By Nigel Chamberlain, NATO Watch
NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting
In his opening remarks Secretary General Rasmussen said that “Russia and NATO both play a critical role in the security of the Euro-Atlantic region. And today’s meeting will enable us to maintain the momentum in our political dialogue and practical cooperation”. He announced the launch of a project ‘The NATO-Russia Trust Fund’ to dispose of excess munitions, starting with a pilot phase in the Kaliningrad region and added that there would be an exchange views on global security issues including Afghanistan and Syria.
Press conference
The Secretary General pronounced “another productive meeting in the NATO-Russia Council” which launched the project for the disposal of obsolete and dangerous ammunition in a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly way and agreed “an ambitious programme of cooperation activities for 2014”.
Cooperation in new areas such as mine disposal in Afghanistan, and in the fight against roadside bombs will build on existing cooperation in the fight against narcotics, terrorism and piracy which will “benefit our shared security”.
He urged all parties to fully cooperate with the Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations, to which “we stand ready to consider further assistance if requested” and welcomed the decision to convene the International Conference on Syria in January.
Q1. Alexander Pechurski, gazeta.ru, Moscow: Was the situation in Ukraine discussed with Mr. Lavrov?
A1. Secretary General: Ukraine was not on the agenda of the NRC meeting. A couple of members of the Council mentioned Ukraine, but we didn't have a discussion on Ukraine.
Q2. Adrian Croft, Reuters: Do you believe there's any possibility of NATO or the NATO-Russia Council playing some kind of coordinating role, or a role in securing the chemical weapons coming out of Syria?
A2. Secretary General: We didn't discuss that issue, but as I mentioned, we have stated that we stand ready to consider further assistance if requested.
Q3. Broadcasting Company, Tbilisi, Georgia: What's your view about the current Georgian-Russia relations and the fence building?
A3. Secretary General: NATO's position on the Russia-Georgia relation remains the same. The time is not the time to build fences, but literally speaking, to build bridges, to engage in dialogue, to find constructive political solutions.
Q4. Moscow Times: Was the missile defence issue raised here in discussion? And can this issue make NATO-Russian relations more intense after Iran nuclear deal and prevent cooperation between the two parties in different spheres?
A4. Secretary General: So far we haven't seen much progress in negotiations or talks on missile defence cooperation but we did have an exchange of views today on that issue.
Q5. Nawab Khan, Kuwait News Agency: Was there a new discussion on the Geneva agreement with Iran?
A5. Secretary General: I heard a lot of appreciation expressed for the interim agreement, which hopefully can pave the way for a more lasting agreement on Iran's nuclear programme.
Q6. Elena Chernenko, Kommersant Daily (in Russian):
A6. Secretary General: All members of the NATO-Russia Council appreciate the Russian offer to provide transit and also reverse transit. At the end of the day it is a national decision whether each individual member of the ISAF coalition wants to use this or that transit route. We have seen some challenges as regards the cost of using that specific transit facility.
Q7. Mustafa Basherat, Radio Free Europe: Could you give us some more details about how NATO and Russia can fight against terrorism and narcotics in Afghanistan? The helicopters and other airplanes that NATO and the United States have bought for Afghanistan from Russia are not functioning very well. Can you comment on this?
A7. Secretary General: Actually, that's included in our work programme for 2014. We conducted a joint exercise on counterterrorism in 2013. We have jointly developed techniques to detect potential suicide bombers and that way also prevent terrorist attacks. We have conducted joint exercises to prevent hijacking of airplanes. Yes, we do have a helicopter trust fund established within the framework of the NATO-Russia Council.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke after the Secretary General and said that:
We had a good meeting of the Russia-NATO council, shared our evaluation of the ongoing situation in the world, and expressed our satisfaction with positive movement: an agreement on Syrian chemical weapons, Geneva 2 and Iran's nuclear programme. All of these underline the results of diplomatic measures to regulate complicated issues. We consider that our NATO partners start to understand it better and we hope to collaborate in the future with our American and other western partners and we hope that NATO will follow the International law standards.
On NATO's enlargement and Georgia, Mr Lavrov said:
Regardless of Georgia, [Russia] is convinced that it constitutes an extension of the old and inertial logic of the Cold War era. Not only does it preserve the division lines that all of us have committed to dismantle, but it amounts to transposition of those lines further into the East. This is a new reality in the Caucasus and this reality has to be recognized. It has already started trickling into the minds [of people]. The fact that various Geneva discussions are being attended on equal footing by South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Georgia, along with Russia, the United States, the European Union, the UN, the OSCE, to discuss security and humanitarian issues proves that there is no other way forward but dialogue.
As regards the barbed wire, the borders should be protected, there is no doubt about that. Violations should be curbed on both sides, there are rules that reflect global practices. I think barbed wire will become unnecessary as hotheads calm down. We will be working with our Georgian partners on that. I hope the issue of restoration of diplomatic relations, which were severed at Georgia's initiative, will return to the agenda.
On Tehran’s nuclear programme and missile defence, Mr Lavrov said:
My colleagues said they are satisfied with the progress, even a breakthrough in the situation with the Iranian nuclear programme. We have noticed that, if the agreement that has been reached is fully realized, if the Iranian nuclear problem is fully resolved, and if the Iranian nuclear program is placed under the complete and tight control of the IAEA, the reasons that are now given for the creation of the European segment of the missile defence system will become invalid.
