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Wed, 10 Mar 04
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NE-@latvia-usa.org
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Mar 09, 2004 22:42 PST
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NATO ENLARGEMENT DAILY BRIEF (NEDB)
Wednesday, 10 March 2004, 01:31 EDT
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* LATVIA GETS NEW CENTER-RIGHT GOVERNMENT ? AFP / Aija
Lulle
* HARDLINER ON CYPRUS TO HEAD GREEK FOREIGN POLICY / FT /
Andreas Hadjipapas and Kerin Hope
* NEW RUSSIAN FORMIN KNOWN FOR HIS SHARP MIND, QUICK WIT
AND DYNAMIC PERSONALITY / AP / Edith M. Lederer
* DENMARK URGES 'NEW START' FOR EU-US RELATIONS / AFP
* U.S. "GREATER MIDDLE EAST" INITIATIVE MAY FAIL IF POORLY
PRESENTED: ANALYSTS / AFP/ Christophe De Roquefeuil
* GERMAN ARMED FORCES SHORTFALLS SHOWN IN REPORT ? DPA
* LITHUANIAN LEADER URGES TO PLEDGE 2 PER CENT FOR DEFENSE
/ BBC Monitoring / Lithuanian Radio
* ATHENS TO CALL IN NATO DESPITE SPENDING £430M ON SECURITY
/ The Guardian / Helena Smith
---------------------------------------------
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LATVIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW CENTER-RIGHT GOVERNMENT
AFP, 9 Mar 04, by Aija Lulle
Latvia's parliament on Tuesday voted in a three-party
centre-right coalition government, led by Europe's first
ever Green prime minister, weeks before the Baltic country
joins the EU and NATO.
Prime Minister Indulis Emsis vowed to get down to work to
make sure the former Soviet republic is ready to join the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union
in the coming weeks.
"There is no doubt, my government will be pro-European
Union and pro-NATO. I will do everything to prepare Latvia
for the European Union and NATO," he told AFP after the
100-seat Saeima approved his cabinet by a vote of 56 to 33.
Latvia, which restored independence from the Soviet Union
in 1991, is one of seven ex-communist countries on course
to join NATO on April 2, and one of 10 countries set to
join the European Union on May 1.
The country was plunged into political limbo on February 5
when the centre-right coalition government of former
central bank chief Einars Repse resigned after falling into
a minority in a dispute centred on corruption.
Emsis, 52, will, like his predecessor, have to work in a
minority, with his coalition holding only 46 of the 100
parliament seats.
Support in the parliamentary vote from a left-wing group
drew immediate accusations from opposition right wing
parties that the government was backed by forces in Moscow.
Although Emsis has vowed to be western leaning, analysts on
Tuesday echoed weekend comments by the country's outgoing
foreign and defence ministers that the minority coalition
will be dependent on left-wing political forces backed by
Moscow.
"Most probably champagne .. will be popping at the Russian
embassy in Riga," said Aivars Ozolins, an analyst at the
daily Diena newspaper, in anticipation of the vote.
In a joint statement at the weekend outgoing foreign
minister Sandra Kalniete, slated to be Latvia's European
Commissioner, and defence minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis
expressed doubs that Emsis' government will maintain its
center-right approach given that it is backed by leftist
forces.
"Latvia needs a right wing majority government. Any other
solution may create unforeseeable consequences for our
state and nation. The price, which should be payable for
the support by pro-Moscow forces for the minority
government, is too high," they said.
"Latvia cannot enter into NATO and the EU with an unstable
government," they said.
Short-lived governments have become common since Latvia
restored independence, but Emsis had rushed to form a team
ahead of Latvia's membership of both western organisations.
However, pro-Western President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told
the first government meeting on Tuesday she believed the
team would ensure stability.
"Continuity is one of the elements which gives stability. I
can see many ministers in the new government who will
support this continuity," she said, thanking all previous
governments which led Latvia towards NATO and the EU.
The coalition contains four members of Emsis' Greens and
Farmers Union, six members of the centrist Latvia's First
party, five members of the liberal, right of centre
People's Party and one "rebel" member from New Era.
The three government parties and opposition left wing
National Harmony party voted for the government.
Ainars Slesers of Latvia's First, whose resignation
prompted the fall of the previous government, becomes
Deputy Prime Minister again in the new team.
Rihards Piks of the People's Party and current head of the
parliament's foreign committee who represented Latvia in
talks on an EU constitution becomes foreign minister.
Party colleagues Atis Slakteris, a former agriculture
minister, and Oskars Spurdzins become defence minister and
finance minister respectively.
