Speech

by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
at the annual press reception on the occasion of the New Year

Since, I'm sure that you have not only come for a free lunch but also to hear something and perhaps some questions, let me start by wishing you all a very happy New Year.  Let's continue the good cooperation I think we have in the NATO framework.  Also in the coming year which... we will not see a summit but nevertheless it will be a very important year.  Let me mention you a few elements and items which I think are important then we can continue, of course, the discussion as I try to swim through the crowds. 

It will come as no surprise to you that I start with Afghanistan.  Militarily, I can tell you, it goes almost without saying, that NATO has not the slightest intention to see the initiative to anyone, spring or no spring.  Those who want to undermine progress in Afghanistan, let me tell you there's an awful lot of progress in Afghanistan.  If you see what goes on in the framework of reconstruction, on school building, on road building, on power stations, I think we are doing well.  And that's the reason that I say that those who are trying to undermine that process and the progress in Afghanistan will find NATO-ISAF on the front foot.  Something you have already seen this year.  It is clear.  And I'll say a few more about this in a moment at the meeting coming up, foreign ministers meeting, defence ministers meeting, Brussels and  Sevilla respectively.  This will be very much on the minds of the ministers as well.   What I'll go doing is pushing for more civilian support for Afghanistan. 

The catch word and the key word is here:  the comprehensive approach.  What does that mean?  It means that we need to see more, more efficient, more effective military civilian cooperation.  The final answer in Afghanistan will not be a military answer.  The final answer will be national building, reconstruction, development of course, and the Afghan Ownership, and I write that O... that's a capital O for me: Afghan Ownership. 

But again, I'll be pushing for more civilian support, institution building, the Afghan government needs the tools to govern.  And if you'd asked.  And you do from time to time,  say "Gentleman, what is NATO's exit strategy in Afghanistan?"  And it has many elements, extremely important elements and I can't underline that sufficiently is training and equipping the Afghan national security forces, the Afghan national army.  This is what we are doing, the United States has done an awful lot, and is doing an awful lot in this regard.  We are doing our part.  And if I say Afghan national army I should immediately add Afghan national police training as well.  And you know that I'm happy and glad with the mission the European Union has sent to Afghanistan to make an inventory. 

Mentioning the European Union gives me the opportunity to tell you that on the 26th of January we have the NATO foreign ministers coming to Brussels.  But after a meeting in the format of the 26 NATO allies, we have another meeting on Afghanistan where we will also invite the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank including nations who are direct contributors as Japan and South Korea.  So you will see a meeting on Afghanistan, not because NATO has the ambition to be the coordinator of international organizations but to coordinate with them.  And I'm quite sure that the elements I have mentioned will be an important part of that meeting.  I will send out the invitation that is to these nations and the international organizations.  And I hope they will be represented at an adequate level. 

Then also the 26, as you know, the Belgium Foreign Minister De Gucht will host a TransAtlantic luncheon where the NATO and EU ministers as they have done a number of times before will meet in the presence of high representative and myself. 

And it is crystal clear that I hope that TransAtlantic luncheon will have its main features:  NATO, EU cooperation.  I'll say a few words on Kosovo in a moment.  But before I do one word about something that was discussed at the Riga Summit as well. 

In the framework of Afghanistan, you might remember that I was asked in Riga at the dinner of the heads of State and government to look to the possibilities of a contact group.  It was a proposal made publicly par le président de la République, président Chirac in the run-up to Riga. 

I'm in the process of making some soundings.  My sense is that it is clear that the international community wants more contact.  And if I say the international community I should immediately add of course the Afghan government as well.  They want more contact but not necessarily a new group.  If you ask me where we are at the moment, where I would like the discussion to go, let me say that on a personal basis that is using and where possible enhancing existing formats. 

You might know that the German government has called for a meeting in Berlin of the so-called JCMB.  The Joint Control and Monitoring Board for Afghanistan in Berlin at the level of political directors.  And I'm also looking in the possibility if one could not use on an ad hoc basis existing structures like the G8, G7, G8 to discuss Afghanistan.  And when that is on the agenda of the G8, when Afghanistan will be on the agenda of the G8, to have the G8 and also under the general presidency this year... to have the G8 invite NATO and the United Nations as well.  You know, the European Union is by definition present at G8 meetings.  When I say this I must add that this is not yet as it's called a consensual approach.  But I want to give you an indication of where we are.  More contacts, but not necessarily new structures to be continued.  Because I do expect this to be a subject at the ministerial meetings as well. 

In the same vein, in the same framework what is very important, that is as good to cooperation as we can organize between NATO-ISAF and Pakistan.  It is clear that border is a problem, that we see other structures in Quetta and elsewhere.  My answer to this situation would be:  "Let's see if we can together Pakistan and NATO-ISAF."  And there has been  a meeting of the military tripartite commission last week.  We can all, first of all, realize that we should all be part of the solution and not be part of the problem.  And I would to approach Pakistan as part of the solution and not part of the problem, although it's crystal clear that Pakistan has to do a lot to prevent further incursions across that border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.  So I think border issues, as far as I'm concerned, will have to figure prominently also in the political meetings coming up in Brussels here and in Seville in the beginning of February. 

By the way, before I forget, in the meeting on Afghanistan, Minister Spanta, Afghan Foreign Minister, will be invited as will be Defence Minister Wardak for a session on Afghanistan in Sevilla. 

A few remarks on Kosovo.  It is clear that this will be the year to lay the political foundations for lasting and self-sustaining stability in Kosovo.  You know the NATO position, like the position of the European Union:  full support for President Ahtisaari, full support for his timelines, full support for the work he is doing.  Delaying the process further runs the risk of heightening tensions on the ground and I think and we think that the process should come to resolution as soon as possible. 

