Madrid, Spain 3 June 2003 .MP3/6124Kb

Press Conference by NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, EU Presidency and Javier Solana, EU High Representative following the NATO-EU Meeting Lord Robertson: We've had a very useful discussion this afternoon reflecting the considerable progress made by NATO and the European Union in developing the strategic partnership that was laid down by the European Council in Nice. That partnership is built on practical co-operation, especially in the Balkans, but of course the scope of our strategic partnership is by no means limited simply to crisis management and simply to the Balkans. But we have completed the "Berlin Plus" arrangements, we've signed a security agreement between the two organizations and meetings like today are designed to illustrate the transparency and the openness and the connectivity between the two organizations. We are partners, not competitors and together we achieve real added value in the field of security, nation-building and in developing security and stability in many areas. One of the key messages that came out of today was the fact that by working together NATO and the European Union achieve considerable amounts, but that duplication would be the enemy of our joint project. The spirit, therefore, was excellent today between the ministers representing the NATO countries, not all of whom are in the European Union, and of the European Union, not all of whom are in NATO. Javier Solana outlined for the meeting the background to the involvement in the Congo. The transparency of the approach, the openness with which the briefing was given was warmly welcomed by NATO ministers in this forum today. And everybody in the room wishes those who have taken on this humanitarian effort good will and success because it's a deeply necessary humanitarian move. And of course, it's an area where ministers in the meeting made it clear that NATO would not want to be engaged. The final point that I would say of common concern and common interest and common agreement is that we have still, both organizations, to build up the capabilities that will allow our reaction forces to be developed in the way we want them, to do the sort of things that will be necessary. All of us need to produce those capabilities, and we need to do it together to make sure that the money spent is not wasted on duplicating or rivalling the capabilities, initiatives on either side. The world needs those capabilities. We should do it together. We now turn to Minister George Papandreou who is in the presidency of the European Union at this moment. George Papandreou: Thank you very much. Let me thank the Spanish government for hosting this meeting. I also would agree with the Secretary General on the climate of the outcome of today's meetings. Very constructive, very productive. We have a partnership and we have shown this partnership in the Balkans and this is, I think, one thing which we highlighted and we were able as a presidency to discuss and inform our partners in NATO also of the priorities we have in the Thessaloniki Summit in helping this region become, not only part of Europe, but also further steps in stabilizing the democratic institutions and peace amongst ourselves in that region. We have taken important steps also in the area of capabilities. The Capabilities Development Mechanism of the European Union is now in place and the EU-NATO Capabilities Group is functional. We, and Javier also, were able to inform our partners in NATO of the idea of the European Strategic Concept, which will be discussed again in this summit in Thessaloniki. An important concept which will allow us to think in a much more deep and consistent manner from the European Union side on many of the new threats that we are facing and how we deal with them, what our tools are, what we contribute and this, I think, also will be important in our dialogue with NATO, but also in our transatlantic relationship. Finally, I just want to say it is our joint responsibility to develop a global consciousness of what global security means in this world today. But I'd like to thank the Secretary General and Javier for the work we have done together, during our presidency. We are coming to the end of our Greek presidency, but in the area of the CFSP and ESDP it's been almost a year and we had a very important decision in December, "Berlin Plus" and we worked very well to see not only EU capabilities, but also former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, very important beginning, and in Bosnia, and now possibly Congo. And of course the summit in Thessaloniki. Sure. Thank you very much. Javier Solana: Let me, very briefly, I'd like to underline of the meeting of today once again, the level of transparency and of co-operation that exists between the two organizations, the European Union and NATO, NATO and the European Union. Today we have gone through the levels of co-operation, particularly on the Balkans, where you know we are co-operating today. We will continue co-operating in the future, and we have been co-operating in the past. And second, on the question of capabilities, as Secretary Robertson has said, we are very, very interested in having a scheme of capabilities which without meaning duplication, it could be used by both organizations in a very useful manner. And thirdly, as has been said, is planned, in this mood of transparency, this spirit of transparency, the possibility of the operation in the Ituri, in Congo, that the European Union is going to take as a responsibility for a European Union-led operation following the demand of the Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan and the resolution of the UN Security Council approved Friday, the Resolution 1484. Tomorrow morning we will discuss the possibility of finalizing the last details. We have been working the last days, during the weekend, and we hope very much that we will be able to do it rapidly and efficiently. As Lord Robertson has said, it's not a simple operation. It's an operation which is difficult, but it has very, very fundamental humanitarian component. And I feel the European Union, with all the element that it has, not only the military ones, but the others, we will try to do the utmost by tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow, we'll be in a position to tell you the dates at which we will be able to begin deployment etc. France will take the leading role in this operation. And after that, after we take that decision, I will take off again to the Balkans to continue preparing what Mr. Papandreou has said, the very, very important summit that will take place in Thessaloniki, that will be without any doubt the moment of truth of the relation between the European Union and the Balkan countries. How we're going to make them closer and closer to the European Union at the same time that they continue their process of reforms, which are as necessary as the proximity to the European Union. Thank you very much. Questions and answers Q: The United States expressed this morning that some concern about the EU's intention to take over the Bosnia mission in the middle of 2004 and said that it's too early to consider that. Is that the general view of all in the Alliance? Lord Robertson: Well what has been said is that we need to have a discussion inside NATO about the stabilization force in Bosnia before we can consider issues of whether it be handed over. But we do our own reviews. Those reviews are being conducted at the present moment, and I don't anticipate any great delay in this particular matter. NATO's got quite a lot on its plate. The European Union has just now taken on something very substantial on its plate, and I think that we need to take a long hard look at what would be a much more complicated operation than the one we're doing in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia before we actually move towards it, but there's still plenty of time available to do that. Q: Une question en français pour M. Solana. Je voudrais revenir sur cette question de la Bosnie. Les interlocuteurs américains que nous avons rencontrés aujourd'hui nous ont clairement dit que pour l'Administration américaine il était tout-à-fait prématuré de parler d'une possible opération européenne pour remplacer l'OTAN en Bosnie. Ce qui semble vouloir dire, que le vœu des Européens de remplir cette opération à la mi 2004 ne pourra être déçu. Est-ce que vous-même vous êtes déçu? Est-ce que vous pensez que les Européens doivent en quelque sorte retarder cette opération? Et d'autre part, à propos du Congo, est-ce que c'est pour vous la preuve, la première preuve de la maturité de la défense européenne dans la mesure où cette opération se fera sans l'aide de l'OTAN? Javier Solana: Merci. Est-ce que je peux commencer par la deuxième partie de la question? Oui, je pense que l'opération qui sera menée par l'Union, au Congo, à Ituri montre les capacités de l'Union. C'est une opération menée par l'Union seule; sans la coopération avec l'OTAN. Nous avons discuté aujourd'hui, et l'OTAN comme telle a décidé de ne pas participer. Donc nous serons capables de faire l'opération seul. Il sera une opération difficile, mais une opération avec les contenus humanitaires très très très forts. La France sera sans doute le pays leader si je peux dire... mais avec la coopération de tous les pays de l'Union. Vis-à-vis de la première partie de la question. Je dirais que comme le Secrétaire général, Lord Robertson a dit, la discussion continue. Il n'y a pas de décision prise et je crois qu'il faut attendre pour voir comment la diminution des forces en Bosnie, les numéros de force en Bosnie sera nécessaire dans les prochains mois, vis-à-vis 2004. Et l'analyse pour savoir exactement qui pouvait étrenner la force... l'organisation responsable, il faut attendre. Mais nous sommes prêts, comme nous l'avons dit il y a quelques conseils européens... Nous serons prêts à accepter la discussion et les résultats de la discussion entre nous et l'OTAN. Donc, il n'y a pas de question d'être déçu maintenant. Nous continuons la discussion et nous sommes sûrs qu'à la fin il y aura des décisions constructives, positives pour tout le monde, en particulier pour les hommes et les femmes de la Bosnie. George Papandreou: I just wanted to say that from the member states there is a general willingness to be involved in taking over the Bosnian operation, but the question that has been put on the table and by some of our allies, and particularly the United States, is the question of preparedness in time and this is one which is a valid issue to be discussed. It's not a difference in principle, as I understand the position. And this is an issue which we obviously have to discuss and work through. And I also agree that ESDP, it is a very major challenge in Congo, but we're confident in the work we can do. Lord Robertson: And I think from the NATO and the EU point of view, the priority in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the interests of that country and the people in that country. And it would be irresponsible not to take the time and order to examine all of the factors that apply there, and all of the complexities that apply there before any final decisions were taken. But the original targets need not be impossible.