HARDLINER ON CYPRUS TO HEAD GREEK FOREIGN POLICY
Financial Times, 10 Mar 04, by Andreas Hadjipapas and
Kerin Hope
Costas Karamanlis, Greece's new prime minister, yesterday
signalled a possible change of policy on Cyprus by
appointing a 75-year-old cold war-era diplomat as foreign
minister.
Petros Molyviatis, a former Greek ambassador to Moscow, is
known to be a hardliner on issues concerning Turkey and
Cyprus.
Mr Karamanlis has said Cyprus is his government's first
priority, promising to work for "a just, viable and
European solution" for the island.
But he has not made clear whether he will back the previous
Socialist government's commitment to reaching a settlement
by May 1 so that a reunified Cyprus will join the European
Union.
Greece and Turkey are expected to broker a deal, with the
UN acting as facilitator, if the Greek and Turkish Cypriot
leaders fail to meet the March 22 deadline set by Kofi
Annan, the UN secretary general, for reaching agreement.
Mr Molyviatis's appointment "raises concern about whether
Greece is prepared to show the flexibility required to
shape a settlement acceptable to both Turkish and Greek
Cypriots," said one analyst.
Tassos Papadopoulos, president of the
Greek-Cypriot-controlled south of the island which
negotiated EU accession on behalf of both communities, is
due to visit Athens on Friday for talks with Mr Karamanlis
and the new foreign policy team.
The bi-communal negotiations chaired by Alvaro de Soto, the
UN special envoy to Cyprus, have made little progress so
far. This week's talks are focusing on security issues,
including the number of Turkish troops who would remain on
the island after a settlement.
The Greek Cypriots have requested that only a small number
of Turkish settlers should remain on the island and that
immigration from Turkey should be banned after
reunification. Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader,
has countered by asking the international community to help
pay for their resettlement elsewhere in the Turkish Cypriot
north of the island after their homes are handed back to
Greek Cypriots under a territorial exchange.
The Greek and Turkish Cypriots are due to start bargaining
over details of the UN plan later this week. The next round
of talks would not be held in Cyprus but in a north
European city, according to UN officials.
Mr Molyviatis served as chief adviser to Mr Karamanlis's
uncle and namesake, who as prime minister pulled Greece out
of Nato's military wing after Turkey invaded Cyprus in
1974. He has been Mr Karamanlis's mentor on foreign policy.
In opposition Mr Molyviatis was a sharp critic of the
Socialist government's drive for rapprochement with Turkey.
In one newspaper article he claimed the Socialists' foreign
policy "has failed to benefit the country and tends to move
us towards more dangerous situations".
According to some Greek diplomats, Mr Molyviatis's
appointment was a reward for long service to the Karamanlis
political dynasty, and he would not expect to keep the job
throughout the government's term.
One New Democracy adviser said: "Mr Karamanlis will take a
more cautious line on Cyprus than the previous government.
Mr Molyviatis's age and experience means he will understand
every manoeuvre tried by the elderly Cypriot leaders."
Yannis Valinakis, a 49-year-old international relations
expert from Eliamep, an Athens-based think-tank who won a
seat in parliament for the first time in Sunday's election,
was appointed deputy foreign minister.
Mr Valinakis has advised Mr Karamanlis on the Balkans and
central Europe as well as Cyprus. Additional reporting by
Andreas Hadjipapas in Nicosia
NEW RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KNOWN FOR HIS SHARP MIND,
QUICK WIT AND DYNAMIC PERSONALITY
AP, 9 Mar 04, by Edith M. Lederer
Veteran Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov has a well-deserved
reputation at the United Nations for cutting through
endless diplomatic verbiage to the heart of an issue - and
skewering any unprepared opponent.
That sharp mind, coupled with an unfailing wit and dynamic
personality, will likely serve him well as Russia's new
foreign minister, diplomats said Tuesday.
Lavrov, 53, came to the United Nations as Russia's
ambassador in September 1994, only a few years after the
downfall of communism, the break-up of the Soviet Union and
Russia's rebirth as an independent state.
During almost 10 years as Moscow's U.N. envoy, he played a
key role in the revival of the U.N. Security Council from
its polarized and near-moribund Cold War state.
For the first time since the United Nations was founded in
the ashes of World War II, Russia and the United States
worked together on a host of global conflicts and problems
- from wars in Africa and fighting the AIDS pandemic to
combatting terrorism.
That's not to say there weren't differences between Moscow
and Washington.
Lavrov repeatedly confronted the United States over Iraq's
purported weapons of mass destruction and the war in Iraq,
the NATO-led invasion of Kosovo, and Washington's Middle
East policy, which Moscow views as pro-Israeli. He also
succeeded in keeping Chechnya off the Security Council
agenda.
During the debate in March 2003 over whether the Security
Council should authorize war against Iraq, Lavrov took
issue with the U.S. interpretation of a resolution which
gave Iraq a final opportunity to disarm or face "serious
consequences."
"It's not about regime change as far as we are concerned,"
Lavrov said. "When the council was negotiating Resolution
1441, the United States said no, no, no it's about
disarmament, and 1441 was adopted unanimously on that very
basis."
But he supported Washington after Saddam Hussein was
toppled on resolutions trying to rebuild Iraq and quickly
restore its sovereignty, and supported the current U.N.
administration of Kosovo.
As the dean of the 15-member Security Council, Lavrov not
only knows all the rules that govern its meetings but he
can quote paragraphs of council resolutions - and pity the
diplomat who can't keep up.
An unapologetic smoker and great raconteur, he is
exceedingly well-liked by his diplomatic colleagues and the
media. At 3 p.m. most afternoons, he could be found in the
Delegate's Lounge overlooking the East River, drinking a
Scotch and a double espresso, and talking on his cell phone
to Moscow.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has know Lavrov for years
"and has great professional respect for his competence as a
diplomat ... and has also learned to appreciate both his
wisdom and his wit," U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said.
"I'm very happy for Sergey. In some way, all the
ambassadors to the U.N. are honored," said France's U.N.
Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere. "I will miss his
jokes."
Germany's U.N. Ambassador Gunter Pleuger, who met Lavrov 15
years ago when they were both U.N. directors in their
foreign ministries, said: "he impressed me at that time
with his knowledge, his strong will, and his sense of
humor."
"I think he is a very good choice for foreign minister for
Russia, for Europe, and for the international community
because he is an experienced multilateralist," he said.
Born in 1950 - at the height of the Cold War - Lavrov
aspired to a diplomatic career.
His first post was in Sri Lanka. Eventually, Lavrov was
sent to the Soviet Union's U.N. Mission in 1981. He was
named deputy foreign minister in April 1992, a post he held
until his U.N. assignment.
U.N. Undersecretary-General Shashi Tharoor called Lavrov "a
professional of the highest integrity and ability."
Asked whether he had any special wishes for Lavrov, Tharoor
said, "I certainly wish him fewer U.N. crises than when he
was ambassador."
DENMARK URGES 'NEW START' FOR EU-US RELATIONS
AFP, 9 Mar 04
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on
Tuesday for "a new start" in relations between the European
Union and the United States.
"There have been disagreements between the EU or certain
European countries and the United States on a number of
issues, especially when it comes to the war in Iraq, but
also on questions concerning trade, the environment, and
the International Criminal Court," he told reporters.
Rasmussen, one of Washington's most loyal allies, insisted
that the Iraq controversy would not continue to cloud
US-European relations, especially now that the war-torn
country has signed its new interim constitution, which he
described as "the most modern and the most democratic in
the Middle East."
"I believe in fact that several (countries) are of the
opinion now that it's time to move on," he said.
He pointed out that a sovereign Iraqi government is
scheduled to take over power in the country on July 1, and
that after that date, the Iraqis themselves will decide if
they want to maintain the presence of international troops,
including 500 Danish soldiers, in the country.
"This change will be significant for many of the countries
that were skeptical to the war, and that have become more
and more involved in the development and the rebuilding of
Iraq," he said.
"That's why we think it's important to have a new start for
these relations" between the EU and the US.
While NATO makes up an official forum where Europe and the
US can discuss their security policies, Rasmussen said
there was a need for other forums where the countries can
discuss other issues, like "commercial policies, where
disagreements often arise."
The head of Denmark's liberal-conservative government also
emphasized "other questions that give rise to debate on
both sides of the Atlantic, like... the fight against
poverty (and) the environment," he said, referring to the
Kyoto accord on global warming, which was rejected by the
US.
And while he said that the fight against terrorism has
resulted in "remarkable and strong cooperation between
Europe and the US," he said that on this issue as well
there is no official forum for debates.
The solution, he said, was to create a structured framework
where Europe and the US can officially address issues of
debate.
"We would like for this proposal to be raised at the
EU-United States summit in June," he said, pointing out
that Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency
in the EU, has called for concrete proposals from the
member states on what should be discussed at the summit.
