Online NewsHour: Javier Solana -- May 27, 1997

VICTORY FOR REASON?

MAY 27, 1997

TRANSCRIPT

Russia has reluctantly entered into a relationship with its former adversary, NATO, allowing the security alliance to expand into Eastern Europe. Russian President Boris Yeltsin called the agreement "a victory for reason." NATO Secretary General Javier Solana talks with Charles Krause about the future of NATO and US-Russian relations.

A RealAudio version of of this segment is available.
May 20, 1997:
The new defense plan as seen by John McCain, a Republican from Arizona and Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan.
May 12, 1997:
Retiring NATO Commander General George Joulwan on the future of NATO and what should happen to Bosnian war criminals.
May 12, 1997:
Robert Zoellick, former State Department Counsellor to President Bush, and Sam Nunn, former Georgia Senator, address the Clinton-Yeltsin summit and NATO expansion.
February 7, 1997:
Vice-President Al Gore's National Security Advisor Al Fuerth discusses NATO expansion.
February 7, 1997:
Two Russian experts discuss how America's former Cold War enemy views NATO expansion.
Outside Links:
A fact sheet on the recent missions undertaken by NATO.
Background information on NATO can be found in the organization's "NATO Handbook."

JIM LEHRER: In Paris today the leaders of the 16 NATO countries joined Russian President Yeltsin to sign a security accord between Russia and NATO. President Clinton said the pact demonstrates new cooperation among old adversaries.
PRESIDENT CLINTON: From now on NATO and Russia will consult and coordinate and work together. Where we all agree we will act jointly, as we are in Bosnia, where a Russian brigade serves side by side with NATO troops, giving the Bosnian people a chance to build a lasting peace. Deepening our partnership today will make all of us stronger and more secure.
JIM LEHRER: Among the signers at today's ceremony was NATO's Secretary-General Javier Solana. He was the point man for many of the negotiations with Russia that led to today's accord. Charles Krause talked with Solana last week when he was visiting in the United States.
CHARLES KRAUSE: Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us.
JAVIER SOLANA, NATO Secretary-General: Thank you very much.
CHARLES KRAUSE: From what I understand your negotiations with the Russians were long and difficult. Tell me, what were the principal sticking points, the problems, the issues they were most concerned about?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: Well, the negotiations were difficult and long, as you have said. The most difficult points were related without regard to the military aspect. We started the negotiations with the joint council, and we advanced in that joint council I wouldn't say rapidly but at a faster rhythm than we advance on the military political issues.
CHARLES KRAUSE: Now, there were some reports that it was the nuclear question that really was most--of most concern to the Russians, is that correct?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: Yes. The nuclear question was a complicated issue for the Russians, but NATO, as you know, in December, last December, made a unilateral statement on the nuclear posture, and that is what we had put in the text; therefore, we had already in position by NATO in that position as we maintain and in the text with Russia.
CHARLES KRAUSE: What exactly has NATO told the Russians about troops in the new country, member country?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: As far as the deployment of foreign troops in the new countries, the position of NATO was taken in March, 14th of March, and it was very clear; in the present circumstances of security in Europe we think that the security, the collective security of the members of NATO--that does not necessarily entails the deployment of foreign troops on a permanent basis; rather, we have to defend these countries in the collective defense of NATO through integration, through inter-operability of the different armies and that sort of thing, without resorting to a permanent deployment of foreign forces.
CHARLES KRAUSE: Do you think that the agreement that you reached with the Russians has assured them sufficiently so that they are now more or less comfortable with the idea that NATO will expand?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: What we are doing is started a new page in the multilateral relations between NATO and Russia, and therefore a new page in the history of Europe. We are letting behind a Europe that was divided, and we are trying to create a Europe which is safer, which is more secure, and therefore we can be prosperous. And that is what we want to do, and to incorporate, as far as possible, Russia to that--to that new structure of security. That's our aim, and I think it's an aim that has to be understood by the citizens of Europe and also by the citizens of the United States.
CHARLES KRAUSE: Has it been understood, though, by the citizens of Russia, or at least the Russian government?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: The Russian government I think understands very well what we want to do, and that is why we have agreed on this document. Of course, we have to do a lot of politicing--in their own citizens because what we have done is a difficult--it's a difficult question. The enemies of yesterday; the adversaries of yesterday; they are cooperating together like we are doing in Bosnia, in Bosnia together, the soldiers from the NATO countries and soldiers from Russia are doing something together which is trying to bring peace and maintain peace in the territory of Europe.
CHARLES KRAUSE: Do you think that Mr. Yeltsin--he has said that he is going to take this agreement to the parliament and try to get it approved there--do you think he is going to have trouble selling the agreement?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: I don't think he is going to take it to the parliament through a process ratification in the sense that we understand in our parliament. He will probably have a debate in duma but not a debate followed by a vote. I think President Yeltsin is going to take the responsibility of the--putting his signature on his document which has a political character. It will be signed by the head of state and governments of the different countries of NATO.
CHARLES KRAUSE: One of the sensitive issues, particularly for the Russians, is the question of NATO expanding beyond Central Europe into what used to be the old Soviet Union and obviously the Baltic countries--Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia--are a primary foci of all of this discussion. Did you get any assurance from then--that is from the Russians--that they will not try to reoccupy the Baltic countries, or take other aggressive stands that might result in--
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: We said a thousand a times, that the countries, that the parts of Europe that qualify to be members of NATO, they can apply to be members of NATO, and no veto can be accepted by the part of the Russians from the part of enlargement of the alliance or opening of the alliance; that is very clearly stated.
CHARLES KRAUSE: Now in Congress, in the U.S. Congress, there's already been some concern about the cost of this expansion and, you know--what--what can you say to that? How much is it going to cost, and how much is it going to cost in the United States?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: Well, it's difficult to say precise figures today. Why--because still we haven't decided how many countries are going to be invited. There will be a decision taken at the occasion of the summit. It will take place in the month of July. But what I can tell you is that the figures that we are contributing now are figures which are easily affordable. It would not be a figure which would be very difficult to pay and very difficult to afford. And of course it will be shared in between the different countries of NATO and also between the countries, the new members.
CHARLES KRAUSE: Do you have any concern at all, very quickly, whether this agreement ultimately will be ratified by the United States Congress?
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: Well, this agreement does not have to be ratified. What I do hope that the United States Congress will ratify the enlargement of NATO, the new members, the opening of NATO, and I think that Congress of the United States will understand that the countries which are applying to be members of NATO are free countries, countries that they could not belong to the basic institutions of security of Europe because they could not do it at historical risk, and now then they have recuperated freedom. Now they are democratic countries. Now they are trying to improve the market economy; now they want to become part of the institutions that have defended Europe in the past.
CHARLES KRAUSE: I want to thank you, sir, for joining us.
SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA: Thank you very much.

Program
Support
From: