NATO HQ Brussels 11 May 2006

Speech Press Conference by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at Pristina aiport JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER (NATO Secretary General): Good afternoon to all of you. As you know the 26 ambassadors under my chairmanship of the North Atlantic Council are still in Kosovo today. Why? First of all to show once again that NATO takes KFOR very seriously, that KFOR is here to stay in the importan NATO assists Moldova to deal with dangerous chemicals t period Kosovo is going through with the Status Talks underway, that KFOR is here for every single Kosovar, majority and minority alike, that KFOR is here to show respect for religious freedom. I was in Dečani not that long ago at the monastery. And they asked me, Secretary General, why are you here? And I answered to show that religious freedom and the protection of patronial sites and monasteries and churches and religious freedom is one of the basic values of any democratic multiethnic society. And now back to the status process and back to KFOR making it possible for that status process to take place in a secure and stable environment: about 17,000 strong to see that this climate is created. I think you know our program, the program of the Ambassadors and myself. We met this morning with the President, the Prime Minister, with representatives of the Serb community. There were representatives from the Turkish community. Over lunch we spoke with Søren Jessen-Petersen, the SRSG to show that NATO cares, to show that NATO is interested, also to tell that NATO, of course, fully supports the process under the leadership of President Ahtisaari, the so-called Status Talks; that NATO is very much attached to the guiding principals guiding that process; that NATO realizes and that everybody should realize that such a status process can only come and can only be successful with compromise; that everybody has to compromise, be it a majority, be it a minority, to tell that standards implementation is of great importance where we have seen progress but we are not there yet; that the participation by the Kosovar Serbs in the institutions is of great importance that they participate so that they can tell what they want, what their priorities are. That is the basis of this visit. Before long, President Ahtisaari will come to Brussels to brief the North Atlantic Council. For us and for me it was an update. It was good to be here in Pristina to hear about the situation but also of course to give messages: the message of the importance of decentralization. I mentioned already the message of the standards. KFOR, as you know, is almost ready now in finalizing its restructuring to make it even more efficient, to make even more effective. And General Valotto, the commander of KFOR, and let me, General, tell you how much we respect the work you and your KFOR men and women are doing. I think the importance of your job and your work cannot be underestimated. And I say again: KFOR is impartial. You know the past, majority, minority. And their representatives will have to compromise. That is the way. And it is also important that the authorities in Belgrade see to it that the Kosovar Serbs are stimulated to participate in the institutions here. They also, Belgrade also, of course, has an important role to play so that we can see to it that at a certain stage, I hope, the status talks will result in a situation where there is not hope and expection for one and frustration for the other. But that everybody can have expectation and that everybody can have hope. And then I know as well that the international community will stay interested in Kosovo as the international community is now interested in Kosovo. So finally everybody has to compromise. KFOR will do his job. Let the majority and the minority alike realize that compromise has to be struck and that they have to do to make it happen, they have to make it happen. The international community can support that process and will lead that process. And we support that process and we support the principles guiding and founding that process. That is what I have to tell you, here and now, I'm open to your questions. Q: Associated Press. how much can you synchronize their actions, NATO actions with situations that might arise in UN troops (INAUDIBLE) changing your culture and politics? Could it be to react to the result of the talks that are going out in Vienna ? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Let us distinguish between the importance of the here and now. In my introductory remarks, I have focussed on the here and now, because we are living in the here and now. And in the here and now things have to be done, not in the first place by the international community but by the parties and the groups involved. Of course, I hope, as I said that there is an "after here and now". NATO and you see ambassador, sitting here in the front you, NATO is of course connected to and involved in the process of the Contact Group, following that very closely when the Contact Group last met at the political level in London in February. I was there representing NATO with all the other members and institutions represented in the Contact Group. You cannot say that the international community here and now is already in a position to be fully synchronized with each other. But that would mean that we forget about the "here and now". We can, of course... we're thinking about the future. Of course, we do. It's first responsibility I say again from the parties. And of course there will be a role for the international community at a certain stage. But let's not mix the "here and now" with the future. Because the political process is taking place here and now, NATO is involved. How is NATO involved? NATO is involved with KFOR. And at the end of the road - and I hope that the end of the road will come to the satisfaction of everybody - there are of course a number of political questions that will have to be answered then about the role of the internation community. But let's distinguish that of course I'm in touch and we spoke to the United Nations this morning to Søren Jessen-Petersen. I see Javier Solana on a very regular basis. Of course, there are contexts. But do not think that we can replace the "here and now" by the future if you see what I mean because that would be wrong. Q: Were you warned today while you had no fixed vision as far as (INAUDIBLE) leaders about the possible destabilization on the situation in Kosovo while the final phase is passed or going to be? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Could you come again, please, what is exactly you are referring to? Q: During the meeting that you had today.... JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Yes. Q: ... the leaders of the Kosovar institutions did they give you any suspicion or warning that the situation in Kosovo might escalate while the Status Talks are ongoing in Vienna ? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: No, they did not. And I can tell you as far as the security situation is concerned I refer again to KFOR being here, doing its utmost, being efficient and effective in giving the message that anybody that would like to spoil the process or harm the process will be dealt with by KFOR. I mean we're not here for nothing. As I said already in interviews before, spoilers of the process should reckon with the fact that KFOR is here and that KFOR is not here for nothing. KFOR is here to see that this process can proceed. And it's a difficult process, absolutely, I agree with you. It's a very difficult process. Compromise is always difficult but KFOR is here. MODERATOR: (INAUDIBLE) Press. One question here, yes. Q: (INAUDIBLE) Secretary General, on political view of NATO when you had a partisan (?) party about the (INAUDIBLE). How do you estimate the so-far talks and how much NATO can be satisfied with the responses? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I cannot possibly give you an estimation of the talks because it is up to President Ahtisaari and his team to lead those talks. And if all kinds of people and NATO Secretary General or leaders of other international organizations are going to give their estimate, I would infringe on not only of the competence of President Ahtisaari who is doing that for himself but with a mandate he has got from the Secretary General of the United Nations. So I can't give you an estimate. Ahtisaari is leading. It's up to the parties and up to President Ahtisaari to see what the result of those talks will be. NATO is here. KFOR is here to facilitate that process in the framework of creating on the ground here a situation of security and stability showing spoilers or potential spoilers that they will have a chance... that they will not have a chance. And if they might think they have a chance, they'll be dealt with. But we should President Ahtisaari and his team lead... let lead to the process and I would make... I would overstep my mandate to a large extent if I would you give an estimation. So I won't do that. Q: (INAUDIBLE) JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Yes. Q: (INAUDIBLE) Newspaper. Can you hear me? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: I can hear you. And I know about (INAUDIBLE). Q: You mentioned in several occasions the word "compromise", could you be more specific when you're calling on all sides to compromise? On what they should really compromise? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: You have found an intelligent way of asking the same question as your colleague. I'm not going to give the compromise because I am not negotiating... I am not negotiating. But I have mentioned in my introduction a few elements which everybody knows in this room are very important: decentralization is important; the participation of the Kosavar Serbs in the institution is important; standard of implementation is important. I have given you a number of elements. But finally the process led by Ahtisaari and hopefully to the end attended by all the parties is the process which is going to be decisive for the final outcome. And what the compromise will be? I don't know. If I use the word "compromise" it is my message and the direction of all the parties that in such a complex situation it is difficult and everybody will have to compromise. And again, I say again, why am I standing here and why do you see General Valotto? Because NATO under a mandate of the United Nations is here to see that process is taking place on the basis of a situation on the ground in Kosovo where majority and minority alike will be protected. Q: Can you promise the Serbs in Kosovo that the 17th of March will not happen again? And how Mladić... is the role of the Balkan weakened because of the delay in arresting Mladić? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: About Mladić, you know very well the NATO position, like the position of any other international organization. Mladić should be in The Hague . And Belgrade should do more than they have done up till now to see that Mladić was indicted for very serious crimes ends up in The Hague and will face the ICTY, the tribunal. On the first part of your question, what I have tried to show with my visit to the monastery in Dečani this afternoon, what I have tried to show, more than one thing. First of all, and we all know the history, that NATO is there for majority and minority alike; that religious freedom matters; that patrimonial sites matter; that churches matter; that religious freedom is one of the bedrocks of a democratic and multiethnic society which would all like Kosovo and in which we try to participate through KFOR. That is my answer to your question. NATO has come in protecting the majority. We all know the history. NATO is not here to protect majority and minority alike and that includes very much the protection of what I consider and what NATO considers the bedrock of a democratic society. Religious freedom can never be underestimated. It's one of the core values of any society dear to you I guess and dear to me. Q: What do you foresee, in your head, what can possibly Kosovars do? JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Let us not do one thing. The worst thing one can do in such a delicate process as the Status Talks is entering to all forms of wild speculation. And I'm not going to do that, thank you very much.