Rasmussen will air his ideas on EU-US cooperation during a
visit to Dublin on Wednesday, where he will meet Irish
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, and to London the next day,
where he is scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Tony
Blair.
US "GREATER MIDDLE EAST" INITIATIVE MAY FAIL IF POORLY
PRESENTED: ANALYSTS
AFP, 9 Mar 04, by Christophe De Roquefeuil
A sweeping proposal by the government of President George
W. Bush to promote democratic reforms in the Middle East
has many positives, but also serious gaps and may be
crippled if poorly introduced, according to some US
analysts.
Bush wants to make this "Greater Middle East" initiative a
top agenda item at the upcoming Group of Eight meeting --
the summit of the world's seven main industrial nations and
Russia -- to be held in June in the southern US state of
Georgia.
Details of the initiative are still being hammered out, but
the goal is for it to be the long-term regional peaceful
component to US military action in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The initiative consists of a broad "package" of incentives
that encourages regional democratic, social and economic
reforms in the region. The idea is to improve conditions
across the region in an attempt to eliminate frustrations
and social injustices that provide fertile ground for
terrorism and extremist ideology.
Washington also wants to involve the European Union and the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in this effort.
Many specialists are happy to see that fundamental problems
of the Middle East, including its misunderstandings with
Western nations, are being addressed in a comprehensive
manner, comparable to the reconstruction of Europe and
Japan after World War II, or Eastern Europe after the
collapse of communism.
But initial reactions to the initiative in many Arab
capitals has been one of mistrust or even hostility.
Critics say the initiative is too condescending, too
centered on Western values, and does not address the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"I think that talking about participatory government and
the rights of people is long overdue in the Middle East,"
said Judith Kipper, a Middle East specialist with the
Council on Foreign Relations think-tank.
"Arabs and others know very well what we did in Eastern
Europe (after the fall of communism), and we've never even
spoken about it in the Middle East until after September
11," she said.
And it wasn't until after the 2001 terror attacks that it
became a priority for Washington to address issues of why
people in the Arab and Muslim world hate the United States
so much.
But to present the initiative at the meeting of the club of
richest nations of the world could cripple it at birth.
"Doing it as a pronoucement at the G8 will confirm the
local suspicions of imperialism, that it's the
Judeo-Christian Western countries that are going to impose
the Western style of governance, or try to," Kipper said.
According to Zbigniew Brzezinski, former president Jimmy
Carter's national security adviser, the Bush administration
"deserves credit for its long-term commitment to democracy
in the Middle East."
However "even a good idea can be spoiled by clumsy
execution," he wrote in an opinion piece for the
influential New York Times Monday.
"Coumpounding the problem is the suspicion -- not only
among the Arabs but also among the Europeans whose support
the United States is seeking -- that the sudden focus on
democracy has been promoted by administration officials who
wish to delay any serious American effort to push the
Israelis and the Palestinians to reach a genuine peace
settlement."
For Marina Ottaway, a specialist in democratization at the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the United
States also faces a frightening lack of credibility as a
pro-democratic advocate in the Arab world.
"Although many Americans may feel that America's bona fides
as a pro-democratic actor are unquestionable, the stubborn
fact remains that many people in other parts of the world,
especially the Middle East, have a different opinion,"
Ottaway wrote in research that appeared in March.
"If left unaddressed, this credibility gap will undermine
even the most well-intentioned efforts by the United States
to promote positive political change in the region."
GERMAN ARMED FORCES SHORTFALLS SHOWN IN REPORT
DPA, 9 Mar 04
Problems in the German armed forces including missing tanks
and defective weapons were highlighted Tuesday in a report
by parliament's commissioner for military affairs.
The annual report shows top line equipment and experienced
soldiers are earmarked for German military missions in
Afghanistan and the Balkans, while troops at home have to
make do with whatever is left over.
"Improvising is the name of the game," said Willfried
Penner, the parliamentary commissioner who authored the
study.
Germany's Bundeswehr - the combined armed forces - are in
the process of being cut to 250,000 troops from the present
280,000 after suffering for years under lower levels of
financing than other major NATO armed forces.
About 9,000 German troops currently serve abroad in
peacekeeping and other missions. Berlin says this is the
maximum number of soldiers which can be deployed given
Bundeswehr limitations.
The report, partly based on complaints by soldiers,
highlighted equipment problems including one unit armed
with 32 anti-tank weapons of which only "two and a half"
were operational.
