strengthen our military co-operation with Russia. We have a very tight and very interesting work plan that has been discussed in detail here. And we are preparing to intensify our co-operation in exercise, in training. So there is a broad spectrum of activities where we want to strengthen our co-operation, the ties that we have established with Russia. We have, with our partners, we have provided the normal briefings, as we always do, because some partners are co-operating with us in operations in the Balkans so we normally provide an operational update of the situation in the Balkans, and discuss again how we would strengthen our co-operation with the perspective so to say that some of our partner nations will disappear at some point in time because they will become full members of NATO. That is, as you know, I'm talking about the seven invited partner nations. We had then, that was clearly my intention, today, we had the first meeting of the Military Committee and Chiefs of Staff session with the participation of the seven partner Chiefs of Defence this morning where I welcomed them and I explained how we are... how we will organize our co-operation in the months to come. And the intention is, of course, that we start with relatively low frequency and then intensify the co-operation in the Military Committee in permanent session. And I was grateful for the invited partner choice that they have nominated in the meantime the permanent representatives here, so we will have this month, at the end of the month, already the first meeting of the Military Committee in permanent session. So this was not a meeting of substance; it was just a meeting to welcome them, say hello, explain a little bit how we... how we work here in the Military Committee, what the atmosphere and the spirit is of course. And then we had lunch together, that gave us an opportunity to discuss one or the other personal issues when... As far as the NATO side is concerned, we have had another discussion on the NATO command structure which is a major issue. We have discussed the implementation of the NATO Response Force. You know, that we have an agreed military concept for the NATO Response Force that is well underway. So we have now... we are very advanced with our implementation, the planning, so we discussed one or the other aspect which was important for the CHODS to know of this implementation program which will soon be forwarded to the Chiefs of Defence for agreement. We hope, as you may know that, we hope the Ministers of Defence will give their blessing to our concept in their meeting in early June, so that we then can start with the practical steps to implement the concept. And we hope that we have a final agreement at that point in time as well on the NATO command structure because that is a very important issue as well. These issues are very closely related. We had a very substantial discussion on the implementation of the Prague Capability Commitment. Where do we stand. Those nations that have the lead in one or the other multinational area reported that they... it was a just a snapshot so to say, where are we as far as air transport is concerned and things like that. So, in order to keep the pace, I haven't set the pace of that program because we have to comply with the tasks that are given to us by the heads of state and government in Prague. So these are the main issues that have been... have been on the agenda and that have been discussed among the CHODS, the atmosphere where, I think you expect me to say that, because all diplomats say that it was a wonderful, very nice, friendly atmosphere. Yes, that's true, as always I should say, because we are colleagues, professional colleagues of course, with very good personal relationships. So I think this is a good basis for achieving progress here and to harmonize, of course, different national positions. So that's enough, I think, for me to say. If you have any questions... (inaudible)... Q: General, have you also discussed the output of the conference of the Heads of State and Government of the Berlin Summit here two weeks ago and (inaudible)... proposal of creating some... a kind of grand strategy and creating all the... a new headquarter. Do you think that the defence of Europe is... quite put in the hand of the EU or more (inaudible)... with NATO? (SPEAKERS OVERLAP) GENERAL KUJAT: (LAUGHS)... Well, we did not discuss that. And of course we did not because this is not normally... normally not the case that one organization is discussing internal issues of another organization. So the OCE internal... questions of the EU or the EU internal questions of NATO, we don't do that. Aside from that, I don't see that this is... at least for the moment, a military subject. It is a political subject. As you know, the military is always very reluctant to take up political issues. MODERATOR: Mr. (inaudible). Q: General you said you were talking about how to better understand (inaudible)...? GENERAL KUJAT: Yeah. Well... you see, it's not that long ago that we had the summit and of course, all these projects need to take up speed. But the Chiefs of Defence have an important role to play in that process because they are so to say on the receiving side. When it comes to operations, we must be sure that they have the right equipment to comply with the mission that's given to them, but also the success of the mission depends very much on the quality of equipment, but the security of our soldiers as well. So this very closely interrelates. So we have a natural interest