Future of Afghanistan and NATO-Russia Cooperation Tax NATO Defence Ministers - Meeting in Brussels (Day 2)

 

In his opening remarks before the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, the Secretary General said this would be “an opportunity to review our concrete cooperation on security issues that concern us all”. This is a summary of the Secretary General's remarks:

 

NATO Allies and Russia work together to counter terrorism in the air and on the ground and are successfully cooperating to develop a better means of preventing attacks against public transport systems. Important first steps have been taken towards greater transparency in military activities with NATO officials observing the Russian and Belarusian exercise Zapad 2013 and with Russian observers invited to observe Exercise Steadfast Jazz in Latvia and Poland. 

 

Joint NATO-Russian naval exercises have strengthened efforts to deter piracy. Security and stability in Afghanistan has been supported by expanding counter-narcotics programme and the second phase of the helicopter maintenance trust fund supporting Afghan forces has been launched. There is no agreement yet on how to work together on missile defence, but further consultations are the way forward. NATO welcomes the framework agreement on the removal of Syrian chemical weapons between the United States and Russia. Steps to achieve that goal will be examined in today’s meeting.

 

In his Press Conference after the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, the Secretary General said they had discussed practical cooperation and exchanged views on current and pressing international security events. Last month, in the skies over Poland, Russia and Turkey, pilots conducted a flight exercise under the NATO-Russia Council Cooperative Airspace Initiative. The aim of this initiative is to prevent terrorist attacks using civilian aircraft. Progress has also been made in the fight against terrorism on public transport systems. Afghanistan is another area of continuing cooperation.

 

Also discussed were plans to dispose of excess and unsafe ammunition in Russia and transparency concerning military exercises, but no progress was made on missile defence. There was agreement that there is a pressing need for an international conference to pave the way for a political solution to the tragic conflict in Syria.

 

There follows an edited version of the Q&A session.

 

Q1. Denis Dubrovin, ITAR-TASS News Agency: Are you planning any military exercises in the NATO-Russia Council for the coming years and in which areas might they be held?

 

A1. Secretary General: We have not taken any decision on joint military exercises next year. In principle joint exercises are a possibility.

 

Q2. Rikard Jozwiak, Radio Free Europe: You were recently quoted in the Russian media saying that Ukraine and Georgia won't join NATO. Has the position of NATO changed on this?

 

A2. Secretary General: That's not an accurate quote. In 2008 we decided that Georgia and Ukraine will become members of NATO, provided that they fulfil the necessary criteria and provided they wish to join our Alliance. That decision still stands. The current Ukrainian leadership has decided not to pursue NATO membership but they have decided to continue cooperation with NATO within the NATO-Ukraine Commission. Georgia will become a member of NATO, provided they fulfil the necessary criteria. The new government in Georgia has reaffirmed Georgia's NATO aspirations.

 

Q3. Europa Press: Was there any discussions with your Russian counterpart on creating a mechanism for NATO to contribute to the mission to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria?

 

A3. Secretary General: In today's meeting we haven't discussed concrete action. We haven't taken any decisions in that regard. We all agree that the United Nations and the organization, OPCW, should be in the lead of the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution to fully eliminate chemical weapons in Syria. I would suppose that all members of the NATO-Russia Council would stand ready to assist the UN and OPCW, if requested.

Q4. Reuters: Would you say that there is a possible opening for NATO to give support? You seem to be leaving it quite open that there may be a NATO role in helping either secure or destroy these chemical weapons.

 

A4. Secretary General: It is premature to make any assessment of a NATO or a NATO-Russia counter role in this. Based on our discussion, I would expect members of the NATO-Russia Council to respond positively if the United Nations actually forward a request.

 

NATO Watch Comment:   These remarks by the Secretary General would seem to confirm that earlier reports of a NATO-Russia agreement to fund and provide technical assistance to the chemical weapon disarmament process in Syria were inaccurate or at least premature. We remain of the view, however, that such cooperation has merit and should be pursued by both parties. 

 

 

In his opening remarks before the Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers with non-NATO ISAF Contributing Nations, the Secretary said that the first summer of ANSF taking the lead for security across Afghanistan “has not been easy” but “we can be confident in their ability to assume responsibility for securing their own country at the end of next year”. He added that the meeting would take stock of the recent review of the practical implications of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 for the conduct of NATO-led operations and missions - a demonstration of commitment to the role of women in peace and security.

Together, the men and women of our NATO forces, those of our ISAF partners, and of the Afghan National Security Forces, have all made a considerable investment in the future of Afghanistan.  And we must build on that investment together.

In his opening remarks at the Press Conference after the meeting, the Secretary General said that they had reconfirmed support for the Afghan security forces and agreed further elements for Resolute Support - plans for a mission to train, advise and assist the ANSF after 2014.

 

Military commanders have identified the key elements required to set up the mission but “we still have work to do”. This includes agreeing a legal framework with the Afghan government on the status of our forces and holding elections on time, transparently, inclusively and credibly. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, and its related resolutions. “Today we will publish that review. It sets out the areas where we are doing well, and the areas where we need to do more”.

 

There follows an edited version of the Q&A session.

 

Q1. Nawab Khan from the Kuwait News Agency: On your new mission, are you going to have cooperation with the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, such as India, Pakistan, Iran? In your meeting with the Russian Defence Minister today was the issue of Iran's nuclear program raised?

 

A1. Secretary General: We have a dialogue, in particular, with Pakistan about the regional situation. We have made clear right from the outset that if we are to ensure long-term peace and stability, not only in Afghanistan, but in the region, we also need a positive engagement of Pakistan. But I think all countries in the region can play a constructive role in ensuring such peace and stability. No, we didn't discuss Iran at today's meeting.

 

Q2. Turkish News Agency: In response to the question about the integration of Chinese missiles, the Turkish Prime Minister said this morning that, “if NATO is sensitive about the integration issues, first they have to focus on the Russian missiles and systems that some of the NATO Allies already have and which are not even yet listed as inventory”. What would your reaction to that be?

 

A2. Secretary General: I can just repeat what I said already this morning. Firstly, that it is a national decision, which military equipment a nation wants to acquire. It is, and it remains, a national decision. Secondly, seen from an Alliance perspective, it is of utmost importance that military equipment in one Allied nation can operate, work, communicate together with equipment in other Allied nations.

 

Q3. Japanese media: Did you discuss the security agreement issue, including the Loya Jirga next month?

 

A3. Secretary General: Yes, obviously this issue has been a very important topic. We welcome the progress we have seen in negotiations between the United States and Afghanistan on a bilateral security agreement. However, we also are aware of the fact that these deliberations have not yet been finally concluded and we are aware of the Afghan political process, which includes a Loya Jirga, and I suppose also a parliamentary procedure. So while we welcome the progress we have seen, we are also aware of the fact that the process has not been concluded successfully yet.

 

Q4. Philippe Regnier, Journal Le Soir: Could you give us a sense on what the key elements identified by the military command for the next mission would be, please?

 

A4. Secretary General: I can tell you that our planning is on track. We make steady progress. Today we have made important decisions on the mission goal, the capability needed, training concepts, Command and Control arrangements. But, of course, we can't finalize our preparations until we have finalized negotiations on the legal framework, the Status of Forces Agreement.