Military

SHAPE News Morning Update

24 February 2004

IRAQ

• A “more secure environment” in Iraq is necessary for the United Nations to play a full role in helping set up an interim government and arrange elections, UN Secretary-General Annan said Tuesday in Tokyo. In a speech before the Japanese Parliament, Kofi Annan also said that the UN would have to bolster its own security by establishing an identity separate from the country’s various power-brokers. (AP 240444 Feb 04)
  
  
• U.S. and Iraqi officials will delay an agreement on the status of U.S. military forces in the country until after power is handed over to an Iraqi government on June 30, members of the Iraqi Governing Council said Monday in Baghdad. Council member Adnan Pachachi said the status of forces agreement would wait until a provisional government takes power. The U.S.-picked 25-member council “is not considered sufficiently representative,” he said. Top American occupation and military officials seemed unconcerned that an agreement would not be signed before the transition, saying U.S. troops will stay in Iraq as long as they are welcome. (AP 232116 Feb 04)

BALKANS

• EU foreign ministers expressed concern at developments in Serbia since parliamentary elections in December, fearing it may drift away from reform and cooperation with war crimes investigators. “The Council (of foreign ministers) expressed concern at political developments in Serbia following the parliamentary elections of 28 December 2003,” a statement said. “It emphasised the interest of the European Union in a Serbia committed to political and economic reform... full cooperation with ICTY, the fight against organised crime and continued reconciliation and cooperation with neighbouring countries.” Asked about reports that the new government may be less cooperative with the court than its predecessor, EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten suggested it may reflect posturing for public opinion, but warned of consequences if not. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told the same conference he expected the new government to cooperate with the court. The foreign ministers said cooperation and progress of the kind it outlined was “essential for further advances towards European integration with the full support of the European Union.” (Reuters 232022 GMT Feb 04)

RUSSIA

• Britain said it is financing the dismantling of two Russian nuclear submarines as part of an environmental safety deal. “There are serious security, environmental and proliferation threats that need to be very carefully managed and today I am seeing an example of the excellent work being done to meet the threat head on,” Trade and Industry minister Nigel Griffiths said. Russia had pleaded for foreign assistance to help dismantle its rusting fleet of Soviet-built nuclear submarines. The slow pace of Russia’s effort had prompted international concern about leaks and the possibility of nuclear materials being transferred to other nations or terrorists. (AP 240135 Feb 04)

MISSILE DEFENSE

• Australia is spending millions of dollars to upgrade a radar system that could be used as part of the U.S. missile defense shield, the defense minister announced Tuesday. The so-called “over the horizon” radar system is capable of detecting ships and aircraft up to 2,000 km beyond Australia’s northern border. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said it made sense to support the U.S. initiative. “The Americans have a proposal where they can build and they are going to start deploying it, not in 10 years time, but in September,” he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio. “To oppose missile defense is to say you wouldn’t want your allies developing a system which would stop missiles falling on their cities or on allied troops,” he added. (AP 240106 Feb 04)