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Q: Nawab Khan from the Kuwait News Agency. Mr. Secretary General, on your new mission,
are you going to have cooperation with the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, such
as India, Pakistan, Iran? And my second question is: In your meeting with the Russian Defence
Minister today was the issue of Iran's nuclear program raised? Thank you.
ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN (NATO Secretary General): First on Afghanistan. Obviously we have a
dialogue, in particular, with Pakistan about the regional situation. We have made clear
right from the outset that if we are to ensure long-term peace and stability, not only in
Afghanistan, but in the region, we also need a positive engagement of Pakistan.
But I think all countries in the region can play a constructive role in ensuring such
peace and stability. And let me remind you that the UN Security Council resolution that
provides the basis for our presence in Afghanistan, also calls on all countries in the region
to contribute to peace and stability. So it's actually an obligation for all actors to do
what they can to provide such peace and stability. And...
Q: Iran's nuclear... ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Yes, yes, sorry. No,
we didn't discuss Iran at today's meeting. OANA LUNGESCU: Turkish News Agency here.
Q: Yes, Secretary General, after your comments on the concerns of the integration of missiles
that Turkey's willing to get from China yesterday, this morning the Turkish Prime Minister said
that, quote, if NATO is sensitive about the integration issues, first they have to focus
on the Russian missiles and systems that some of the NATO Allies already have and which
are not even yet in the inventory... listed as inventory. What would your reaction to
that will be? Thank you very much. ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: I can just repeat what
I said already this morning. Firstly, that it is a national decision, which military
equipment a nation wants to acquire. It is, and it remains, a national decision.
Secondly, seen from an Alliance perspective, it is, of course, of utmost importance that
military equipment in one Allied nation can operate, work, communicate together with equipment
in other Allied nations, because that's the essence of being an Alliance that we can actually
work and operate together. And that goes for all kinds of military equipment,
and I feel confident that all Allies are very much aware of this position.
OANA LUNGESCU: Japanese media in the back. Q: Sorry, I go back to Afghan issue. Did you
discuss security agreement issue, including the Loya Jirga next month?
ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Yes, obviously this issue has been a very important topic. We
welcome the progress we have seen in negotiations between the United States and Afghanistan
on a bilateral security agreement. However, we also are aware of the fact that these deliberations
have not yet been finally concluded and we are aware of the Afghan political process,
which includes a Loya Jirga, and I suppose also a parliamentary procedure.
So while we welcome the progress we have seen, we are also aware of the fact that the process
has not been concluded successfully yet. Having said that, I'm confident that a bilateral
security agreement will be concluded, will be approved, and then followed by a NATO status
of forces agreement which is a prerequisite for our deployment of troops and trainers
to Afghanistan after 2014. OANA LUNGESCU: One last question, over there,
Le Soir. Q: Philippe Regnier, Journal Le Soir. Mr.
Secretary General, could you give us a sense on what the key elements identified by the
military command for the next mission would be, please? Thank you.
ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: I suppose you're thinking about the progress in the planning we have
approved as of today. Yes, I can tell you, first of all, that our planning is on track.
We make steady progress. Today we have made important decisions on the mission goal, the
capability needed, training concepts, Command and Control arrangements, just to mention
some important elements that need to be in place before we can deploy a training mission
to Afghanistan. But, of course, we can't finalize our preparations
until we have finalized negotiations on the legal framework, the status of forces agreement.
But still, we are making steady progress, so if we are invited to establish a training
mission after 2014, and provided the sound legal basis is in place, we will be ready
to deploy such a training mission from the first of January, 2015.
But as I mentioned, there are still some elements on which we need a final agreement.
OANA LUNGESCU:Many thanks, I wish you a good afternoon.