21 May 2003
Transcript: Wolfowitz Meets with Romanian Defense Minister
(Deputy Defense Secretary discusses Romanian and Iraqi transformation)
(2690)
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz met with Romanian Minister of
Defense Ioan Mircea Pascu and other officials to discuss U.S.-Romanian
military ties and Romania's transition from totalitarianism to
democracy, and also to thank Romania for its help in Afghanistan, the
Balkans, and its upcoming peacekeeping role in Iraq.
During a joint press briefing with Pascu in Bucharest May 19,
Wolfowitz compared Romania before its transition to democracy with
Iraq's current situation. "I'm more impressed by the differences
between Romania and Iraq than the similarities," he said. "But I do
think that Romania's example in overcoming the evils of
totalitarianism and the progress that Romania has made is an inspiring
example for the Iraqi people today."
He added that the transformation is not yet complete. "There are big
challenges in front of Romania, and we had a frank discussion of many
of those."
Wolfowitz also thanked the government of Romania for its "outstanding
cooperation in the defense field over the last few years, and
particularly since the terrible events of September 11, 2001," and for
its help in Afghanistan and support "for the operation to liberate the
Iraqi people. That support has been both political and material and
it's been very valuable."
"Having won the war in Iraq, we now have the much bigger challenge of
winning the peace, and we look forward to Romanian support and
participation in that struggle as well," he added.
Romania's defense reforms "have been outstanding under the leadership
of Minister Pascu," Wolfowitz said. "The seriousness of Romania's
defense reform has been one of the key factors in Romania being
invited to membership in NATO."
Pascu said he and Wolfowitz also talked about the "Romanian
participation in the Iraqi stabilization force, and also the
participation in other missions and operations, such as in Afghanistan
and in the Balkans."
He noted that "the modernization process of the Romanian armed forces
to the NATO standards is part of the modernization of the overall
modernization process that our country is experiencing."
Wolfowitz was asked about the U.S. strategy in the "New Europe" with
regards to basing troops in the region, and he answered that "Romanian
facilities were so useful during both 'Iraqi Freedom' and 'Enduring
Freedom,' and the fact that we've gotten such great support from the
Romanian Government, are clearly factors in our thinking.
"But I'd like to emphasize since there's so much speculation, that
there haven't yet been any decisions made. And before we make any
decisions, we would be consulting closely with our affected allies,
including Romania."
"President Bush indicated when he was here last November, that we see
Romania playing a key role in the future of democracy and stability in
Central and Eastern Europe," Wolfowitz said. "Romania's progress
obviously is the responsibility of Romanians. But my country has a
great stake in Romania's success, and we will do what we can to
support you."
Following is the full Department of Defense transcript:
(begin transcript)
United States Department of Defense
May 19, 2003
Presenter: Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz Monday,
Pascu: Good day. Thank you for your presence here. I want to tell you
that Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, has
been visiting Romania since yesterday afternoon. We had a meeting with
the President, with Mr. (Foreign Minister) Geoana, and also with Mr.
Talpes, the Advisor, yesterday evening. Early today, we had the office
call at the Ministry of National Defense, followed by an office call
with the Prime Minister. We then had a roundtable with a number of
experts belonging to different political areas, talking about the
Romanian experience after the Revolution, in its transition from a
totalitarian state to a democratic state, from a totalitarian economy
to a market economy.
Generally speaking, the topics that we have tackled are about our
bilateral relationship in the military field. We also have reviewed
the status and the level of this bilateral military relationship. And
both parties consider them to be very good. So we are in a very
important and difficult stage now. We are in a ratification, and in
the progress of the ratification process of our country, and we do
hope that in the spring of the next year, we are going to join NATO.
We have also talked about the Romanian participation in the Iraqi
stabilization force, and also the participation in other missions and
operations, such as in Afghanistan and in the Balkans. I would like to
tell you that roughly and very generally speaking, of course Mr.
Wolfowitz will tell you his own opinion about that, but we personally
are very satisfied with the outcome of this short, yet very dense and
intense meeting that we had.
