NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers Meeting – Part II

 Brussels 18-19 April 20012

“Paving the Way for the Chicago Summit”
 
By Nigel Chamberlain, NATO Watch
 
As NATO Spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, said at the pre-‘Jumbo Meeting’ press briefing on 16 April, “Obviously, the ministerial meetings this week are paving the way for the Chicago Summit.”
 
Key working sessions were flagged as ‘NATO Capabilities’ to ensure that “NATO is fit for the future- not just for 2012, but for 2020 and beyond”, Afghanistan moving towards and after the 2014 troop withdrawal and NATO-Russia relations, with Foreign Minister Lavrov in attendance.
 
DAY 2 (April 19th)
 
Opening the NATO-Russia Council, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that:
 
It is well-known that we do not agree on all issues. But it is also clear that we are committed to continue discussing all issues, at all times – because the NATO-Russia Council is an all weather-forum. And it still has untapped potential. Cooperation on missile defence could transform our relationship. And enhance security for all of us. Because we face the same threats. And it makes sense for us to cooperate in defending effectively against them. Within NATO, we are making good progress in developing an integrated, Alliance-wide missile defence system.  This system does not threaten Russia.  Nor does it alter the strategic balance.  So I am confident that there too, we can find a way forward, in a spirit of dialogue, trust and transparency that we have built up around this table over the last fifteen years.  
 
Answering a reporter’s question about missile defence later in the day, the General Secretary said:
 
But my final remark is that the very best assurance Russia could get would actually be to engage in direct cooperation with us on missile defence. We have suggested to establish one or two joint centres that could create a framework for cooperation, for exchange of data, for the elaboration of joint threat analysis, for preparation of joint exercises. And through that cooperation Russia could, with her own eyes, see that our system is not directed against Russia.
 
Speaking at a separate press conference, Foreign Minister Lavrov made it clear that missile defence remains the biggest challenge for Russia’s relationship with NATO and he reiterated Moscow's demand for firm guarantees that the planned shield won't be directed against Russia. He said that a written political declaration, as offered by NATO, was insufficient and that the guarantees should be based on military, technical and other criteria that ensure the system will not directed against any European country, including Russia. The Moscow Times reported that a NATO spokesman said technical limitations would render the system incapable of intercepting missiles from Russia and that “this is completely out of the question”. Apparently, a senior NATO official made it clear that the plans would go ahead without Moscow: "NATO's system is going to be deployed no matter what". 
 
In a mid-morning statement, the Secretary General said:
 
We expect to expand soon the transit options offered by Russia for the NATO-led missions in Afghanistan. This will allow us to send supplies to Afghanistan, and from Afghanistan, using the Russian rail network and air transport. We appreciate very highly Russia’s contribution, which is based on our shared interest, and contributes to our shared security
 
There has been some confusion about specifically what is under discussion, as reported in a NATO Watch Briefing on 28 March. The proposed use of Ulyanovsk Airbase for the transit of military cargo to and from Afghanistan is currently under legal consideration in Moscow. While Foreign Minister Lavrov said the subject had been discussed, he appears to have made no comment about it after the meeting.
 
The Secretary General added that:
 
NATO has also invited Russia to participate in the extended Afghanistan meeting in Chicago because Russia clearly has an interest in regional security. And in the interest of transparency and trust, we discussed the summit agenda with Minister Lavrov today……We also discussed those areas where we continue to have disagreements of principle. Georgia is one such issue where NATO maintains its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. 
 
Foreign Minister Lavrov told reporters that Russia might not accept the Chicago invitation as it doesn’t extend to all meetings of nations contributing to ISAF. Indeed his remarks indicated his frustration as countries providing far less will be given far greater access. Russian diplomats have said that President-elect Putin is unlikely to attend in the absence of some agreement on the development of missile defence.
 
In his afternoon press conference, the Secretary General reported on the meeting with ISAF partners to discuss the future of Afghanistan with “NATO’s 28 Allies, with 22 non-NATO members of ISAF, with the Afghan foreign and defence ministers, with the European Union High Representative, with the United Nations Special Representative. And the foreign minister of Japan”.
 
In Chicago, NATO will finalise:
 
A concrete and concerted plan for managing the final stages of transition, as the main focus of our efforts shifts from combat to training, advice and assistance. And it will mean approving a plan for our engagement after the end of transition in 2014………For the international community, it will mean setting out how to support Afghanistan once transition is complete. That will include funding sustainable and sufficient Afghan security forces. NATO and our ISAF partners will carry our fair share of that task. But of course, this is a commitment for the whole international community. 
 
In responding to a reporter’s question, he said, “We would welcome financial contributions from Russia, China and other countries to ensure strong, sustainable Afghan Security Force beyond 2014”.
 
Foreign Minister Lavrov told reporters that, “As long as Afghanistan is not able to ensure by itself the security of the country, the artificial timelines of withdrawal are not correct and they should not be set”. The Secretary General retorted by saying that the withdrawal schedule had been agreed with the Afghan Government and it is “definitely not artificial”. Lavrov did not comment on the possibility of financial support for Afghanistan post 2014.
 
Key decisions on the future of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, and on NATO’s future capabilities and needs will be taken at the Chicago Summit on 20-21 May. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at the start of the series of ministerial meetings earlier this week:
 
“We are just one month away from our Chicago summit. So this is the time to make sure our preparations are on track as we enter the final stretch” 
 
NATO Watch will continue to report on discussions in the build-up to the Chicago Summit and will release a briefing paper in early May setting out the key issues and state of play.