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TERRORISM

• "NATO ordered its Atlantic Fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean last week to monitor maritime traffic—and perhaps derail terrorist shipping operations," writes the Stars and Stripes. The article stresses that this unusual out-of-neighborhood mission is the latest development in the NATO campaign to keep the seas free of terrorism. Standing Naval Force Atlantic typically would not cruise the Mediterranean. Its home is the eastern Atlantic ocean. But since October, NATO has kept up continuous patrols from Sicily to Suez to thwart terrorists from trafficking in arms, says the newspaper. It quotes an AFSOUTH spokesman saying that since October, NATO has spotted and hailed nearly 9,000 vessels.

• According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the German Defense Ministry confirmed over the weekend that the United States has asked Germany to take command of the international naval task force patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa as part of the U.S.-led war on terrorism. The newspaper adds that the German government is said to have embraced the idea in principle, but will make a decision only after Defense Minister Scharping returns from talks this week with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. The newspaper notes that ships in the region are currently operating under their national commands.

• AP reports German Interior Minister Otto Schily told reporters in Tunis Monday that the gas truck explosion at a historic Tunisian synagogue that left 16 people dead, mostly Germans, was definitely the result of a terrorist attack. "Germany is now convinced that this was 100 percent a criminal, terrorist act," Schily reportedly said. He added that investigators believe terrorists were behind the blast because of the way gas tanks were mounted in the truck, the substances in the tanks, and how the explosion took place. According to the dispatch, Schily said it was too soon to say whether there was a link to Al Qaeda but added: "It looks like there were several people responsible." The dispatch recalls, however, that Germany has already said all indications pointed to a deliberate attack, possibly by the Al Qaeda network. It stresses that if verified, it would be the first known terror attack by Osama bin Laden’s terror network since Sept. 11.

ESDP

• Athens Flash Radio reported that in an interview Monday, Greek Defense Minister Papandoniou stressed it is in Greece’s interest to break as soon as possible the current deadlock regarding arrangements enabling the EU to use NATO’s assets, provided some basic requests are met. Papandoniou was carried saying: "The Prime Minister and I have noted that Greece cannot accept the document (on relations between the EU and NATO). It is clear that our stance is firm. As far as our stance on the timetable is concerned, the truth is that we are all in a hurry to find a solution because everyone, especially Greece, wants the European army to operate. For the European army to be able to take over the peacekeeping mission in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in October or November, it would be better if the issue was resolved. The European army currently does not have the ability to cover all of the needs and it will need NATO’s contribution in some cases."

ICELAND-JOINT FORCES COMMAND

• Reykjavik Morgunbladid, April 19, quoted Foreign Minister Asgrimsson saying in an interview that Washington’s decision to transfer from Norfolk to EUCOM the command to which the Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) belongs represents a watershed in Icelandic security matters, which will change the context of Icelandic security. "Iceland’s government thought the Atlantic area should be part of the new Northern Command. We presented this opinion to the U.S. However, they wanted the Northern Command to be concerned only with the defense of the U.S," Asgrimsson was quoted saying, noting, however, that the organization of Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT), has not yet been decided. According to the newspaper, Asgrimsson expressed his view that the move changes the context of Icelandic security, in the sense that up till now, it has been directly linked to the continental United States. "Of course," he reportedly added, "it must be kept in mind that the U.S. Command in Stuttgart is a U.S. command, not a European command. The commander is Gen. Ralston and I had talks with him about the changes in the command of the IDF in February. The U.S. decision regarding the Keflavik base has not yet been elaborated. It may be given more importance within the European command, but as I said before, this aspect has not yet been implemented." Asked whether the U.S. decision influenced the informal talks that have been taking place regarding implementation of the defense agreement between Iceland and the U.S. concerning military preparedness in Iceland, Asgrimsson replied: "No, I have been told that this is not the case. Gen. Ralston is well aware of the importance of the Keflavik base. He knows Iceland very well, and we have had very good communication with him. He is well aware of the Iceland Government’s opinions and priorities on defense and security matter affecting preparedness in Iceland." The newspaper further said that asked whether the decision to transfer the IDF command to Europe means that the forces and equipment located there might be placed in a "European context," Asgrimsson said: "We know that the U.S. decision to change its command organization means that the fighter planes stationed in Iceland will in future be part of the force located in Scotland. This will be the case because being under the European command means that the forces stationed here will be under the European command, and this is Gen. Ralston." Asgrimsson was further quoted saying that negotiations on the Keflavik base will take place, but he did not know when. "There have been major delays regarding this matter. The U.S. is now reorganizing its military commands and preparedness due to the Sept. 11 attacks. There is much more emphasis now on domestic defense. I think that the U.S. has had difficulty finding time to talk to the Icelandic government," he reportedly noted.

BALKANS

• According to AP, just hours before a Yugoslav government deadline expired for 23 people to turn themselves in or face arrest, two key war crimes suspects said Monday that they would surrender to the ICTY. Lawyers for former army commander Gen. Ojdanic and former Croatian Serb rebel leader Martic reportedly submitted surrender papers to the Yugoslav Justice Ministry just before the midday deadline elapsed.

OTHER NEWS

• French media report that French leaders from left to right Monday urged a common front against far-right presidential candidate Jean Marie Le Pen after he swept into the second round of the presidential election. Media generally highlight that the showing, which shamed many French, ended the career of third-placed Socialist Prime minister Jospin, who announced that he would quit politics after the second round on May 5. Media, which had been predicting a runoff between Chirac and Jospin, expressed shock at what many characterized as "an earthquake." Media note that Chirac polled just 19.41 percent of the vote, the lowest of any frontrunner in a presidential election since the foundation of France’s Fifth Republic in 1958. Le Pen polled 17.19 percent of the vote. A record 27.6 percent of the electorate abstained from the contest, fought by 16 candidates. The fragmentation of the candidates, coupled with the abstention rate, are seen as the likely contributing factors to Le Pen’s success.

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