A tank battalion supposed to have 44 operational tanks was
found with 10 tanks unavailable because they had been
mothballed.
A further 14 tanks were missing after being commandeered by
a rapid reaction force, and many of the remaining 20 tanks
were in varying states of disrepair.
Another company was not armed with regulation G36 rifles
and P1 pistols, but rather with older and largely defective
G3 riles. This same unit also lacked required
communications equipment, said the report.
Conservative opposition leaders expressed alarm over the
findings. "The Bundeswehr is heading toward collapse," said
a statement by the opposition Christian Democratic alliance
(CDU/CSU).
Right-wing extremist incidents in the Bundeswehr rose
slightly in 2003 to 139 reported cases, compared with 111
in 2002, the report said. Most involved verbal insults
aimed at ethnic Turkish or black recruits.
LITHUANIAN LEADER URGES PARTIES TO PLEDGE 2 PER CENT OF GDP
TO DEFENCE
BBC Monitoring / Lithuanian Radio, 9 Mar 04
(Presenter) President Rolandas Paksas has urged political
parties to extend the agreement on allocating 2 per cent of
the country's GDP for national defence. He made this
proposal speaking at a plenary meeting of the Seimas
(parliament) during deliberations on the ratification of
the NATO treaty (which should happen on 10 March). (Paksas)
The remarkable growth of our economy allows us to provide
adequate financing for our national defence system so that
we could meet all demands, including the army reform. Our
task today is to develop a mobile, efficient and
well-trained army. Our entry into NATO will make us feel
more secure than at any other time in our history. Security
is an important and often vital precondition for the
successful development of culture and rapid growth of the
economy.
GREECE TO ASK NATO TO PROTECT OLYMPICS: ATHENS TO CALL IN
ALLIANCE DESPITE SPENDING £430M ON SECURITY
The Guardian, 9 Mar 04, by Helena Smith
Greece is poised to ask Nato for help in safeguarding the
Olympics, an unprecedented step that would see the alliance
providing surveillance planes and logistical support for
the games.
Athens' new conservative government, which takes office
today, will decide whether to submit a formal request to
Nato in the coming weeks, officials say.
The application, regarded almost as a certainty, would
underscore the magnitude of the security measures deemed
necessary to protect the summer games - the first since the
September 11 attacks.
In recent months several "informal" meetings have
reportedly been held with senior Nato officials to discuss
what form the help would take.
Yesterday, in a response to concern over Athens' ability to
stage the event, the new prime minister, Costas Karamanlis,
said he would assume "personal" responsibility for
overseeing the Olympics.
Preparations for the games, from August 13 to 29, have
begun to resemble a military operation. "Catastrophic
scenarios", including a dirty bomb attack, will be the
focus of a huge security drill, due to begin in Athens
today.
Codenamed Shield of Hercules 2004, the three-week exercise
involves around 2,000 Greek and US troops. Most of the
Americans are commandos who will test their ability to
respond to attacks that use weapons of mass destruction, as
well as hijackings and other crises.
Last night Colonel Lefteris Ikonomou, a Greek police
spokesman, said the drill was the most comprehensive and
complex security manoeuvre in the history of the games.
"We are fully aware that we are preparing for the first
Olympics after 9/11," said the mayor of Athens, Dora
Bakoyianni. "We cannot afford not to take all possible
measures to be absolutely sure - as much as is humanly
possible - that the Athens Olympics will be secure. We are
a small country and we can't do it alone."
Greece is spending a record £430m on security. More than
50,000 security personnel, including 16,000 soldiers, will
patrol the country's borders as well as the capital.
Athens has also allowed a seven-country advisory group, led
by the US and Britain, to guide it on security issues.
But, despite the measures, the outgoing defence minister,
Yiannos Papantoniou, recently said that more help would be
required.
The Greek constitution forbids foreign troops being
stationed in the country, but Mr Papantoniou said a standby
force, in the form of the US 6th Fleet, would patrol
offshore.
Nato intervention will probably also involve a Czech
battalion with expertise in chemical, biological and
nuclear weapons, according to officials.
With Athens turned into a no-fly zone for the games, only
Awacs surveillance aircraft will be allowed in the skies to
gather intelligence.
"Coordinating external support for the Olympics is a
massive task," Alex Rondos, the foreign ministry's outgoing
coordinator for the games' security, told the Guardian.
"The logical and most efficient thing for Greece to do is
to apply to Nato for assistance."
"Nato will ensure good coordination of assistance and, that
way, we can avoid paying the price of negotiating on a
bilateral level with a variety of countries."
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