October 25, 2007

Ambassador Victoria Nuland United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Interview with ZDF TV (German media organization) Noordwijk, Netherlands

ZDF: Ambassador there seems to be an approach between the Russian side and the American side on the missile defense system. Lavrov asked for propositions in written. Is there a compromise soon?

Ambassador Nuland: As you know, Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates were in Moscow about ten days ago, had very intensive consultations on missile defense and other subjects with the Russian government. We made very far-reaching proposals on how the U.S. and Russia and NATO and Russia can cooperate in missile defense and we’re very encouraged that the Russian side is asking for more information about this, so let’s hope that we can actually make a deal here because that would make all of us safer.

ZDF: Is the special CFE Treaty off the table then, if there seems to be a compromise?

Ambassador Nuland: The CFE and missile defense are two different issues. Missile defense is obviously designed to defend against an Iranian missile threat. The CFE Treaty is about the placement of conventional forces in Europe so that we are not opposing each other.

In the case of CFE, we also had intensive consultations with the Russians on that subject. They have complained about where we are in our ratification of the adapted treaty. We have complained that they haven’t yet normalized their military relationships with Georgia and with Moldova, two sovereign states. So what we did was come up with some bridging proposals when we were in Moscow and the Russians are looking at those, too.

So the hope is that both of these issues can move forward in the spirit of compromise.

ZDF: What about the idea to build up these missile defense systems now in Poland and in Czech Republic, to run them only if there is 100 percent proof of the threat of Iran or, as the Russians say, from Pakistan. What about this idea? Is this [inaudible] find a way out

Ambassador Nuland: This was one of the ideas that Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates took to President Putin, to Lavrov and to Serdyukov ten days ago, to respond to the fact that the Russians have said we’re not sure how this threat is going to develop—we’re not convinced.

So what my bosses said was all right, let’s go ahead and make the agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic, let’s build the systems, but we don’t need to activate them until we see the threat develop sufficiently. So I think that is a possible way forward and it gives us scope to continue to talk.

ZDF: What do you expect now today of the talks with the Russian Minster or your counterpart, the Russian Ambassador? Is there further steps possible today?

Ambassador Nuland: Today we meet not only in NATO format but in NATO-Russia format with Serdyukov at the table. I would guess the subjects will be the ones that we’ve discussed -- missile defense, CFE, Kosovo, of course, where as partners in the Troika, U.S., European Union and Russia, we are trying to help Pristina and Belgrade come to a compromise.

I’m hopeful that we will hear these same kinds of positive signals about the possibility for dialogue from Minister Serdyukov today, but we’ll see.

ZDF: Another issue is on Afghanistan. The German Minister was very happy last night about the commitments the other countries -- France and other countries will do in the South and the rest of the country. What is the American position? How happy are you with the proposals on the table now?

Ambassador Nuland: I think you know that Secretary Gates made a statement on Monday saying that coming into this meeting he was not satisfied that allies were doing as much as they could to help the Afghans and help the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. Ministers had a really good and candid conversation yesterday, particularly on the subject of increasing training. Minister Jung offered some more German trainers. We have other training offers from nine or ten allies. So the mood in the room was good. That Afghanistan matters to us, that we’ve made a commitment, that our military is doing well, that the Afghans are doing well, but we’ve got to keep it up and intensify it, and we were very pleased in that regard to see the German Bundestag re-up the ISAF mandate.

I’ve been to visit your soldiers. They do a great job up in the north.

ZDF: Last question, if I may. How quickly could you help Turkish forces in the south of Turkey in an eventual threat from PKK which could become stronger or more dangerous than it is now?

Ambassador Nuland: First of all, thank you for the way you put that question. I think it’s important for all of us to appreciate that our ally, Turkey, is now on a daily basis, on a weekly basis, suffering awful acts of terrorism inside her territory from the PKK. The United States has been working intensively with Turkey, particularly sharing intelligence, helping Turks inside Turkey work to break up these cells and avert these kinds of incidents.

We’re also now trying to enhance Turkish-Iraqi relations, share intelligence there, so that we can work on threats to Turkey that emanate from Iraq. Let me just say that I think it was a very good signal that all allies yesterday expressed solidarity with Turkey in her fight against terrorism.

ZDF: Than you very much.

Ambassador Nuland: Thank you.