NATO HQ 13 Apr . 2005

Press point with NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 Multimedia Audio file .MP3/4215Kb JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER (NATO Secretary General): Good morning. May I say that it's a pleasure once again to be here with Prime Minister Buckovski. We were here two months ago and it is good that we have regular contacts and, as two months ago, the Prime Minister is welcome any time at the NATO Headquarters. As you know, this time the Prime Minister addressed the North Atlantic Council; a big number of issues were discussed. Let me first of all restate what I said two months ago, that the progress Macedonia is making in this sphere of defence reform, the progress it is making in the framework of the Membership Action Plan is considerable and we commend and applaud him and his government for that. We also see a continued important participation in the different peacekeeping operations that NATO has embarked upon. Later this year at the end of May there will be a visit by the defence and foreign ministers to further discuss the report on the Membership Action Plan. It's clear that this is an ongoing process, that's not an easy process, that defence reform is not easy and the Prime Minister, being also an expert on defence and expert on many things, knows what I mean when I say that defence restructuring is complicated; fighting corruption is complicated; equal representation is complicated, but there is progress in all these fields. I'll not hide the fact that there was concern raised of course about the irregularities which have occurred in the different rounds of the municipal elections. We all know the OSCE/ODIHR report which was critical and should be critical in the sense that a country aspiring to become a NATO member should have the highest possible standards as far as free and fair elections are concerned. So there is concern, as I already stated publicly, I know on the other hand knowing the reputation of Prime Minister Buckovski that he'll do everything, and that's what he stated in the Council and that's what ambassadors appreciated, he'll do anything to see (a) that this will not reoccur and (b) that the people responsible for these irregularities will be taken of - will be taken to justice, and will realise that this government and this Prime Minister will not tolerate this any longer. And I say again, I know and I'm sure and I'm confident, knowing the reputation of Prime Minister Buckovski, that this is exactly what will happen. Let me finally say about the elections, and that's of course a plus, that if we see the rocky ride the country went through only fairly recently, only fairly recently, that I should end on a very positive note in saying that lots of progress is being made. There is good cooperation in the framework of the Adriatic Council. The role in the region should not be underestimated, we of course discussed the situation in Kosovo and the prospects there as well. So, once again, Prime Minister it's a pleasure to see you here and always welcome. Thank you. VLADO BUCKOVSKI (Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia): (TRANSLATION) Good afternoon. It was a big pleasure of mine that in this capacity I had another opportunity to address my friends from the North Atlantic Council. We had an open and friendly conversation about issues of interest of our NATO partners. Also we discussed about the reforms in defence; the reforms in our political system; in the judiciary system; in the area of organized crime and corruption; but also we discussed our experiences from the recent local elections. We also discussed about the regional cooperation and the open issues we have, especially on the negotiations the status of Kosovo. We also discussed about the open question we had with the disputable constitutional name with Greece, thanks to the Greek Ambassador. I think that Macedonia should not be that much worried that because of bad organized elections in one part of the country it may threaten its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We must understand that the partnership relation means accepting the criticism and finding the way how to solve problems. And I think that, I don't know whether it's because of my reputation as the Secretary General says that I have among the Ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council, but I have the impression that they believe that we can do and solve all the problems in the best possible way. And after this we must continue with a new energy and convince our partners that we deserve an invitation to become a NATO member and if that happens at the end of 2006 that will be great for us. Thank you. (END TRANSLATION) Q (Reuters): A question for the Secretary General. Given your confidence that these irregularities will not reoccur, are we to assume then that what happened last month in the elections will have no implications for Macedonia's ambitions to enter NATO? And a second question, on the name dispute, is the resolution of this dispute a pre-condition for further progress between NATO and Macedonia? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: On your first question, I voiced publicly and I've done this again, my concern; but I immediately add again that I'm confident because what the Prime Minister told me in the conversation we had preceding the Council and what he told ambassadors in the Council, that the irregularities which of course cannot be accepted but I think there we agree will not reoccur. And that, let's say, the road in the framework of the Membership Action Plan, the road to Euro-Atlantic integration can be followed. But I say again, but here we agree, it should of course not be repeated because let me restate, and there also we agree, that a country aspiring a NATO and EU membership of course should apply the highest standards possible as far as elections are concerned. On the issue of the name which is of course not a direct NATO responsibility, I have seen proposals by Mr. Nimitz on behalf of the United Nations. I'll wait for, as the Prime Minister was saying, for the discussions about the name to have a follow-up--I assume that the Nimitz proposals will have a follow-up. In the meantime, NATO will work in the framework of the Membership Action Plan on the Euro-Atlantic ambitions and that process will go on. I hope of course that in the meantime a solution for the discussion around the name will be found. Q (Macedonia National TV): After all this you said, what is the position of NATO after the threats from Greece--one of your members--that would make obstacles on our road to full membership? -because of the name issue. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I am not aware of any Greek threats and we just had a meeting in the North Atlantic Council and as Prime Minister Buckovski was saying there is no question of threats. There is the hope, of course, and I think the Greek government, Prime Minister Buckovski and I share and hope that a solution will be found for the name question. That's crystal clear but in the meantime, as I said, let's say we'll work together on the Euro-Atlantic ambitions. But there are no threats. Q (Agence France Presse): Question for the Secretary General and maybe the Prime Minister can react. You always often say that membership to NATO is a performance based thing; I was wondering is this strategy to have, over the years, a grouped membership of all the Balkan countries or is the strategy going to be a piece by piece membership, Macedonia, Albania- I would like to have clarity on that. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Every country will be judged and as you say, and I could reiterate, that it's a performance based process. Every country will be judged on its individual merits and there is no indication or no ambition to discuss 'groups'. Having said that, I think the A3 (the Adriatic 3) cooperation is important cooperation but despite this very positive framework in the region performance based means that this performance will be judge on each individual country aspiring to become a member. Q: Mr. Scheffer (Inaudible) inspired you to see this proposal of Mr. Nimitz because as we know there were many (inaudible) of them until now. Why do you check this proposal? What was the inspiration for you to see that? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I'm not checking anything Madam. I just answered a question and I know that Mr. Nimitz has done a proposal and I'm happy with the work I have on my plate here as NATO Secretary General which is not, let's say, being an active partner in the discussion around the name. But I hope that a solution will be found but my work as NATO Secretary General keeps me off the streets, so- thank you so much.