Military

NATO

¨         According to Oslo's Aftenposten, Oct. 7, Norway supports a U.S. proposal for a NATO rapid response force able to strike "anywhere, at any time," but also makes certain reservations.   Stressing that "NATO being on the way to new roles means that Norway must take a position," the newspaper remarked that at a NATO conference in Brussels last week, Defense Minister Kristin Krohn Devold demanded more rapid military reforms in Europe. She also stressed that the United States must share its technology and open up to genuine two-way exchanges of military equipment, and demanded more consideration for Norway when it comes to the command structure and NATO decisions.  And, the newspaper added, she made a cautious threat that NATO has seldom heard from a Norwegian cabinet:  "If smaller allies are kept outside, they may decide to remain outside."  The daily concluded that the debate over what NATO-Norway's key alliance-will be in the future has now seriously begun.  The newspaper reported that at the Brussels' conference, Gen. Ralston said the 20,000 NATO rapid response force would just be a beginning, because this number would not go very far.  Highlighting that Gen. Ralston is a veteran of 147 missions over Vietnam and Laos, the newspaper focused on his purported statement that it would be possible to deploy the NATO force "anywhere and at any time, at very short notice," and it should be able to fly 200 missions every day.  The newspaper interpreted the U.S. proposal as a sign that Washington realizes that the Alliance still has a purpose, as it binds the U.S. and Europe together in a community.

¨         According to AFP, NATO Secretary General Robertson called Tuesday for an end to an impasse that has stymied plans for full security cooperation between the Alliance and the EU.  "We've got to go beyond the current status-quo (and) break the current impasse," he reportedly told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. He stressed that he regretted that "momentum is lacking" in negotiations.  According to the dispatch, Lord Robertson apologized for remarks he had made criticizing EU military forces, but urged the EU to narrow the gap separating it from superior U.S. military strength.  "I'm quite prepared to say I made a mistake when I called Europe a military pygmy.  In fact, it's not," he said. But, he added:  "It's a giant, but it's a flabby giant with no muscle and unable to do anything when troubles comes upon it."  He reportedly noted that while Europe may have twice as many warplanes as Washington, its fleet was "old-fashioned."  No European aircraft had stealth capability.  The dispatch adds that Lord Robertson reiterated his defense of a U.S. proposal for a NATO rapid response force, arguing that it would not compete with a similar European force.  "This is not designed to be a rival force.  It is imperative that we avoid duplication and overlap," he argued.  

BALKANS

¨         NATO Secretary General Robertson told the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels Tuesday that NATO had decided to extend the term of its peacekeeping mission in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for almost two months, until December 15, reports AFP.  "We will extend Amber Fox until the 15^th of December pending a full decision by the Dutch government," the dispatch quotes Lord Robertson saying and adding that no decision had so far been taken about what might happen after Dec. 15.  The dispatch recalls that in a letter sent to Lord Robertson Tuesday, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia President Trajkovski had asked for an extension of the mission at least until Dec. 15.

¨         AFP reports High Representative Paddy Ashdown warned Wednesday that Bosnia's next government had one last chance to push through far-reaching reforms or the country would be abandoned by investors and starved of foreign aid.  In a speech to businessmen and development workers, Ashdown reportedly said Saturday's elections marked the opening of a broad new front of economic and institutional reforms. He called on elected officials to form a new government as soon as possible and prove that they are ready to carry through with reforms required to "put this country on the road to statehood as a member of Europe."  He added:  "Aid is falling off, debts are mounting and foreign investment is not increasing to fill the gap..  I say to those parties who have recently adopted the language of reform-you have some convincing to do."

IRAQ

¨         According to The Times, hopes of breaking the UN deadlock over Iraq rose Tuesday after France and Russia signaled that President Bush's sober address to the American people had opened the way to a deal.  The wary allies reportedly seized on passages in Monday night's speech in which Bush said that war was neither imminent nor inevitable, and that Saddam Hussein could yet avoid a conflict if he disarmed  and complied with all outstanding UN resolutions.  French officials said that "things were coming together," adds the newspaper, noting that Russia, which has sent mixed messages over the past few days, also signaled that it was moving toward American and British demands that the UN Security Council approve a tough new resolution before sending international weapons inspectors back to Iraq.  The newspaper observes that Bush's speech was aimed at cajoling reluctant senators into authorizing backing the use of force in Iraq. The current U.S. diplomatic strategy is to use what looks like being the overwhelming support of Congress to demonstrate a new-united American will and to strengthen Washington's hand at the UN, it adds.   However, it continues, key parts of Bush's text were also aimed at allies concerned that Washington is bent on war regardless. 

¨         German prosecutors say Iraq has acquired technology to make a long-range cannon capable of delivering atomic, biological and chemical weapons, reports the Wall Street Journal.  The newspaper adds that prosecutors in Mannheim are preparing to hear a case in January against two Germans who bought cannon-drilling equipment, used for drilling barrels for large guns  that was allegedly shipped to Iraq. 

EU

¨         Reuters quotes a Commission spokesman announcing that the European Commission Wednesday approved a landmark report on EU enlargement, opening the way for a historic unification of the continent.  "The meeting is over, it has been adopted," the spokesman reportedly said.   The dispatch notes that the report's contents were due to be presented to the European Parliament later in the day.  It adds, however, that a leaked draft copy of the report showed the Commission would recommend that 10 candidate countries can wrap up accession talks in December and join the EU in 2004.  They are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.  The draft reportedly said that Bulgaria and Romania could join the EU as early as 2007 if they keep up the pace of reform, but it offered Turkey no date for opening accession talks.