Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part A (Russia)
October 5, 2004, Tuesday
SIMMONS: WE ARE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN THE CAUCASUS AND
CENTRAL ASIA WITH RUSSIA[]
SOURCE: Izvestia, October 5, 2004, p. 1
by Andrei Lebedev
NATO’s attention is glued to the Caucasus and Central Asia. Brussels
appointed Robert Simmons its representative in these regions, not
long ago. Simmons is an assistant to NATO general secretary for
cooperation and partnership in security sphere. Will the Alliance try
a more active role on Russia’s southern borders?
Question: Mr. Simmons, why would NATO institute a new position?
Robert Simmons: Our partners may be divided into three groups:
Western Europe (Sweden, Austria, Finland), the Balkan States, and
countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
These countries are our partners of old. The focus of relations of
partnership shifted eastward with NATO expansion. General secretary
offered the new position to me soon after the NATO summit in Istanbul
where the decision to establish the post was made.
Question: But Brussels did not institute a similar post for West
European partners…
Robert Simmons: This is not where a great deal of assistance is
needed. These countries have extensive defense programs of their own.
Moreover, they themselves may contribute greatly to the Alliance’s
operations – say, in the Balkans. As for countries of the Caucasus
and Central Asia, we want them to be able to appeal to NATO for
consultations in security matters. Moreover, we are prepared to share
our knowledge and experience in military reforms. We also hope that
given time, these countries will up tactical compatibility of their
armies with NATO armies. It is necessary, for example, for successful
participation in international peacekeeping operations.
The NATO summit in Istanbul agreed that close relations with
countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia would benefit the Alliance
as such, and that a special instrument was needed for that because of
the distance to these countries. So, I was given the task of
explaining to these partners of ours – and particularly their defense
ministries – the potential benefits and rewards of cooperation with
the Alliance.
Question: These countries are participants of NATO’s Partnership for
Peace Program, and you still have to explain something to them?
Robert Simmons: Cooperation between the Alliance and various
countries is at different stages for a number of reasons. Individual
plans that are expected to help our partners with the military
reforms are a relatively new instrument of this cooperation. All
three republics of the Caucasus and Uzbekistan have expressed their
willingness to sign these individual plans so far. I’d say that
Kazakhstan is quite interested too. Other countries do not turn the
idea down either, but they have to be explained benefits of the new
form of cooperation over and over again.
Question: Does the Alliance intend to play the role of mediator in
the conflicts in the regions in question?
Robert Simmons: No, we see our role elsewhere. Let the OSCE handle
conflict settlement. Sure, we have our opinion on the conflicts, and
we will make it known in the dialogue – including that within the
framework of the Russia – NATO Council. All the same, we intend to
concentrate on individual work with our partners.
Question: All the same, NATO does not abandon international functions
either. One of them failed not long ago. I’m talking about the
international exercise that was to be run on the territory of
Azerbaijan…
Robert Simmons: We hope that international exercises will continue.
In fact, the Council of Euroatlantic Partnership has an inviolable
principle – all its participants are entitled to participation in
joint functions. In this particular case, the authorities of
Azerbaijan did not display readiness to have Armenia participate in
the international exercise that had already taken so much by way of
preparations. Well, we made our stand on the matter known to the
authorities of Azerbaijan.
Question: Does it mean that you will no longer plan any new exercise
involving the military of these two countries?
Robert Simmons: Why? I’d say that Azerbaijan was not prepared to have
the Armenian military on its territory. It is not as though it was
not ready for participation in an international function as such. Had
the exercise been planned on the territory of some third countries,
they would not have been any problem. Other exercise are being
planned and will be planned yet.
Question: You mentioned the readiness to discuss your activities in
the region within the framework of the Russia – NATO Council…
Robert Simmons: We are not going to discuss matters of our
“individual” cooperation with our partners. After all, that is a
subject of bilateral relations. At the same time, we are prepared to
discuss the situation in the regions the way we already discussed the
situation in Georgia and South – Izvestia Ossetia.
Question: Is it possible for the Russia – NATO Council to discuss
some specific recommendations or plans of joint actions aimed at
settlement of local conflicts?
Robert Simmons: Had NATO or Russia found it expedient, and had
Georgia which is not a member of the Council agreed… Neither Russia
nor the Alliance have put forth a suggestion like that. Brussels does
not intend to – at least at this point – because this is not
something truly pressing for the time being.
Question: NATO is not the only military-political organization with
its own interests in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Do you plan any
contacts or cooperation with the Organization of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty?
Robert Simmons: I do not – as NATO representative. In this capacity,
I mean. But Kazakhstan, chairman of the Organization of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty, presented the structure to the latest
meeting of the Council of Euro-Atlantic Partnership and the idea of
close interaction was put forth. We have not discussed it thoroughly
yet.