Wolfowitz: Thank you very much Mr. Minister. I came here to thank the
Government of Romania for the outstanding cooperation that we've had
in the defense field over the last few years, and particularly since
the terrible events of September 11, 2001. Romania's made important
contributions to fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan. Romanian
troops have performed with great professionalism and bravery and been
involved in combat operations, and indeed it's Romanian troops that
have captured the largest single cache of arms that we've captured in
Afghanistan. We also appreciate very much the support that Romania has
given to the operation to liberate the Iraqi people. That support has
been both political and material and it's been very valuable. Having
won the war in Iraq, we now have the much bigger challenge of winning
the peace, and we look forward to Romanian support and participation
in that struggle as well.
This visit was also an opportunity to review the further progress in
Romania's defense reforms, which have been outstanding under the
leadership of Minister Pascu. The seriousness of Romania's defense
reform has been one of the key factors in Romania being invited to
membership in NATO, and I'm pleased to be here shortly after the U.S.
Senate has ratified the protocols to the NATO treaty that would make
Romania and six other countries of central Europe members of that
great alliance.
I also took advantage of the opportunity of being here to learn more,
firsthand, about Romania's experience in the transition from
totalitarianism to democracy. That's a subject that is obviously very
much on our minds as we seek to win the peace in Iraq, and to help
that country transform from what is one of the worst totalitarian
regimes of recent decades, to what can hopefully be one of the first
democracies in the Arab world. I must say, I think I'm more impressed
by the differences between Romania and Iraq than the similarities. But
I do think that Romania's example in overcoming the evils of
totalitarianism and the progress that Romania has made is an inspiring
example for the Iraqi people today. In saying that, I don't mean to
suggest that that passage, that that transformation is complete. There
are big challenges in front of Romania, and we had a frank discussion
of many of those subjects with the most senior officials of the
Romanian Government. But as President Bush indicated when he was here
last November, we see Romania playing a key role in the future of
democracy and stability in central and eastern Europe. Romania's
progress obviously is the responsibility of Romanians. But my country
has a great stake in Romania's success, and we will do what we can to
support you.
Finally, let me just say, on a personal note, our sympathies to
Colonel Epaure, who was the Romanian liaison to Central Command in
Tampa, and, who as I think some people know, suffered a severe heart
attack. We're pleased to have been able to cooperate with Minister
Pascu in providing the best possible medical care to him, and
appreciate the assistance from the Romanian Government, and happy to
say, that at least as of today, he looks to be on the way to a good
recovery.
We'd be happy to take your questions. I think I'll let the Minister
answer the hard ones.
Radu Dobritoiu, Radio Romania Broadcasting Corporation: Sir, for both
ministers, how do you see the future of relations between Romania and
the United States? The military relations.
Wolfowitz: I think it is progressing in a very healthy way. I think
there are obvious advantages that accrue to Romania from being a
member of an alliance with the United States. But there are also great
advantages that accrue to us from having a country that is willing to
step up to its responsibilities the way Romania has done, and a
country that brings real professionalism to the military task. I
believe you spent some time in Afghanistan, so I hope you got a chance
to see firsthand the great performance of Romanian soldiers there.
We're very much looking forward to Romania's contribution to the
stability forces in Iraq. And I think also that the kinds of civil
military issues that we encounter in Iraq, are probably issues on
which Romanian soldiers will bring a special perspective that will be
very valuable, in addition to just helping us with the military
requirement.
Pascu: I can only say good words about the level and the status of the
bilateral military relationship between Romania and the U.S. That
would mean that our membership in the alliance would be a very
important thing to us, meaning that we can strengthen our security.
Meaning that we can focus our attention and also our efforts to the
development and to the modernization of our country. I would like to
emphasize and to remark on the open support that we have acquired,
that we have got at all levels, and anytime we need it, from our
American partner, and particularly speaking in the Afghanistan
operation. And I would like to emphasize also that the modernization
process of the Romanian armed forces to the NATO standards, is part of
the modernization of the overall modernization process that our
country is experiencing.
Marina (last name unintelligible) from Adevarul (daily newspaper). I
have two questions for Mr. Wolfowitz if that's possible. The first one
refers to the remark that the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
made on the "new Europe." What is the U.S. strategy for this "new
Europe." And the second one is, you are quoted in Kosovo as saying
that we are looking for more flexible options than the traditional
military bases for the deployment of our troops. What are the more
flexible options that you envisage?
Wolfowitz: I don't think I want to try to interpret my boss' remarks.