in progress. And what my intention was, of course, to make (inaudible) aware of where we are in one or the other area, to give them an opportunity when they return home to discuss with their national armaments director or with their minister, what can be done in one or the other area to accelerate the process or put a different accent there. The other point is that there is a close relationship with the NATO Response Force. When you look into... specifically, into the collective of multinational areas that have been decided at the Prague Summit, airlift, sealift, alliance ground surveillance systems. All these... these areas are closely related to the NATO Response Force. And we need, of course, to harmonize a progress in this capability area with the accelerated progress as far as the NATO Response Force is concerned. Then... Because, as you know, the initial operational capability is expected for the NATO Response Force in 2004, and the full operation capability in 2006. However, it's our intention to gradually build up the NATO Response Force and if possible, and if ministers are prepared to sign up for that, have the first units available in autumn of this year. This is quite the speed that we... that we apply here. So we need to keep in mind that on one side, of course, we have the force, on the other side, we need to have the necessary capabilities to employ this force, and as I said, have the means to do it with this, transport reconnaissance and things like that, the necessary capability to do so. And that's our business here. Q: (inaudible)...? GENERAL KUJAT: What... Q: (inaudible)...? GENERAL KUJAT: No. But that's natural, you can't be. I mean, if I was satisfied with the progress, I wouldn't be the right man as a Chairman of the Military Committee. I have to be ambitious. And the reason is exactly the one that I just mentioned because the military... the Chiefs of Defence, they have some responsibility, first of all for the success of a possible operation, but also for the security of their soldiers. So they must be ambitious and they can't be satisfied. Whatever the status is, there is... again, it's not... that's not a negative statement. There is more progress in one area and less progress in the other area. And as I said, in some areas, it takes some time to get so to say the whole train on track because first, nations have to discuss who's going who is going to participate. Then, the lead nation has to outline the concept to them. And then of course, very lengthy discussions begin with different, as far as procurement or liaise(?) or whatever is concerned. That is... that is... But of course, we need to keep the pressure up. That is important. We need to keep the whole picture in mind and see what is dependant on what. And that is what we have done here. So when you ask me the question, are you satisfied? I'm never satisfied. I will be satisfied when we have everything in place. But again, we have progress in some areas, more or less... There is no clear picture at this point in time. Q: General, a follow-up to capabilities. In which areas are you more disappointed and in which areas you're asking real efforts, more efforts to the countries? And you are saying you are not satisfied, do you think it's possible to reach the goal or you might... (SPEAKERS OVERLAP) GENERAL KUJAT: It is... It is... of course it is possible, but of course... it is necessary of course that nations, specifically those nations that are in the lead, which is a good thing by the way as we now find out, to have one nation being responsible for a specific area is of course an incentive for this nation to be... for this specific nation to be successful. So that's...proves to be a good decision. Yes, I am convinced that it is possible to comply with the task that has been given to us. We need to do as much as we can, specifically in those areas that are of strategic importance. And these are the areas that I mentioned: strategic lift, sealift, airlift, reconnaissance, and specifically here, the alliance ground surveillance system. This is a real... on the top of our priorities so to say because this is a system we absolutely need. And I think, since this is on our agenda for some time already, we need really to put every effort into that program. It's really difficult to say, well, we are more advanced in this area and less advanced in the other area because in some areas it takes more time so to say to establish the basis for success. In other areas, we have early success but there's a lengthy process. It's very difficult. And I wouldn't do that because it would mean that I would satisfy so to say... say what nation A or nation B has achieved. No. What we are interested in is that we have success in all these areas, in all these areas because these are interdependent areas. It is very important. That's why I mentioned that we need these capabilities of course for all our force, but primarily for our NATO Response Force because this is really the benchmark of what we can achieve in NATO. This is the modern force of the 21st century. And here, we need to show progress, and I'm convinced we will do very soon. MODERATOR: Yeah. Mrs. (inaudible). Q: Did you talk about the possible role of NATO (inaudible)? GENERAL KUJAT: No. We did not. This is a... This is a... We will if and when the Council decides that this is a possible option. I'm not aware that the Council did so and we don't plan just in theory. And we have not discussed it. MODERATOR: Yes, please. Q: Laurent Zakinov(?) from Le Monde.