On the situation in Ukraine, Mr Lavrov said:
I do not quite understand the scope of the aggressive actions on the part of the opposition. Ukraine's government had used its sovereign right to decide whether or not to ratify an agreement. I hope that Ukrainian politicians will be able to bring the situation into a peaceful vein. We encourage everybody not to interfere. I do not understand why NATO adopts such statements.
He also said that he did not understand how the Secretary General could even reply to a question about possible Russian military intervention in Ukraine. He added: "I cannot understand why such questions are asked. It helps to create a distorted picture and sends a wrong signal which may cause wrong understanding.”
Foreign Ministers and non-NATO ISAF Contributing Nations meeting
In his opening remarks prior to the meeting, the Secretary General said that “our meeting today is particularly timely”, coming soon after the efforts to sign a US-Afghan Bilateral Security Agreement which are needed for the legal framework for NATO’s Resolute Support mission and ahead of next April’s presidential elections.
Press conference
The Secretary General said that the Loya Jirga was “clear in its endorsement of the Bilateral Security Agreement, which we welcomed. The next key step is its timely signature. … We have made it clear to the visiting Afghan Ministers that we need that legal clarity before we can move ahead with planning our deployment”, based on a Status of Forces Agreement, for Afghanistan after 2014.
The mechanisms for NATO Allies and partners to provide funding to the Afghan National Army and police after 2014 was also discussed, funding which must be channelled in an accountable, transparent and cost-effective way, according to Mr Rasmussen. It was agreed that timely, transparent and credible elections will be vital for Afghanistan’s future and for continued international support.
Q1. Ariana International TV channel: NATO and USA ties in BSA and SOFA together. NATO seems to be in a hurry. What if the USA and Afghan government agree to postpone signing the BSA until after elections? Will it wait? And what is the latest development on SOFA and BSA?
A1. Secretary General: There is a clear connection between the Bilateral Security Agreement and a NATO Status of Forces Agreement. Many provisions in those agreements will be the same. So if there is no signature on the BSA, we can't finalize a SOFA. This is why it is urgent to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement because we also need sometimes to plan the Resolute Support mission. I have to stress that time is of the essence.
Q2. Jim Dobbins, NPR: The US State Department's special representative on Afghanistan will be discussing the BSA in Kabul. Are you worried about any particular aspects of the draft that might be renegotiated? That might have an impact on the SOFA? And the US is now suggesting that somebody other President Karzai could sign the BSA. Would that also be all right with NATO for its SOFA?
A2. Secretary General: I'm not concerned at all regarding the content of the Bilateral Security Agreement. And I feel confident that whatever might be agreed upon between the American government and the Afghan government would also be acceptable to countries that would operate under a NATO Status of Forces Agreement. I would say everyone who is authorized to represent respective governments would be able to sign such an agreement.
Q3. Associated Press: We were hoping to be able to speak to the Afghan ministers, so I'd like to ask you if you had any encouraging signs during this meeting today about the prospect that President Karzai or someone else might actually sign? Is there progress made during this meeting towards an eventual signing of the BSA?
A3. Secretary General: The ministers didn't indicate anything as regards timelines as far as the Bilateral Security Agreement is concerned. But in general, we heard encouraging briefings from the ministers. They are clearly in favour of starting negotiations on the NATO Status of Forces Agreement as soon as possible.
NATO-Georgia Commission meeting
The Secretary General introduced the meeting by saying a lot had been achieved since the NATO-Georgia Commission was created five years ago and that they “have come closer to fulfilling the promise” that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance. He then praised Georgia’s “remarkable contribution” to common security by being a leading contributor to the mission in Afghanistan and by deciding to contribute to the NATO-Response Force in 2015. Mr Rasmussen spoke warmly of Georgia’s democratic and defence reforms which have moved the country “much closer to NATO” and initiated the discussion on how to “make our partnership stronger”.
Press conference
The Secretary General told journalists present that Georgia was “a unique and highly valued partner for NATO” and served as a model for the wider region. The Alliance will continue to support the Georgian people’s aspiration for full membership.
He welcomed Georgia’s continued and patient commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and reaffirmed NATO’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, noting “strong concern with the resumption of recent activities to erect fences and other obstacles along the administrative border lines within Georgia” and called for their removal.
Q1. Georgia Public Broadcast: Is it possible to have a good relationship with Russia and have ambition and desire to become closer to NATO, and then a member of NATO? Because in this room, several hours ago, the Russian Foreign Minister made the statement that NATO enlargement makes no one safe.
A1. Secretary General: Of course, it's possible. Many nations are at the same time members of NATO and they have an excellent relationship with Russia. There's no contradiction between being a member of NATO and at the same time being able to have such a relationship with Russia. I strongly disagree with the position that NATO enlargement has contributed to more insecurity in the Euro-Atlantic area. For centuries, Russia has looked for stability and security along her western borders. And that's exactly what the EU and NATO enlargement processes have provided.
Q2. Broadcasting Company Rustavi-2: Can the current situation in Ukraine influence the Georgia integration process and the process to become a member of NATO? Many reports already speak about pressure from Moscow on Georgia until it signs the Association agreement with the European Union?
A2. Secretary General: It's my firm belief that events in Ukraine will not have an impact on Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Ukraine has stated that it will pursue a so-called non-bloc policy while Georgia has declared its aspiration to becoming a member of NATO. And in today's NATO-Georgia Commission meeting, this aspiration was reaffirmed from the Georgian Foreign Minister.