I think what is important, and it's I think what he really meant to
refer to, is that the new members of NATO bring a certain fresh spirit
to the organization. And I think it's a spirit that comes from the
unfortunate experience of only recently having lived under
totalitarianism. And therefore, in understanding that the gains that
have been made are not completely secure, and that one has to work
hard to stabilize them. And I think also a greater appreciation of the
value of extending democracy and freedom to other people who suffer
under totalitarianism as the Iraqi people have done for so long. On
the question of how we arrange and deploy our forces in the future,
the experiences of the last couple of years, starting with the war in
Afghanistan, have brought home very forcefully that we live in a world
where threats can come from completely unpredictable directions, and
that we need to be able to respond flexibly and quickly when those
kinds of threats emerge. But at the same time, the kinds of threats
that we faced in the Cold War, particularly in central Europe, that
required large fixed military installations, have largely
disappeared--hopefully for a long time to come. I guess I should say
with the important exception of the Korean peninsula, where we
continue to have that traditional problem. So in the context of this
new world and new threats and new requirements on our forces, we're
taking a very fundamental look at how we base and deploy our forces.
The fact that Romanian facilities were so useful during both "Iraqi
Freedom" and "Enduring Freedom," and the fact that we've gotten such
great support from the Romanian Government, are clearly factors in our
thinking. But I'd like to emphasize since there's so much speculation,
that there haven't yet been any decisions made. And before we make any
decisions, we would be consulting closely with our affected allies,
including Romania.
I'm George Mihata from B1TV: Dr. Wolfowitz, you were among the people,
who for many years, predicted the eruption of terrorism. And at the
same time you stood for tough retaliation, tough measures of
retaliation. Which are the possibilities now after the Iraqi war to
stop this phenomenon, or long term, having in mind the fact that, for
example, Al Qaeda struck again only a few days before. Thank you.
Wolfowitz: The war against terrorism is going to be a long struggle.
But I think the lesson from September 11, is that we can't simply wait
until terrorists strike us and then retaliate. We need to search them
out and find them before they have a chance to act. And we need to dry
up their sources of support. I think we made some important, indeed
outstanding progress in that regard, including not only with the
military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, but with very important
cooperation with intelligence services around the world. But no one
should be under any illusions that the problem has been solved yet.
Alina ....Evenimentul Zilei: You said that there was no final decision
on deploying U.S. troops to Romania. Did you, however, discuss this
with Minister Pascu, and did he offer any Romanian facilities that
could be used in the future for such bases? And the second question.
And what is your personal opinion on the NATO rapid reaction force
versus the EU rapid reaction force? Will they be complimentary, or
will they compete against one another?
Wolfowitz: On the second question, it's absolutely essential they be
complimentary. We can't have competing forces that interfere with one
another. And on the first question, the subject was mentioned
essentially in the terms that I just told you. We've had excellent
exchanges at a technical level with the Romanian Defense Department,
and they've provided us with a great deal of information. But as I
said, we're not yet at a stage of even discussing preliminary
decisions.
Cristian Moga, Prima TV: For Mr. Wolfowitz. You said you were more
impressed by the differences between Romania and the Iraqis, and I
would like to know what are these differences that you were so
impressed about? And the second one, you said there are a few more
progresses that Romania should do for what, and what are these?
Wolfowitz: I think the differences are, many of them obvious, starting
with the fact that Romania liberated itself, and Iraq, unfortunately,
had to be liberated by a coalition of friendly foreign forces. I could
make a longer list, but I think I'll just stop with that one. But on
the second part of your question, which I think is very important, and
it's a little presumptuous of me having not even spent a full day here
to be offering you advice. But I think I'm representing a consensus of
both American experts on Romania and also officials of the Government
with whom I had the privilege to speak here, that the most important
task confronting Romania right now is to construct solid foundations
of a market economy. And I think, as I believe President Iliescu said
recently, that means overcoming the obstacles of bureaucracy and
corruption.
http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2003/tr20030519-depsecdef0204.html
On the web:
http://dod.mil/transcripts/2003/tr20030519-depsecdef0204.html
Media contact: media@defenselink.mil or +1 (703) 697-5131
Public contact: public@defenselink.mil or +1 (703) 428-0711
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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