Military

SHAPE News Summary & Analysis

16 July 2003

IRAQ

• An AP article, carried by The Guardian, asserts that for the first time, the U.S. administrator linked the U.S. occupation in Iraq to the political process, saying on Tuesday that American forces would remain in the country until Iraqis agree on a new constitution and set up a democratic government. But, notes the newspaper, American soldiers complained when told they have to stay longer. The new governing council, meanwhile, reportedly decided to set up special courts to try former members of Saddam’s regime who are accused of involvement in mass execution, torture and other human rights violations. The daily observes that the New York-based Human Rights Watch challenged the council’s plan, stating that justice would not be served if victims judge their tormentors. U.S. administrator Paul Bremer is quoted saying: “The next step is the launching of a process to write a new constitution for Iraq… Once approved, democratic, free and fair elections can be held in Iraq for a fully sovereign Iraqi government. Then our job, the coalition job, will be done.” He added: “We have no desire to stay longer than necessary… The timing of how long the coalition stays here is now in the hands of the Iraqi people.” Bremer has reportedly stated repeatedly the charge that hard-core Baathists, former members of the Fedayeen Saddam militia and the intelligence service are behind the attacks on the coalition forces. Nevertheless, comments the daily, the increasing frequency and sophistication of the attacks – and growing doubts about the basis for the war – have contributed to the decision by some countries not to contribute troops: on Tuesday, France ruled out sending troops, following India and Germany in rejecting U.S. calls for help without approval from the UN.

NATO-RUSSIA-GEORGIA

• An AFP dispatch reports the Georgian ambassador to Moscow defended on Tuesday Tbilisi’s plan to invite NATO to deploy an AWACS surveillance plane in the ex-Soviet republic, which has uneasy relations with its giant neighbor Russia. The plane, says the report, was given a one-hour test flight by senior NATO officials last week, although Georgia has not yet officially confirmed its interest in the craft. The Russian Foreign Ministry reportedly said Georgia would “escalate the already tense situation in the south Caucasus” if it ordered the airborne surveillance system. The envoy allegedly said Georgia had decided to ask for NATO’s help after unidentified craft flew over Georgian territory last year and dropped bombs. While the Georgian authorities accused the Russian aviation of targeting suspected Chechen rebel bases in Georgia’s Pankisi gorge, argues the dispatch, Moscow accuses Tbilisi of allowing guerrillas from the Russian breakaway republic of Chechnya to set up bases on its territory. Russian news agency Interfax reports the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman voiced his ministry’s concern about this situation and quotes him saying about Georgia’s intention to use the AWACS for surveillance: “(this intention) also affects Russia’s national security interests, as it would confront the need to address possible risks prompted by NATO’s reconnaissance activity in the close vicinity of Russia’s borders. We expect that appropriate explanations on this score will be given within the NATO-Russia Council, in line with the Alliance’s obligation to ensure transparency regarding its military activity. The Russian Foreign Ministry believes these plans and actions of Georgia run counter to its leadership’s declarations on improving cooperation with Russia, including in the security sphere. This does not meet the new nature of our relations with NATO, either. Russia assumes that both the NATO leadership and Georgia will take necessary steps to dispel these concerns.” According to Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Russian generals are preparing an extremely tough response to the appearance of AWACS planes in Georgia's skies. The paper writes it has learned that Russia is considering stationing the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in Abkhazia.

EU

• According to an AFP dispatch, EU policy chief Solana said on Tuesday the EU was ready to help pay for an eventual African Union peacekeeping force in Burundi, where the capital, Bujumbura, has suffered the fiercest assault in 10 years of civil war. “We think that the situation in Burundi is bad and intolerable. We will be in a position to help financially if the African Union deploys a peacekeeping force,” he was quoted saying after talking with Ugandan President Museveni. Earlier in the day Solana, after being hosted by DRC President Kabila in Kinshasa and Rwandan President Kagame in Kigali, reportedly told reporters he had urged Kagame and Museveni – who both support, or have supported, DRC rebel groups fighting the Kinshasa government – to work with a transitional government taking shape in Kinshasa. “Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi must play the game, just like the DRC… It is absolutely necessary that these relations be positive and constructive,” he reportedly stated.

TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS

• The Czech Republic and Central Europe’s other post-Cold War democracies do not have to choose sides in the transatlantic clash between the U.S. and the EU over Iraq and other issues, Czech Foreign Minister Svoboda said during a warm White House welcome to a delegation of top Czech officials yesterday, according to the Washington Time. “There is no clear division between old and new Europe on all the questions of controversy. We can be solid partners with Washington on Iraq and still be constructive members of the EU. It is not a choice for us,” he is quoted saying. The Oval Office meeting, adds the paper, touched on the post-war rebuilding of Iraq, the transatlantic Alliance and Iran’s nuclear programs. “I can say there is no gap whatsoever between the Czech Republic and the United States on Iraq and many other global issues,” the Foreign Minister reportedly said.