03 September 1998
(Discusses NATO enlargement, NATO Summit, Russia) (1600) Vilnius, Lithuania -- U.S. Ambassador to NATO Alexander Vershbow told a September 3 press conference here that the NATO Summit in April "will shape NATO's role in European security for the next century. The continued enlargement of NATO and the partnership that NATO has established with all the countries in Europe, including Russia, will be central elements of NATO's new strategy." The ambassador said he was in the Baltic region to participate in a conference on Euro-Atlantic integration, to consult "on the efforts of all three of the Baltic states to become members of NATO," and to work on the agenda for the NATO Summit. The United States has been working actively to help the Baltic states "develop a national security strategy and the concrete defense plans that will help to make them strong candidates for NATO," Vershbow said. "We are very encouraged by the work that is now underway, particularly the work that is being done by Lithuania, and we are certainly especially glad that the governments of the Baltic states are now prepared to devote the necessary resources to support defense modernization." Asked about the effect of the political and economic situation in Russia on NATO enlargement, Vershbow said, "I don't think that the Russian political and economic crisis, however it comes out, is going to have any real impact on our policy of enlargement.... And although we know that the issue of Baltic membership is now and will remain a very sensitive issue for Russia, we are currently convinced that European security and regional stability in Northeastern Europe will be much greater when the Baltic states can come into the alliance." He added, "We respectfully disagree with the Russian view of enlargement, but at the same time have sought to include Russia into the broader European security system. We are going to stay on that course, and I think Russia knows that it is in its own interests to be a part of the new European security system as well, and that we need to manage our disagreements over enlargement." Following is a transcript of the press conference: (Begin text) Press Conference by Alexander Vershbow U.S. Ambassador to NATO In conjunction with the International Conference on "Euro-Atlantic Integration as a Key Aspect of Stability" Vilnius City Hall September 3, 1998, 10:00 a.m. LISA HELLING, U.S. EMBASSY PRESS ATTACHE: Ambassador Vershbow will make a few opening remarks and then he would be happy to take your questions. One thing I would like to ask of you when you ask your questions, if you could please let the Ambassador know who you are and what press agency you represent. Thank you very much. AMBASSADOR VERSHBOW: Good morning. As Lisa said, I am here to speak at the conference, but I am using my trip as an opportunity to visit all three Baltic capitals and to consult on NATO issues, and in particular, on the efforts of all three of the Baltic states to become members of NATO. As President Clinton said in January, our policy is to do everything possible to create the conditions in which the Baltic states can walk through NATO's open door. And in practical terms, we have been working very actively in recent months to help the governments of the three Baltic states to develop a national security strategy and the concrete defense plans that will help to make them strong candidates for NATO. We are very encouraged by the work that is now under way, particularly the work that is being done by Lithuania, and we are certainly especially glad that the governments of the Baltic states are now prepared to devote the necessary resources to support defense modernization. I have also been consulting on the agenda for the NATO Summit, which will take place in April of next year, which will shape NATO's role in European security for the next century. The continued enlargement of NATO and the partnership that NATO has established with all the countries in Europe, including Russia, will be central elements of NATO's new strategy. While it is too early to say what will happen concerning specific decisions on enlargement at the summit next year, the open door will be reaffirmed and there will be an effort to give further momentum to the process of integration of the new democracies in Central Europe. I'd be happy to answer your questions. Q: Jonathan Leff, Reuters News Agency: How do you think the current political and economic turmoil in Russia will affect NATO expansion, in particular in relation to the eventual membership of the Baltic states? A: I don't think that the Russian political and economic crisis, however it comes out, is going to have any real impact on our policy of enlargement. That policy reflects our assessment of what is the best way to strengthen stability and security in Europe, regardless of what may happen in Russia. And although we know that the issue of Baltic membership is now and will remain a very sensitive issue for Russia, we are currently convinced that European security and regional stability in Northeastern Europe will be much greater when the Baltic states can come into the alliance. Q: Aleksandras Matonis, Baltic News Agency: The Lithuanian press has recently published the views of Mr. Brzezinski, who suggests that NATO should enlarge in a northeastern and southeastern direction. How does the U.S. administration evaluate this suggestion? A: We always listen very carefully to Mr. Brzezinski's views, but in the current deliberations I don't think that people are thinking very seriously about this particular formulation for the next phase of enlargement. The basic policy is that each country that seeks membership will be judged on its own merits. We are not going to apply some artificial geopolitical construct to the decisionmaking. At the Madrid summit, the Alliance expressed its strong interests in the security and stability of both Northeastern Europe and Southeastern Europe, and identified some candidates for membership from both regions. But again, the bottom line is that each country will be judged on its merits. Invitations will come when countries are ready, and, of course, when NATO is ready to come to agreement that their inclusion in the alliance will strengthen our common security. Q: Lithuanian Telegraph News Agency (ELTA): My question is whether the president of Russia will participate in the NATO Summit in Washington, and the effect that his presence might have on decisions taken with respect to NATO enlargement. A: Well, we don't know yet whether President Yeltsin will come to the Washington Summit. We hope he does. The second day of the summit will involve a meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, which involves 44 countries, including Russia. If President Yeltsin were to come, we would probably also have a meeting of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council at the highest level. But, in the case of Madrid, the Russians sent a lower-level representative. So, we will see what the Russian decision will be. Beyond possibly affecting the organization of the meeting, I do not think President Yeltsin's attendance would change the Alliance's likely decisions at the Summit. Part of our strategy, of course, is to continue to reach out to Russia and to develop a strategic partnership between NATO and Russia, because we think that constructive participation by Russia in European security is the best way to have a truly stable and peaceful Europe in the next century. Q: Audrius Baciulis, daily Respublika: My question is that if the changes that are occurring in Russia will lead to the worst, and as the Communists say, that even civil war might erupt, do you think that this might influence a more rapid pace of enlargement eastwards? A: I'd rather not get too drawn in to hypothetical worst-case scenarios. Obviously, the kind of scenario you have described could conceivably have security implications, not least for the neighbors of Russia. But the Russian crisis is fundamentally an internal one. I think that Russian leaders across the spectrum have to recognize that they first must come to grips with their internal situation. I don't think that any new, more assertive policies toward the outside world would really help any of the factions to find a solution to the current crisis. And, of course, they must know that that would put at serious risk, if not destroy, the possibility of gaining support from the West for their continued reforms. There is time for one more question. Q: Bridger News: Just yesterday in Moscow, President Yeltsin stated again Russia's opposition to NATO enlargement. If Russia continues its strong opposition to enlargement, despite any partnerships, would the process of NATO enlargement continue to go forward as planned? A: Well, the short answer is "yes." We took the initial decisions at Madrid because we felt it was in our security interests and in the interests of overall security and stability in Europe that NATO bring in new members who are able to contribute to the common security. We respectfully disagree with the Russian view of enlargement, but at the same time have sought to include Russia into the broader European security system. We are going to stay on that course, and I think Russia knows that it is in its own interests to be a part of the new European security system as well, and that we need to manage our disagreements over enlargement. Thank you very much for your questions. (End transcript)