Military

SHAPE News Morning Update

21 October 2003

NATO

• NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson on Monday welcomed closer partnership with Ukraine, but said the former Soviet republic needs to conduct deeper democratic reforms before it’s invited to join the alliance. After meeting with Ukraine’s President Kuchma and top members of his Cabinet, Lord Robertson told reporters that “Ukraine remains a very, very important strategic partner.” Commenting on U.S. fears that European Union plans to create a military force could threaten NATO’s unity and pre-eminence as Europe’s primary defender, Lord Robertson said European Union leaders had given him “substantial reassurances,” but warned that “any duplication or competition” between the EU and NATO would be “deeply unsatisfactory.” (AP 201515 Oct 03)

BALKANS

• The United Nations on Monday accused two of Serbia’s former top soldiers and its current public security chief of war crimes against Kosovo Albanians in the 1998-99 conflict, drawing a bitter reaction from Belgrade. Serbia’s government said the move by The Hague tribunal’s chief prosecutor broke a promise backed by Washington not to pile on more indictments. “One should not expect quick reactions like arrests and extraditions from our side,” Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic told state television after the tribunal made the charges public. They allege war crimes by former armed forces chief of staff Pavkovic, former corps commander Lazarevic, former police chief Djordjevic and the current head of Serbia’s public security, Lukic. (Reuters 202146 GMT Oct 03)

IRAQ

• The Pentagon’s top general told some 1,500 U.S. Marines on Monday that American soldiers would probably be needed in Iraq throughout the next year. “They (terrorists) are accustomed to the U.S. backing down,” Air Force Gen. Richard Myers said in a speech at the Camp Pendleton base near San Diego. “They think they can break our will,” Gen. Myers said. “There will be a demand on our armed forces some time to come. I don’t know if it will go to 2005. We just don’t know that.” His remarks followed a Washington Post story on Monday that said U.S. military commanders plan to cut troop levels in Iraq from 130,000 to 50,000 by mid-2005. The paper said that plan was still in the development stage and had not been approved by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. (Reuters 210153 GMT Oct 03)

EU

• The island of Cyprus must be reunited before Turkey can join the European Union, Greece’s government spokesman said Monday, on the eve of a visit to Athens by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. “Turkey’s path toward joining the EU passes through the disappearance of the partition line in Cyprus,” Christos Protopapas said. Gen. Hilmi Ozkok claimed in a Greek newspaper interview on Saturday that Greek-Turkish disputes could be solved “within a week” once Turkey is guaranteed EU membership. Protopapas insisted Cyprus must come first. “The Turkish general makes things very simple ... very simple, but in the wrong order,” he said. “Let Turkey settle the Cyprus problem, or at least contribute to a settlement, and then it will get support for joining the EU,” he added. (AP 201511 Oct 03)