I would like to come back to the question of European defence. As the
Chairman of the Military Committee, are you personally worried by the
risk of duplication? GENERAL KUJAT: Well, first of all, it has always been our intention to achieve some synergy effects. NATO Response Force is a typical example for that. You know that European Union is building up a European Union Reaction Force. We... our NATO Response Force will be, as far as the size is concerned, a much smaller, but a very capable force. And this force will undergo a certain train and equip(?) program, will be certified at the end and then be on call. So all the forces, all the units that are being made available for the NATO Response Force and that, once they have gone through that cycle, have improved their military capabilities, are, of course, available for the European Union as well because nations only have one set of forces. So as long as there is no transfer of authority, so a change of command from nation to NATO or to the European Union, of course, the nation is free to sign up for this unit to a EU operation or to a NATO operation. So this is the synergy effect that can be achieved. And the same applies, as far as the collective or multinational capabilities is concerned. Again here, the deficits that we see in our Force structure are deficits... European deficits primarily, and they apply for the European Union as well: airlifts, sealifts, all these nice things that I have mentioned before. So there is a lot of synergy to be achieved between everything... what we do here in order to improve our military capabilities, specifically the European capabilities, and what is...what is to the advantage of the European Union. This is, I think, very important to note. The second point is that, you know that we, in the first months of this year, have achieved something which was very difficult to achieve, that is the so-called Berlin Plus arrangement. I think this is a major success, both for NATO and for the European Union because now, the European Union is in the position to ask for NATO assets and capabilities, they can be made available. And these assets include the command structures, of course, planning capacity but also capabilities. So now, there is the question of command structure. The arrangements that are in place, I think, are excellent arrangements and they serve both the needs of NATO and the European Union. So that is the situation in which we are. The other point is, of course, that we always have applied, and specifically this Berlin Plus arrangement takes care of that, we always have applied to the rule separable but not separate and no dual structures because... As far as structure is concerned, the same applies as does with the forces. We only have one set of forces. So we should use, of course, existing structures. But I wouldn't overstate the importance of that. So let's wait and see what comes out of that. Most of the issues that are in the paper are long-term projects that have been discussed for some time, have been forwarded by nations already. So when I think about the Air Transport Command, that's an issue my Minister has proposed already in, was it February '90...'89. So that's... that's a... it's a consolidated paper, as far as I see it, and offers some ideas for the European Union to improve the military capabilities. But I wouldn't overestimate it. We need to await the discussions that will take place on the basis of the paper and then see what comes out of that. But I don't want to say more about it because this is an issue for the European Union. I can't speak for the European Union. MODERATOR: There was a question on the left-hand side. Yes, please. Q: (inaudible)...? GENERAL KUJAT: Well, it's a normal work process, of course. But as you know, we are working on an MC document here which is... other than we did in the past... In the past, we had several single documents so to say as building block documents. At the end, we had the MC... so-called MC document which is the basis for the command structure. This time we have accelerated the process and we have gone directly to this MC document. And that of course, what does it mean, a lot of discussion that otherwise would have taken place on the basis of interim papers are now taking place when we have the MC document in front of us. So it takes some time but I think we are good on track. MODERATOR: (inaudible)... Q: Yes, concerning the command structure, is there an agreement at the military level to make a proposal to the ministers in June? GENERAL KUJAT: We will definitely, we have to forward something for the ministers in June, definitely. That's... That is... whether it goes of course through the NAC in permanent session, and it might get forwarded to the Ministers, but we have to forward something; we'll definitely do so. MODERATOR: Yes, please on the left-hand side there. Q: Could you give us an idea of what the NATO Response Force will actually look like? I mean, I think when it was first announced we heard it would be about a division of 20,000 troops or so, but it's not very clear quite how it would... what it would do, what it would look like, and can you explain what it might be able to do when it has initial operational capability in the autumn? GENERAL KUJAT: Well, you have seen some national ideas that have been circulated with a certain figure. I'm reluctant to talk about figures because what we want to do is at the beginning of the implementation process we want to have a statement of requirements, so to say a blueprint, a design of the force. And we are... we are not at that point already, but we will be there very soon. This is the major difference compared with other projects in the past, so that this... the NATO Response Force is not driven through the force planning