And it is also clear that KFOR will maintain its force levels and posture.  There's no way that KFOR is going to reduce in numbers or in strength.  And I'm sure that NATO-KFOR will play a role in a post-status Kosovo as well.  And that's why I mentioned the TransAtlantic luncheon because it is crystal clear that should be intensive contact between NATO on the one hand and the European Union on the other hand because the European Union is going to play a very important role indeed in a post-status Kosovo. 

So here again, if I mention this catchword:  the comprehensive approach which I use for Afghanistan.  It's applicable for Kosovo as well.  And it's also applicable for the wider regional NATO policy on the western Balkans.  And if I say regional policy I mean, of course, implementation of the decisions-taking in Riga and implementing those decisions in the framework of the Partnership for Peace Relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina-Montenegro and Serbia.  I consider that an important part of the agenda to come to a coordinated coherent Western Balkans policy from the side of NATO. 

But I say in the same vein, although not within my mandate, my remit by the European Union because we should work hand and glove in that region.  That's crystal clear.  And I think this year, then it should result in a situation that we have no more blank spots on the map of Partnership for Peace Relations in Europe and realize...  Please do realize with me how relatively short time it is ago that region was on fire and that's the Western Allies had to send 60,000 forces into the region to prevent further bloodshed, pillage, rape and killing.

I think, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have made a good start on another important Riga decision what I call, as you know, not the global NATO but NATO of global partners, pas le gendarme du monde, mais des partenaires globaux ou planétaires.  Je prends les mots en français, plus corrects, planétaires. 

But you know what I mean.  We had an important visit by Japanese Prime Minister Abe last week.  Next week, we'll see New Zealand Defence Minister Goff coming.  We have the meeting on Afghanistan on the 26th as I mentioned.  So on that count the train has been set in motion.  I should also mention that this year, we'll celebrate 10 years NATO-Russia founding act, 5 years NATO-Russia Council.  And we'll also have the... to celebrate the anniversary of 10 years of the distinctive partnership between NATO and Ukraine.  And these are certainly events and anniversaries we're going to pay attention to. 

If I look at the NATO distinctive partnership with Ukraine and if I look at our very important strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, my ambition would be to see more dynamism and more practical results in those relationships this year. 

What we'll also do... continuing about partnerships is strengthen the process in the sphere of political dialogue and in the sphere of practical cooperation with our Mediterranean Dialogue and ICI partners.  No one who reads and follow the news will deny the importance of dialogue and cooperation between Europe.  I speak for NATO, between NATO and that region. 

I can tell that I'll sent out letters of invitation this afternoon to the defence ministers of our Mediterranean Dialogue partners.  Because we will have a meeting in Seville... in Sevilla in Spain with our Mediterranean Dialogue partners at the political level, at the level of defence ministers.  So we're trying to continue that dialogue in that sense as well. 

And finally, later this year, of course, you'll see the start of preparations for the summit in 2008.  A summit which I think will have a lot to do with what I call the European security landscape.  If that summit, as I expect, will concentrate on the discussions of new nations joining the NATO Alliance.

You know my message to these aspiring nations.  The finish line is in sight.  But you'll only cross if you keep up your efforts to reform.  So there's no done deal.  That last final part of... I hear me repeating myself.  The final part of the long and winding road to NATO membership will also have to be done with a success.  But it is clear that in the spring... in the spring summit of 2008, these questions will be first and foremost on our minds. 

To avoid going on too long, I've left out some other issues you might like to ask me for my comments.  But there's one major change which will take place in NATO this year which we should not underestimate and that is the departure from the press service of François Le Blévennec.  And I think that among summits and ministerial meetings, Afghanistan and Kosovo, they should also get all our attention here and now.  You will know François.  He's an institution.  I will perhaps be slightly impolite but I mean François, in a very positive sense, that he's "part of the furniture".  But he's a very comfortable sofa to sit on.

At least, I know he was for you.  And he was for me.  Because I've been able to follow François over the past three years.  Some of you much, much longer.  And I think you have been impressed and I've been impressed by the way in which he has managed all the press aspects of the major events, be it summit, be it NATO ministerial meetings.  And you know, as well as I do, that is an incredibly complicated matter.  He carried them all flawlessly, for me, for the delegations, for you as I know.  And that all with unmatched grace and professionalism.  And when you would ask me, Secretary General, why are you addressing François Le Blévennec in English and not in French and that is why.  He's become so NATOish that when you ask him a question in French he'll answer in English.  So I've taken the liberty...

I've taken the liberty to say these few words to you François and to your wife Mireille who is also here today.  You'll be returning to la Touraine... to la Touraine where all the kings of France lived.  No, I don't exactly.  I know what it means for France.  All the kings lived there.  But I do not exactly know what it means for you François.  But it might just be that the next interesting part of a life might revolve around music.  Because as many of you will know, François was a famous rock singer in his youth, not then...  Well, I don't know how long ago, even, even complemented by the great Serge Gainsbourg for his performance and that doesn't happen to everyone, that goes for you, and it goes for me I think.  So François, you may go back to rock stardom.  There should be some respect for old age.  I'm not saying "for all ages".  And if you do, unlike Johnny Halliday, I'm sure you will be very welcomed here in Belgium, in Belgium again.

But I've not come here to discuss taxes and nor Johnny Halliday by the way.  But I'm of that generation I have to admit.  So let me conclude François and thank you very much for everything you've done for NATO.  Congratulate you on what you've done and wish your wife Mireille and you all the very best.  Your successor is Damien Arnaud.  And we hope Damien that you'll have the same excellent relationship with all of us as we all had with François.  Soyez les bienvenus.  Soyez les bienvenus.  Et François, merci infiniment, merci mille fois.