Åre, Sweden 25 May 2005

Press conference by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer after the Plenary Meeting of the EAPC Security Forum JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER (Secretary General of NATO): This meeting as you know is one of a kind, is new; what we call a stand-alone meeting in the framework of the EAPC. It's the first ever held in this format. And you know, it's not only ministers, it was not set up to have only ministers, but it was set up to have an open and frank discussion with representatives of the media, of the non governmental organisations, civil society, with academia, on what I would call a wider concept of security which the EAPC should implement. So I mean we have a whole lot of people here now discussing things in the panels. Why do we do this? We do it because we think that security in the Euro-Atlantic region has changed and it is not enough for governments to talk to one another. We have new partners, if we're discussing building security, and we must speak with them and they are here today in Åre. We also need to explain--that goes for NATO, that goes for the EAPC--to explain to our publics, what we do and why we are doing it. And that's another reason for bringing this large group together here yesterday and today in Åre because, for operations in Afghanistan or Kosovo, where not only NATO but many partners actively participate in those operations we need the continued support of our public and parliamentary opinion and that's the reason that you see parliamentarians today participate in our debates. Well, we thought, and I think and the dinner yesterday night has not disappointed me in that respect, and the panels will not disappoint us; that this new format will foster a free-flowing and open discussion. What's on the agenda? Well, of course the Balkans and the situation in Kosovo in particular. It's a critical period, a critical year for Kosovo. You know we'll have the standards evaluation, and there might be status talks at a certain stage. The Caucasus and Central Asia is of course on the agenda. The recent violence in Uzbekistan is on the agenda. You know that NATO has strengthened the call by the United Nations, by the European Union, by the OSCE, that there must be an independent international inquiry in what happened in Andijan and what happened in Uzbekistan. Unfortunately, the Uzbek government decided not to be here today and yesterday. That would have been interesting to have a discussion on 'What does this partnership mean? What does upholding values mean? What does the rule of law mean?' But unfortunately, the government in Tashkent decided not to be here but it goes without saying that the recent violence in Uzbekistan is on the agenda when we discuss Central Asia. The implications of the recent changes in Kyrgyzstan. Another area that affects our security, the Broader Middle East--we need better communication, we need more dialogue also with that region. So even if you will agree with me, or I would agreed with you if you would ask me--that the letters EAPC are not known in every household across Europe and North America it still is a very important partnership. It still is a very important partnership for two reasons. One, as I said, many of NATO's partners are actively participating in operations NATO is leading in many cases under a mandate of the United Nations; and secondly, when you look at security from a wider perspective not just from the perspective of military security, security is foreign policy, security is military policy, yes but also economic, financial policy. Security is also development cooperation. We heard a speech by Mr. Kemal Derviş, who will soon be director of the UNDP, stressing other elements of the wider concept of security. Minister Freivalds, the Swedish foreign minister did it. In other words, it is a discussion between many- we have a number of ministers, we have other interesting people. So I'm quite convinced that we'll have a very interesting day today. You know that this event, the press conference with you is my last event here in Åre because I must catch my plane to travel to Addis Ababa where I hope to arrive tonight for the big conference tomorrow under the auspices of the African Union and very much supported by the United Nations, with the president of the EU, Javier Solana, with the presence of NATO, with the presence of course of the African Union, with the presence of important donor nations. And Darfur shows, and let that be my last line this morning before answering your questions, Darfur shows (a) the need for close cooperation between international organisations that is also an element of what I call modern security; and Darfur shows that the international community is ready to support the African Union--not to come in itself directly--but to support the African Union and NATO is ready and willing to do that as well, to support the African Union, to have their mission in Darfur (AMIS), their monitoring mission. And finally, Darfur is not about international institutions working together, Darfur is not about NATO or the EU or UN or even the African Union, Darfur is about putting an end to the unspeakable suffering of millions of people there, thousands of them dying every month and so I think the conference in Addis comes at a moment where it is really necessary that the international community joins hands to try to put an end to the suffering and support the African Union--they are in the lead--to see that their mission in Darfur can be successful. Let me stop here and I'm ready to take your questions. Q (ITAR-TASS News Agency): Do you consider any role of NATO in future resolving the frozen conflicts in post-Soviet states? