Afghan transition, Syria and relations with Russia top the agenda for the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

By Nigel Chamberlain, NATO Watch

 

In opening his pre-ministerial press conference in Brussels on 19 April, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gave some details about his recent visits to the Republic of Korea and Japan, where he signed the first NATO-Japan joint political declaration with Prime Minister Abe, “a declaration which will chart the future course of our partnership” (for the official text, click here). 
 
Rasmussen added: “Let me stress that NATO’s global perspective does not mean that we seek a presence in the Asia-Pacific region. What it does mean is that we seek to engage with the Asia-Pacific region”. He thanked the leaders of both countries for all they were doing in supporting NATO in Afghanistan and the Gulf of Aden and said there had been discussions on cooperative work on counter-terrorism, counter-piracy, non-proliferation, disaster relief and cyber defence. 
 
Previewing the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the Secretary General said that the issue of partnerships would also be “at the heart of debates next week”. Items on the agenda include:
  • the evolution of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, and its impact on security and stability in the region and NATO;
  • the deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey and the “serious risk of regional spillover” from Syria;
  • a meeting of the NATO Russia Council to discuss Afghanistan, North Korea and missile defence. This will include a further decision about Russian support for the maintenance of helicopters which may include the development of medevac capabilities;
  • a meeting with the foreign ministers of the 22 non-NATO countries which contribute to ISAF; and
  • an expected announcement of agreement on the means to ensure transparency and accountability in the future financing for the Afghan security forces. 
There follows edited highlights of the Q&A session.
 
Q1. Dieter Eberling with DPA, the German Press Agency: To what extent is NATO ready to provide guarantees for both Serbia and Kosovo to ensure the implementation of an agreement that yet has to be reached? And wouldn't it be a good sign if NATO and Russia could find a joint position towards the North Korean question?
 
A1. Secretary General: I really welcome all the efforts, especially by the EU, to find a political solution on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and I can assure you that NATO fully supports that dialogue. We ensure a very close cooperation and coordination between the EU and NATO and we stand ready to make our contribution, if needed. I would expect North Korea to be discussed at the NATO-Russia Council meeting. I appreciate that the international community, including Russia, has sent a very clear message to the North Korean leadership.
 
Q2. Adrian Croft from Reuters: Are you optimistic that in the talks with Foreign Minister Lavrov that there could be progress or an agreement on the missile defence question now? And can you tell me what, following his recent comments, NATO mission Admiral Stavrides might have in mind for Syria? Is a No-Fly Zone again under consideration? 
 
A2. Secretary General: I wouldn't expect a breakthrough in talks on missile defence during our meeting. Very much will depend on progress in the bilateral track between the United States and Russia.  I hope, and expect, a dialogue between the US and Russia to be resumed during 2013 that could also pave the way for some progress on missile defence. We don't have such concrete plans on Syria, but obviously if the situation evolves it is our obligation, as a military Alliance, to ensure such effective defence and protection of our Ally and that's the essence of what Admiral Stavridis has expressed.
 
Q3. Nawab Khan from the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA): Last week the UAE opened an office here at the NATO Headquarters. And yesterday there was a high-ranking delegation of NATO in Kuwait. So do these two developments point to the Alliance intensifying installations and cooperation with the ICI countries? Will Foreign Ministers reassess the current position of NATO on Syria? 
 
A3. Secretary General: I warmly welcome the opening of an UAE mission here at NATO Headquarters. It is a significant step in strengthening the bond between NATO and our partners and more generally I would expect further steps forward with our partners within the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) in the coming years.  I do not expect a change of the current NATO position on Syria. 
 
Q4. Stephen Fidler from the Wall Street Journal: Next week is not going to be a troop-pledging conference but, given the recent German announcement, should we expect a more concrete idea of the shape of NATO Forces post-2015 [sic] as a result of this conference?
 
A4. Secretary General:  I warmly welcome the German announcement of an intention to contribute in such a significant way to the post-2014 mission which serves as a good example, and possibly an encouragement for other potential contributors. We are still in the planning phases on the future of the post-2014 mission and I would expect more detailed decisions to be made later this year.
 
Q5. Teri Schultz with NPR and CBS: Germany’s announcement depends on an agreement being reached on Status of Forces. Can you give us an update on how that's going, on the reports that the large civilian casualty incident earlier this month may put a hitch in that and also on ISAF's investigation into what happened?
 
A5. Secretary General: I don't have new updates on this very tragic event and I don't think that it will have an impact on the deliberations on a Status of Forces Agreement. Obviously, it is a prerequisite for deploying foreign troops in Afghanistan that we reach an agreement with the Afghan Government. The Afghans are negotiating a bilateral agreement with the United States and I do believe that this will provide guidelines for the conclusion of a Status of Forces Agreement between NATO and Afghanistan. I discussed that matter with President Karzai during my recent visit to Kabul, and that gives me reason to believe that we will be able to reach a conclusion.
 
Q6: Two years after the NATO intervention, the situation in Libya continues to be difficult. How do you see the development in Libya, where is a leader, and are you ready to play a role to improve the situation in Libya? There are some reports about contact between political Libyan leaders and NATO like Mr. Mahmoud Jabril who was in Brussels last week. Do you confirm that?
 
A6. Secretary General: We have contact with the new administration in Libya. The new leadership in Libya has to build a society from scratch because after more than 40 years of brutal dictatorship all organised structures had collapsed. It will take time. And sometimes the development will even be a bit turbulent. Upon request, we will be able to assist within areas where we can add value, within areas where we have specific expertise. And one of these areas is within the security sector. If requested by the new Libyan authorities, we stand ready to help Libya build a security sector that is compatible with a democratic society. 
 
Q7. NTV Turkey: Since Israel and Turkey have resumed talks, I was wondering whether there is a more positive atmosphere in terms of NATO and Israel cooperation?
 
A7. Secretary General:  I really consider it positive news that the Israeli Government and the Turkish Government have re-established such contacts.  I also think we have to realise that this is a gradual process, so I think we will see positive results, also in an Alliance context, step-by-step, down the road. But definitely what has happened will facilitate such progress, without any doubt.