Military

SHAPE News Morning Update

11 June 2004

IRAQ

• President George W. Bush conceded that it was unrealistic to expect NATO countries to send more troops to Iraq, after European leaders expressed resistance to the idea. But he made a parting plea to world leaders wrapping up a three-day summit of the powerful Group of Eight nations to do what they can to guide Iraq into a stable democracy. "They need our help, and they will have our help," Bush said. Bush admitted as much, telling reporters: "I don't expect more troops from NATO to be offered up. That is an unrealistic expectation." The recent UN resolution will have the "practical effect" of allowing the leaders of countries with troops already in Iraq to persuade their governments to keep them there, Bush said. In Washington, Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawer who met in Georgia with the G-8 members Wednesday said the new interim government would welcome NATO participation in a multinational force to help maintain security when the government takes over later this month. (AP 110142 Jun 04)
  
  
• The EU should back a proposed international conference on Iraq to boost the interim government and send a special representative to Baghdad, EU foreign ministers will be told next week. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten have urged the EU's Irish presidency in a letter to consider co-sponsoring a conference of all interested states including Iraq's neighbours, diplomats said. The letter suggested such a meeting would show the international community's full support for the UN-endorsed transition process from U.S.-led occupation to democratic self-rule in Iraq. Diplomats said EU foreign ministers would discuss the proposal in Luxembourg on Monday and review a three-phase medium term strategy for relations between the EU and Iraq. (Reuters 101738 GMT Jun 04)

AFGHANISTAN

• The 15-nation UN Security Council and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly condemned on Thursday the killing of 11 Chinese construction workers in Afghanistan. Acts of terrorism are "criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed," a council statement said. Annan was shocked to learn of the killings, which he called an "outrageous and contemptible act against unarmed civilians," a UN spokesman said. (Reuters 102125 GMT Jun 04)

ISTANBUL SUMMIT

• Oil tankers and ships carrying explosives or other dangerous material will not be allowed to pass through the Bosporus during the NATO summit later this month, officials said Thursday. The decision came as part of heightened security in Istanbul ahead of the June 28-29 summit that U.S. President George W. Bush and other world leaders are scheduled to attend, Foreign Ministry officials said. The official said the tighter regulations, effective June 27-29, would not affect other vessels, such as passenger ships or military vessels. (AP 101910 Jun 04)

OLYMPIC SECURITY

• NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer discussed the alliance's contribution to help secure the Aug. 13-29 Olympics during a one-day visit Thursday to Athens. "He expressed his certainty that the games will be very good and safe," Roussopoulos said of de Hoop Scheffer's meeting with Premier Costas Caramanlis. Roussopoulos did not say if NATO had renewed a request for Greece to send more troops to Afghanistan, where it has several hundred soldiers. De Hoop Scheffer made no comment after his meeting with Caramanlis. (AP 101212 Jun 04)