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Well you know that not NATO but other international organisations are active in the different frozen conflicts. I can say this because not long ago I have been Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE for one year so I do not see a NATO role in the frozen conflicts you have addressed. I hope that when we talk about Moldova-Transnistria that the OSCE, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, the European Union, will be able to find a solution for this conflict. I hope that the Russian Federation will honour its obligation under its so-called Istanbul Commitments to withdraw the ammunition from Transnistria. I know that the Minsk Group, the parties concerned, are discussing Nagorno-Karabakh, but I do not see a responsibility or a role for NATO there. I know that today, there are important negotiations in Tbilisi between the Russian Federation and the Georgian authorities. It's the reason that Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili cannot be here. On the Russian bases in Georgia, we follow, of course always with great interest, because if you look at Nagorno-Karabakh it is between two of NATO's partner nations in the EAPC, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Moldova is a valued partner of NATO, Georgia is a valued partner of NATO. But if you ask for a direct role of NATO my answer is negative. Q (Swedish television) You said that you want to connect NATO and the EU in a new way. What way do you want to connect those two institutions? Do you want to see some institutional merges or what is it then? Give us examples. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: No, definitely not a merger, be it only for the reason that NATO of course has the unique character that the United States of America and Canada are members and I do not see the US and Canada quickly accede to the European Union, so there will be two different distinct organisations, but- but, there is an increasing overlap. We have seen an enlargement of the European Union last year, we have seen an enlargement of NATO, in other words, there is in the transatlantic relationship of course a permanent discussion in NATO. NATO is the prime forum where the Americans and the Europeans discuss security matters. There is also an important United States-European Union dialogue. Where do these interconnect? There are subjects of common interest. That is the reason that I think, and I've said this many times before, that we should have a strengthened relationship between NATO and the European Union. You know that in Vilnius, at the ministerial meeting we had there a few weeks ago, the idea was brought forward to have information foreign ministers meetings between NATO and the European Union. That certainly is going to happen. But there is so much overlap and there are so many subjects relevant for NATO and relevant for the European Union that we should work closer together. I give you two concrete examples. It is important when we discuss Ukraine that the European Union and NATO give the same kind of political signals. Georgia is in the Partnership for Peace, Georgia has an Individual Partnership Action Plan from NATO, Georgia is an important country for the Neighbourhood Policy of the European Union. Mention the Balkans, where the European Union is very active. Where NATO is still active in the Framework of PfP, three nations have Membership Action Plans, where KFOR is in Kosovo- in other words, so many areas where the responsibilities of NATO and the European Union touch each other that I'm not looking for all kinds of new institutional structures because they are there. But what I'm aiming for, and that was what Chancellor Schröder meant in the speech in Munich in January, we should identify and we should do that better than we have done up to now, the common challenges and the common subjects, we should discuss. Q (Georgian television): The Georgian government did everything to become a member of NATO. And so when will NATO invite Georgia to this organisation? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I can honestly answer that question that I do not know but I'll give you more than that. The NATO membership, and the road to NATO membership, is and I'm now literally quoting President Bush from what he said on the NATO Summit on the 22nd of February in Brussels- it's performance-based. It's performance-based so it depends on the country concerned, in your case Georgia because you're asking me about Georgia, what the trajectory will be. I just had- we just had important political discussions with the Georgian ministers--Minister Zourabichvili, the Defence Minister- Minister Baramidze who is here today--on the way Georgia is moving to implement the Individual Partnership Action Plan. What will follow and when it will follow I do not know. I'm very much aware of the path the Georgian government wants to follow. NATO will assist and NATO will help as we are doing in the Individual Partnership Action Plan of Georgia to follow that road but when and where I cannot possibly say because it's performance-based. Q (German television): Is NATO still trying to get in contact, to communicate with the government in Uzbekistan? What are the latest news on that contacts? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Not much I'm afraid, because it is not easy to get in touch with the Uzbek government and as you know, unfortunately, there has been no reaction whatsoever--apart from a negative one--on the, let's say, worldwide drive to have this independent inquiry into what happened in Andijan. NATO has postponed, in the Framework of the Partnership for Peace, two seminars which were going to held in Tashkent, and you have, I'm convinced, read the statement the North Atlantic Council has issued yesterday joining the chorus, the international chorus, of criticism and the call for an independent inquiry. But I'm afraid that, apart from this, I cannot tell you much more today. Q (German News Agency DPA): Uzbekistan's neighbours have been very silent about the recent bloodshed and violence. I was wondering, are you putting any pressure on the Central Asian partners you have to condemn the violence and to join this international chorus of condemnation that you talked about? Thank you. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: NATO is not putting pressure on partners but as I said in my speech this morning, and as I said by the way in my introductory remarks before the dinner last night, it is crystal clear--it should be crystal clear and is crystal clear--that the NATO partnerships are about values. If you look at the founding documents of the EAPC, you will of course see the strong references to the elements you are mentioning so it goes without saying that this partnership is not just, let's say, about forms of political or other forms of cooperation but is very much about upholding human values and that's the reason that I'm so deeply disturbed about what happens in Uzbekistan. Q (News Egyptian television): Mr. Secretary General, NAC yesterday decided to give assistance to the African Union in Darfur, I'm wondering can you give us exactly what have you decided to do and how are you going to accord NATO with the European Union in this mission? Thank you very much. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I cannot tell you yet exactly what we are going to do. What the North Atlantic Council decided yesterday was that they reacted positively to, what we call in our NATO jargon, initial military advice on what could be done to answer the requests from President Konaré, the president of the Commission of the African Union who came to NATO as you know two weeks ago, for NATO to assist the African Union. That answer of the North Atlantic Council yesterday was a positive one so, I mean, I can say NATO will support the African Union. How exactly? It's a bit early to say but I've mentioned the elements. That could be and I expect will certainly be airlift. There are many- you know the African Union wants to expand AMIS in Darfur and they need aircraft to transport their troops. NATO might well be active there. NATO might well be active in other fields, but I say again to avoid any misunderstanding, in supporting the African Union NATO is not going to run any mission. NATO is supporting the African Union, they are in the lead. That is the EU's position, that is the position of the UN of Kofi Annan and that is NATO's position as well. We will do it of course in close consultation and harmony with the UN, and more specifically also with the European Union--that was your question. Not for nothing, Javier Solana and I will both be in Addis Ababa tomorrow. We'll certainly speak about this. I was present two days ago at an informal meeting of EU defence ministers. It's another example of, let's say, the practical cooperation which your Swedish colleague asked about between NATO and the European Union. I mean it would be absurd, I think, there's no other word than absurd, if you would see any form of competition between international organisations when the African Union tries to alleviate the unspeakable suffering of the people in Darfur and international organisations are going to assist them. In brief, NATO will help. NATO will do it in close consultation with the European Union and coordination with the European Union, with the United Nations and first and foremost with the African Union. What is important, let me add a political notion--all is important of course--is that, and that is not NATO's role and not NATO's responsibility, is that the Government of Sudan will give the green light to the African Union. I mean there's no direct relationship between NATO and the government in Khartoum and we are not going to establish one. I know the government from previous incarnations as a former Dutch foreign minister, but not as a NATO Secretary General, I hope that the government in Khartoum will give the green light if NATO and the European Union are going to assist the African Union and since you're coming from Egypt, if I'm well informed, it will be I think of the utmost importance and they'll be there that the neighbouring countries and also the Arab world fully- get its support fully behind what the European Union and NATO and the United Nations are going to do to alleviate the suffering of the people in Darfur stressing again that we are not going to impose ourselves. The only thing we are going to do is assisting and helping the African Union. Q (Russian Information Company (inaudible)): Good morning. um, I'm sorry- DE HOOP SCHEFFER: You think and I need time to think as well... Q: I wanted to ask the question, since the political component of NATO is going to be strengthened, will that in any way influence the future relations of the Alliance in Belarus and will also the attitude of NATO as a political organisation be made clear? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Well you're right in saying that, I think and I'm not the only one, NATO thinks this was a clear conclusion of the NATO Summit in February in Brussels that, I mean- military transformation and political transformation do go hand in hand. NATO is a political military organisation, you are a military organisation to achieve political ends, and NATO is enhancing the political debate, and NATO is building wider partnerships. I'm looking- your Egyptian colleague in the face, I mean what is very important at the moment is to build stronger relationships in the Framework of NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue, with the countries of North Africa, with Israel and Jordan, with the countries of the Broader Middle East--and that also goes for NATO's partners. And you will know, as I do, that not much is happening and going on in the NATO-Belarus relationship for reasons we all know and that is the nature of Belarus and the nature of the regime in Belarus. Well, I mean, I do not see many things changing in the NATO-Belarusian relationship as long as nothing happens in Belarus. Q (Bulgaria News Agency - Focus(sp?)): Could you tell me please what is the future of Kosovo and what will be the role of NATO after the defining(?) of final status of the province? Thank you. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I would overstep my mandate if I would answer your question on the future of Kosovo because I can't and it's not NATO's competence. You know, standards evaluation will be happening soon, on the basis of the evaluation of the standards, we might see the beginning of the status talks but that's not up to NATO. What NATO is doing by having KFOR in Kosovo, NATO is trying to create the security and stability in Kosovo necessary for these talks to be held and KFOR will keep its operational capability because Kosovo is entering a very important and crucial political period. That is what not only NATO does you know that in KFOR many of NATO's partners cooperate. I was just in Pristina ten days ago and I've seen with my own eyes again what an important role NATO partners play in KFOR, in Kosovo. So NATO's role as it is, for instance in Afghanistan, is creating conditions for a political process to be able to take place. And that is what will NATO- what NATO will go on doing and what the future will bring for Kosovo I do not know. It will depend largely on standards evaluation and then on the possible start of status talks. For the moment, NATO is there, KFOR is there, the partners are there, and we'll stay there because security and stability in Kosovo are of great importance. Q (BBC Radio from Uzbekistan): Mr. Secretary General, my question is about Uzbekistan. How are you going to reconsider your relationship with Uzbekistan in case of further disregards such as declining international investigation? What's your opinion? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: In a long political career, and now as Secretary General of NATO, I have learned not to answer 'iffy' questions and I'll not answer the 'if' question now. What I do answer and what I do say is that the government in Uzbekistan, President Karimov, and I've met him a few times as NATO Secretary General but also as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, really should accept the international inquiry in what happened. That's what the government of Uzbekistan should do. I think they owe that to the international community and I'll keep stressing that the EAPC, a partnership, is about upholding values. I'm not to answer questions what happens 'if', I answered your German colleague I think it was already, that it is not so easy at all to be in touch with President Karimov and his government. We'll have to put up the pressure, that's what we'll have to do now and that's what we're going to do now. Q (Swedish television): Mr. Secretary General, I think you- launched(?) some idea of a new NATO today with social, economic and democratic aspects not only military and I think that's what European members had said towards the United States for a long time. What you outlined, is that corresponding to US thoughts too because what you said seems very European? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I have never hidden the fact that as a NATO Secretary General of course I am an Atlanticist at heart. I think that, as I said a moment ago, the unique character of NATO is that the United States of America and Canada are members. And I do not see, if I look at the present threats and challenges in this world, that we can find solutions without the active participation of the United States--that's an impossibility in my opinion. Having said that, I am also European and I think it's in the interest of NATO that NATO and the European Union work closely together. I think it's in the interest of NATO that the European Union develops its security and defence identity--definitely. I've said that many times before, I repeat that here. What I said this morning, what I did this morning was not create a new NATO because I also said in the discussion that NATO is not an eat-all or a hold-all, NATO is not the world's policeman. NATO is a political military organisation. What I tried to say is that the modern concept of security is much more than military security alone. But don't misunderstand me that I'm advocating a NATO which should develop, I think I said this as well this morning, which should develop into a sort of United Nations or European Union--no. NATO will keep its unique character and NATO's unique character is the unique transatlantic link which has existed since 1949 now and which will not cease to exist. NATO's unique character is having the United States and Canada on board and that will not change. That will stay the same. But, the security challenges are fundamentally changing and they require new answers also from NATO. Who would have dreamt to say six years ago that NATO would be in Afghanistan? Would you have dared to predict a month ago that NATO might assist the African Union in Darfur? I would not have dared to say that although I made some public comments on that and some people said, 'Is the man not going a bit off the rails, off the tracks here because he mentions Darfur and Africa?' See what's going to happen. We are going to support the African Union. In other words, and here you have another strong argument and NATO and the European Union working together, the new threats and challenges demand completely different answers, provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan, NATO and Afghanistan defending values at the Hindu Kush. Who would have dared to predict this five years ago? NATO building bonds in the Middle East. In other words NATO will be NATO always, but NATO is transforming militarily because you need another kind of military structure not big territorial armies but, Minister Freivalds said it this morning, you have to be able to react quickly; and I said in my speech and I repeat here again, it's not only about nation building, it's also when and if necessary about fighting, defending values militarily. That's perhaps a less nicer part of the story but NATO is also very much a military organisation which can fight for values as we have shown in the past and will show again if necessary. But the new security challenges demand new answers, and what I've tried to do this morning and I found an interesting echo in Minister Freivalds' speech and in what Kemal Derviş was saying, that these new challenges demand new answers but NATO will be NATO, the UN will be the UN, the OSCE will be the OSCE and the EU will be the EU but there is much more room for cooperation and collaboration. Q (Azerbaijan television): Mr. Scheffer, are you discussing for nearest future that there are plans to put NATO's military forces in Azerbaijan for securing Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline or Caspian Sea? Thank you. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: No, I do not. I may congratulate the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey with the opening today of the BTC pipeline. I think it's an important development but NATO will not play a role in this respect.