NATO HQ 22 March 2006

Press Point by the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia(1), Vlado Buckovski and NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER (NATO Secretary General): Thank you very much. Let me first say it's good to see the state of our relationship that the Prime Minister hand me a book with caricatures including my own, coming from the Atlantic Treaty Association. So it's good that you to have these personal exchanges. Having said that, let me say that I'm very happy to reach once again the Macedonian Prime Minister Bučkovski, a regular visitor to NATO as he said himself and as I can confirm and that's a good thing. Because it is a good thing, given the aspirations that the North Atlantic Council and the Prime Minister have the opportunity and that I have the opportunity exchange views with the Prime Minister on a regular basis. And if I look at where we are at the moment, then I can tell you that this morning, in the North Atlantic Council, and just a moment ago when we had our bilateral meeting, there was definitely applause for what has been done in the framework of reform. I think much progress has been made. And I say again, I commend the Prime Minister and the government for that. Key, of course here, is implementation. That is crystal clear. And if we discuss police reform, equal representation, judicial reform, legal reform, there is still a lot to be implemented. But I do know that the government is very serious about this because it is implementation which is key and not just passing laws. Having said that, there is a second very important element which was raised in Council this morning. I'm in fact the author of a joke I made in Washington, yesterday, or the day before, by saying and of course the Prime Minister confronted me, in all friendliness, with this joke. I said what would be nice and what is essential is that the upcoming elections would be 110% free and fair. And in that morning, the Prime Minister said: "Secretary General, you're asking miracles." But I accept the miracle. In saying that, Prime Minister Bučkovski in accepting the miracle showed that he's extremely serious, that he realizes that these upcoming elections, indeed, are very important and never to be underestimated late missed test in this whole process. Because if we talk about reform, if we talk about a performance based process then this is of course key apart from the other elements I have mentioned already. And that's the background of my 110%; the 10% can be the most tasty and the nicest 10 of the 110. Once again, I say in all earnesty (sic) and also honesty that it is good to have the Prime Minister in our midst; it was good to exchange views on the state of play. We also discussed in Council this morning and in our bilateral the region and regional developments; the Prime Minister, of course, being very much involved in the regional aspects as well, relevant for NATO and for NATO policy vis-à-vis the Western Balkans. In other words, we had... and we have a full plate. It gives me great pleasure, Prime Minister, to greet you here again. We'll certainly stay in touch. And let me finish by saying that it goes without saying, in fact, that in the reform process, NATO is there to assist. And NATO will assist when called upon. You know, we have our headquarters in Skopje. And the NATO will stay there as long as that is necessary. Prime Minister, welcome. VLADO BUČKOVSKI (Prime Minister of Macedonia): Thank you, Secretary General. (SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE). (INTERPRETATION) It was a great pleasure for me, today, to be the guest of the Secretary General of NATO and our friends from the North Atlantic Council. I had a very pleasant atmosphere. And I felt myself proudly to hear all the compliments for everything Macedonia did in the past period. The Republic of Macedonia is a small miracle of this turbulent Balkans and especially in the forthcoming period of the referendum in Montenegro, the solving of the final status of Kosovo and the redefinition of the constitutional statutes of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia has to be made out in order to present an example for stability (...) And this part of the joke for 110% of fair elections, is just reflecting the level of confidence between NATO and Republic of Macedonia. (...) And this was a very friendly advice and not only addressed to me but ... to all the political parties in Macedonia and to all the citizens. And we have such a chance with such a partner, we should not miss it and organize fair elections. (...) And I also would like to express my satisfaction for receiving the first round of information for everything that is going to happen at the Riga Summit that will be something that happened previously to the Summit in 2001 when the Republic of Macedonia, I expect, will deserve the membership. (END OF INTERPRETATION) Invitation for all members in 2008. VLADO BUČKOVSKI: First question. Q: Macedonia Public TV in Albanian. The first question for the Secretary General. Secretary General, you say that a lot should be done for Macedonia in some issues. Did you put clue ... clear to the Macedonians, to the Prime Minister that just in the moment Macedonia will fully comply with the standards, so in these issues, organized crime, security, capacity building and all this, just in this moment, just at this moment, you will send the invitation for the membership? And how long could it be? Thank you. And the second question for the Prime Minister. Are you satisfied with the clarification of Albanian foreign minister on his statement on Kosovo? Thank you. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: That's a very intelligent question and a good question as well. But I'm afraid you know more or less what answer I'm going to give. And I gave it, in fact, in my introduction. And that's relevant for all aspirant nations. And that this reform is a process, that there are a number of criteria. And I have mentioned and you have mentioned a number of them which should be fulfilled. And that's the decision-making process is not event-based, but is performance-based. So I continue by saying and it might be disappointing. But this is the way things are that I can't possibly not give timelines or dates or months or summits or whatever gatherings when it will happen. At a certain stage... at a certain stage, the Allies will make a decision. But do no link that to the fact that NATO will have a summit... or summits. It's performance-based. This Prime Minister and the other Prime Minister fully realize that it is performance-based. We have no difference of opinion there. If not, so much wouldn't have been done. So I mean, unfortunately, and that's why I'm glad that you controlled the question. But I've my answers: I cannot give you dates and months and timelines. BUČKOVSKI: It was counterproductive statement. We're trying, in the region, to promote the different climate of understanding and friendship. And one of the basic principle after the Karl Eide Report about eventual final status of Kosovo, basic principles, no changes of border. If Kosovars would like to be independent country, by my opinion today, Kosovo, this country with status, candidate country for independent country, it means any kind of statement like this metaphor of the foreign minister is counterproductive for Kosovars. MODERATOR: Mark? Q: Mark John from Reuters, if I can ask the Secretary General about another subject. We understand that you spoke to President Karzai today about the threat of a dead penalty over a Muslim convert to Christianity in Afghanistan. Can you tell what your message was and what implications for NATO's presence in Afghanistan any execution of this death penalty would have? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I will speak to President Karzai later this afternoon. I've not yet spoken to him. But I will speak to him. He's travelling at the moment. My message will be that if I take as a point of departure the values NATO stands for and the values NATO is defending also, everywhere but also in Afghanistan, then I would think and I say this, of course, in respect for the Afghan constitution that I think and I would hope and I would also insist that if somebody converts from Islam into Christianity would not have, on the basis of that step he took in his personal life, face the law. That would be my message to President Karzai. And I will make an appeal to him and hope and also expect, quite honestly, that he will agree with me. Q: (INAUDIBLE) DE HOOP SCHEFFER: There are no implications for NATO's presence. That's not the relationship I have with President Karzai or NATO has with Afghanistan. I will deliver the message as I just indicated. MODERATOR: Question here. Q: (INAUDIBLE)... Question to the Mister Secretary General. You said that you don't have a date or months for the invitation of membership of NATO. In this case, would you like tell us a message in the Summit of Riga for us? DE HOOP SCHEFFER: You can be sure that the Riga Summit will discuss elements related to the enlargement discussion of NATO. That is a fact. What and how that discussion will result and if it will result and if it results, what the language be on enlargement, it's too early to tell. But you must realize, and that's what I discussed as well with the Prime Minister that Riga is not an enlargement summit. Q: Secretary General, slightly different topic. You will be meeting Prime Minister of Kosovo this afternoon if I can check on. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Yes. Q: If you can tell us in advance what are your expectations from the new government or your messages to Prime Minister Ceku and to Macedonian that the region is facing itself this year with two new countries to be. Does independence of Kosovo pose a threat to Macedonia? And your point of view. And what would be Macedonian approach towards a referendum in Montenegro on independence? SCHEFFER: Let me give priority to the Prime Minister this time, then I can think. BUČKOVSKI: Ok, I got a conversation with your new Prime Minister and we're talking about our further cooperation. We will continue to build a confidence between Skopje and Priština and to send a positive signal to Kosovo citizens. The Kosovo citizens will in the phase for independent country by my opinion to the end of this year. But everything will be out of Macedonia. Macedonia will be constructive and continue with the international country, is ready to send a positive signal to disseminate our positive experience about implementation of a framework of agreement. For us, it's very important: Kosovo to produce stability. If Kosovo will be stable, for Macedonia, it will best guarantee that we will be a strong region, like a potential region for new foreign investors. It is the same messages to see business in Montenegro. We will respect any decision in the referendum in Montenegro. It's maybe unreasonable. We're dreaming for imperative process like NATO and you. But still, in our region, exists the process of disintegration. SCHEFFER: My central message to Prime Minister Ceku who I'll meet for the first time will be: implement standards... implement standards, make serious work of implementing standards. That is my key message. And that's an important one because I think more should be done and more can be done and more must be done in implementing standards. Q: I have a question for Prime Minister Bučkovski. Did you discuss Afghanistan and the possible better security for Macedonian citizens who will be engaged in any way, helping or rebuilding of Afghanistan, having in mind the latest casualties there? And for Secretary General, do you still think that the best idea will be to invite all three Adriatic Charter countries together to join NATO even though that you insist that it is individual based process? MODERATOR: Thank you. BUČKOVSKI: Through our minister of Foreign Affairs, we sent a signal to all of our citizens how dangerous a place work is in Afghanistan and Iraq. And during our negotiation in NACA (?) and today in the office of Secretary General, the murder of our four workers was not in our agenda. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Although, of course, condolences were spoken this morning in Council. Let me add now that you're raising this subject, on the same subject on this tragic death shows on the other hand as been shown over the past is that we see here a NATO aspirant already being... not only being a consumer but also a producer, helping NATO to produce stability, to project stability as we always say. And I didn't mention that in my introductory words. And I think I should make up for that because that's very important indeed. Now on your first question. You started the wrong way. Because you said "Secretary General, do you still think" and then came the question about the three... or not the three... The NATO enlargement process is... I'm still not thinking anything. But nevertheless I'll give you an answer. The process is of course on an individual basis. You can't have performance-based process and then say we'll take A and B or A, B, C, D and E or only A and E. So that has not changed. And that will be... that will be the case. At a certain stage, the Allies will take a political decision. But as a Secretary General, I should keep the number of miles between what I say and what the Council finally decides as limited as possible. That's good for my health and for the health of the Alliance. MODERATOR: Last question. Q: I have a same question for Mister Secretary General and the Prime Minister. Have you both discussed a small village called Kondovo where usually incidents happen when the political parties are preparing for election campaign? And has Mister Prime Minister explained to Secretary General what happened there and eventually will give the assurance that these kinds of incidents will not destabilise the fragile ethnic relations. BUČKOVSKI: Kondovo is not part of our agenda. Our rule is for basic principle and we're trying to all territory of Macedonia to implement rule of law. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I have nothing to add to what the Prime Minister has said. Q: Thank you very much. DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Thank you very much. 1.Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.