process. It is driven the same way as we prepare operations. So we will start with a statement of requirements, with a design of the forces. And then we can answer the question what will be the overall size so to say. Then we will ask nations to offer units to that force, and we will of course balance the office and the basis of the statement of requirement and then those forces that are offered as (inaudible)... will undergo a certain period of training and equipping. Then they will be certified and after that they will be on call, on call. After a certain period other units will of course go through that process. So that is the intention. The start is a relatively small force. Whatever small is here. I can't tell you. It's somewhere around 20,000, 25,000; not a big force. And then however it goes through... but again this is... there is no justification for the figure. I think the original figure that had been put forward is an idea, let's say an idea. So what we will then do is we will have other units undergoing that process
and in doing so we expand the basis. We raise the quality of all of our
forces, hopefully, over that time. That is, so to say, the tip of the pyramid that is there always available. MODERATOR: Mick(?). Q: When you say the paper has to be presented to ministers, I presume you're talking about defence ministers, not foreign ministers, in June. Does that... I mean, could you present the paper where there are still questions open about which commands are going to close, which ones will stay open? And a related question, I understand that Allied Command transformation is supposed to stand up in the next couple of months. What about Allied... whatever SHAPE is going to be called? I've forgotten now the new name. GENERAL KUJAT: SHAPE will be SHAPE. SHAPE will be SHAPE. Q: (inaudible)... GENERAL KUJAT: No. Q: (inaudible)... GENERAL KUJAT: Well, that's a working terminology. Just to explain the difference between the Strategic Command for operations, so that's the generic title, and the Strategic Command for transportation. No, so what... the plan is, and I don't know, it depends for how we proceed. Once the defence ministers agree on the final structure of the command structure, the command arrangements, then we will very soon have the change of command from the present interim, so to say, commander, from former SHAPE, Deputy SACLANT to the new commander of this transformational command and I have no specific date for the moment, but this is the precondition that we have the decision of the ministers, but once we have that, we will wish to go for that as soon as possible. Q: And the rest of the command structure, that was presented to ministers, I mean, is that going to be a complete proposal, or will there still be question marks? GENERAL KUJAT: Well, of course we always go for complete proposal. If there is still one question open, of course, the document will not be finalized, at that point in time we will then await of course the decision of the ministers before and incorporate that into the document. But normally of course it must... everything must be clear, as the basis for a decision of the ministers. And we are... as far as the concept of this structure is concerned, there are no major problems there. It is revealed at once. Q: So there is agreement on the lower level commands, which ones... which will... (SPEAKERS OVERLAP) GENERAL KUJAT: Of what... Q: ...there will be agreement on which headquarters are going to be closed below the level of the Strategic Commands, or there will be by June? GENERAL KUJAT: Well, first of all, we have... we started with what we call the minimum military requirements. That was a generic description of the new command structure. That has been agreed already in autumn last year. So on that basis we have continued our work and how it translates to say the minimum military requirements into real... into a real structure. That is ready more or less, so there is no dispute for, as far as I see it, as far as the overall concept is concerned. However, there are some minor issues that have not been finalized so far. As far as the transformational command is concerned, the most important thing was, of course, to understand the concept for such a command, the process, and then as a second step, of course, you can then take a decision, how this process would be translated through the structure. And that was a very positive process. I think it was very positive because everybody understands now how transformation works and what you need, what entities you need, what elements you need to translate that into reality. MODERATOR: Do you have further questions? One more? Thank you. Q: Je veut savoir, Général, si vous avez parlé avec les représentants russes sur la retraite de Balkans et quelle est votre opinion sur ce sujet. Merci. GENERAL KUJAT: Well, yes, we have discussed that issue in the NATO-Russia Council of Chiefs of Staff level. What we have done is we have got an information from our Russian colleague, General Kvashnin, has explained the rationale behind that, and of course, what we have more or less then discussed what are... as you know, we are in a very close and very fruitful co-operation in the theatre so for us the main question was, how can we translate the lessons learned from that excellent experience more into practice. That is what we have discussed and that was on the basis of inputs of some nations that participated, and still participate with troops in that operation, and of course on the basis of the information that had been provided by General Kvashnin was a very good discussion. It was future oriented, let me put it this way. MODERATOR: Okay. GENERAL KUJAT: Thank you very much. MODERATOR: Thank you very much. 
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