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'Nato not overstepping its global role'
A senior Nato official yesterday denied claims that the international organisation is seeking to play the role of a global policeman, saying that only the United Nations could work to achieve stability and security around the world.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:15 May 21, 2009
- Image Credit:
- Both Saudi Arabia and Oman are welcome to join the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative if they so wish. Personally, I hope that the two countries will join the rest of the Gulfcountries soon, says Claudio Bisogniero.
Manama: A senior Nato official yesterday denied claims that the international organisation is seeking to play the role of a global policeman, saying that only the United Nations could work to achieve stability and security around the world.
"Nato is more and more involved in trying to tackle new security challenges, but it does not have the ambition to be the policeman of the world. It does not have the aspiration to be the global cop and we do not even have the capabilities to play this global role," Claudio Bisogniero, the deputy secretary-general of the transatlantic organisation, told Gulf News.
The official said that efforts to promote a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must remain a priority for the countries of the region and for international community despite all the challenges.
Bisogniero insisted that Nato membership would not be extended to Israel, denying pressure from several quarters to allow Tel Aviv to join the alliance as a deterrent against Tehran.
Calling upon Iran to respond positively to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Bisognerio said that Nato was "taking some defensive and protective measures vis-a-vis the proliferation issue to protect its deployed troops from attacks by ballistic missiles and examining ways in which it could better develop the protection of all the territory of Nato nations."
According to the Nato official, piracy in Somalia is both a land and sea issue and warned that Nato had recently adopted "some more robust and effective rules of engagement against pirates."
The situation Afghanistan requires a comprehensive approach, explaining that it required both military efforts for the security and civilian efforts for the economic development and institution building, Bisogniero said. Excerpts of the interview:
Gulf News: How do you assess the use of the Gulf countries of the Istanbul Initiative Cooperation (ICI) process? What are your hopes for possible partnerships with Saudi Arabia and Oman?
Claudio Bisogniero: Since we launched the Istanbul Initiative Cooperation (ICI) in 2004, our relations and cooperation have been moving forward and growing steadily. Alongside the practical cooperation we had developed a political dialogue. In 2008 we had the first multilateral political consultative meeting between the North Atlantic Council and the four Ambassadors of Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar in Brussels and we will have another one in June 2009. We have had two high level public diplomacy conferences in Kuwait in 2006 and in Manama last April, where the Secretary General, myself and the entire North Atlantic Council participated, together with high level political leaders and academics from Gulf state. We are very determined to move forward with our ties and cooperation and, again, I can say that we are very satisfied with our ties with the Gulf countries. With also continue to have a dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Oman who have shown interest in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. Saudi Arabia and Nato also co-organised in Riyadh a public diplomacy conference in January 2008.
Both Saudi Arabia and Oman are welcome to join the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative if they so wish.
Personally, I hope that the two countries will join the rest of the Gulf countries soon. We, on the Nato side, have an open door policy towards them.
What are the main issues of your current cooperation with the Gulf states?
At the practical level, we now have 560 practical activities available for cooperation offered by Nato to the four Gulf countries who participate in ICI. We have the determination and the will to build upon our successful cooperation and continue tailoring our cooperation, for example, through Individual Cooperation Programmes, which can be tailored to respond to the specific needs of each country.
In the Arab public opinion, there are still too many stereotypes and clichés that could hamper cooperation between Nato and Arab states. How can Nato overcome this bias and dispel misconceptions?
There are many misperceptions about the role of Nato of the 21st century, mainly associated to an old image of the past and there is no full understanding about the way the new Nato has changed and is trying to reach out to new partners to tackle, through a cooperative approach to security, new threats and challenges such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons of mass destruction, energy security, piracy, cyber attacks and climate change.
Nato must continue to work through public diplomacy together with our partners, to explain to the public opinion both in Nato member countries and in partner countries what the new Nato is doing and thus provide a better understanding of our policies and goals.
Do you think that an Arab country could one day become member of Nato?
Theoretically, many countries would like to be members of Nato. Discussions on how far Nato membership should extend are discussed in academic circles. But it must be considered, however, that Article 10 of the Nato Treaty [which describes admission procedures for other nations] clearly states that membership is open to only to European countries that share the same values and the same approach and are willing to contribute to the Organisation.
What is Nato's stance on the Palestinian issue?
Security and stability in this region are important and they are also linked to the stability and security of the Euro-Atlantic vision. Nato does not have a direct role on this issue, but we support all efforts by the international community to achieve peace. Full and speedy implementation of the Quartet Road Map is a key element in international efforts to promote a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and security. We know that it is not easy but this must remain a priority for the countries of the region and for international community as a whole. There has been a very active approach by the new US Administration and there have been and there are and there will be meetings in Washington as we speak and we hope that the outcome will be positive for the stability and security of this region which is linked to the security of Nato nations and of the whole world.
What about the rumour that Israel will join Nato?
As I mentioned to you, Article 10 of Nato Treaty is very clear. It contemplates the offer for membership to European countries and to the best of my knowledge, Israel is not a European country.
How do you define Nato's relations with Iran?
We are very concerned about Iran's nuclear programme. We call upon Iran to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions. We call upon Iran to respond positively to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We are very concerned by the fact that Iran is not collaborating fully with the IAEA and that is not respecting the Security Council resolutions as far as the nuclear programme is concerned.
What would be Nato's reaction in case of failure of diplomatic negotiations?
As I said, Nato has no direct involvement in the negotiations. Allies are hopeful for a diplomatic solution to the issue. At the same time, Nato is taking some defensive and protective measures vis-a-vis the proliferation issue, to protect its deployed troops from attacks by ballistic missiles and we are examining ways in which we can better develop the protection of all the territory of Nato nations.
How do you respond to claims that Nato is an organisation with global ambitions that is building closer contacts with several countries outside the Euro-Atlantic area in order to undermine the United Nations?
This is just wrong. This is not what Nato is doing. Nato is more and more involved in trying to tackle new security challenges but Nato does not have the ambition to be the policeman of the world. Nato does not have the aspiration to be the global cop. We do not even have the capabilities to play this global role. We believe that the global role for stability and security around the world is that of the United Nations. Moreover, all Nato operations are under the mandate of the United Nations, like at the time when we were in Bosnia.
Do you know what Nato does? If yes, how do you view its role in today's world? Does it still hold the same standing?
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