12 June 2003
Lord Robertson Signals "a New NATO, a NATO Transformed"
(Lauds progress made on modernization, transformation programs) (940)
NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson opened a meeting of the
54-year-old security alliance's defense ministers, saying it is the
beginning of a new NATO and a NATO transformed to meet 21st-century
threats such as terrorism.
Robertson, who steps down as secretary general in six months, said
June 12 in Brussels that the presence of defense ministers from the
seven East European nations recently extended membership in the
alliance "is in itself testimony to NATO's deep and continuing
adaptation to 21st-century threats as well as the opportunities that
lie ahead." NATO leaders at the Prague Summit last November invited
seven former Soviet-bloc nations -- Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia -- to join the alliance,
beginning next year.
"This is a new NATO. A NATO transformed in [the] Prague Summit. A NATO
able to meet its commitments when times get tough, from the Straits of
Gibraltar through the Balkans to southern Turkey. A NATO now preparing
to take on a demanding stabilization mission in the Afghan capital. In
short, a NATO transforming its membership, its relationships, its
capabilities and its missions," Robertson said.
He said that NATO is transforming along three lines: overhauling the
military alliance; reducing its regional and sub-regional command
centers from 20 to 11; and creating a more agile force capable of
fighting terrorism and other unpredictable threats. The main command
center will remain in southern Belgium under the command of newly
appointed U.S. Marine General James Jones, who will also head the U.S.
European Command. The former Atlantic Command at the Norfolk Naval
Base in Virginia will become the "transformation headquarters" that
will oversee NATO military force modernization.
"I am personally extremely gratified by the considerable progress that
I know has already been achieved, both in NATO capitals and here at
NATO. Clearly more needs to be done. Yet my mantra of 'capabilities,
capabilities, capabilities' is no longer a solo effort, but a harmony
of 19 nations meeting their commitments and delivering substantial
capability improvements," Robertson said. No replacement has been
selected for the secretary general.
NATO will assume the lead for the International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August, and Poland will begin a
mission this summer to help stabilize Iraq, he said.
Following is the text of Robertson's remarks:
(begin transcript)
NATO Speech:
MOD, NATO HQ
12 June 2003
NATO HQ 12 June 2003 Opening statement
By NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson
at the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council
in Defense Ministers session
Welcome to this meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Defense
Ministers session. I am particularly pleased to have with us today two
Ministers who have not been in this session before, Minister Vecdi
Gonul of Turkey, who has been with us quite some time but this is the
first NAC-D, and our newest NATO colleague, Minister Kostelka of the
Czech Republic. We are pleased to have you with us and look forward to
working with you.
A special word of welcome also to General James Jones, the Supreme
Allied Commander Europe, who is attending his first meeting of this
kind. Before turning to the agenda, let me say a few words by way of
general introduction. The presence of Invitee Defense Ministers here
today is in itself testimony to NATO's deep and continuing adaptation
to 21st century threats as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.
This is a new NATO. A NATO transformed in Prague Summit. A NATO able
to meet its commitments when times get tough, from the Straits of
Gibraltar through the Balkans to southern Turkey. A NATO now preparing
to take on a demanding stabilization mission in the Afghan capital. In
short, a NATO transforming its membership, its relationships, its
capabilities and its missions.
This, I emphasize is real change, not rhetoric. At Prague, we launched
a three-pronged strategy to modernize fundamentally our alliance
capabilities: the Prague Capabilities Commitment, the NATO Response
Force and the Command Structure Review. And today, we will review the
progress achieved to date and provide guidance on the next stages of
this transformation, which is so critical to preparing the alliance
for 21st century operations.
I am personally extremely gratified by the considerable progress that
I know has already been achieved, both in NATO capitals and here at
NATO. Clearly more needs to be done. Yet my mantra of "capabilities,
capabilities, capabilities" is no longer a solo effort, but a harmony
of 19 nations meeting their commitments and delivering substantial
capability improvements.
Together, the Prague Capabilities Commitment, the NATO Response Force
and the Command Structure Review represent a systematic retooling of
NATO. They profoundly reshape the Alliance's military structures and
greatly enhance its military capabilities.
These improvements in our capabilities are critical because of NATO's
increasing operational responsibilities. We have recently ended the
deployment of surveillance aircraft, missile defense systems and
nuclear, biological and chemical protection units to Turkey. We
continue to conduct extensive antiterrorism maritime operations in the
Mediterranean. We remain decisively engaged in the Balkans.
From August, NATO will take the leading role in the International
Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan. And last week, NATO
agreed to Poland's request for alliance support in the role that it is
taking on this summer in the stabilization of Iraq.
All of these commitments demonstrate the new NATO's readiness and
ability to take on far-reaching international responsibilities in
support of peace and stability.
So we clearly have a full agenda before us today, and I recommend we
start without further delay.
(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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