NATO summit in Prague to make historic decisions

Over recent weeks we've heard a great deal about the security fears around next week's Prague NATO summit, with talk of street violence, and even possible terrorist attacks. But we've heard rather less about the summit itself, and why it is so important. On Tuesday Radio Prague's David Vaughan took part in a satellite press conference with a senior official from the United States State Department, Robert Bradtke. At the conference the main themes of the summit were outlines. David joins me now in the studio now. David, what is going to be the key issue of the summit?

NATO summit in Prague to make historic decisions

Photo: CTK

David: Well I think there's one issue that wasn't even originally to be on the agenda which inevitably will be discussed in some detail, that's the questions of Iraq. Obviously in the wake of last week' Security Council resolution, NATO is going to have to do some pretty quick thinking about what to do next, however Saddam Hussein decides to act, and they will also be trying to patch-up differences over Iraq which have emerged between the allies recently. Here's what Robert Bradtke had to say on Tuesday on the subject.

"I think it would be a mistake to think that it is going to totally dominate the two days in Prague. But, you can not bring 19 leaders of this stature and importance together without having a discussion of an issue as critical and as important as Iraq. I'm sure they will discuss the threat of Iraq and its development of weapons of mass destruction posses and the future steps to try and deal with that threat."

Ian: But David, ostensibly the summit is about something else completely.

David: Yes, there are a number of issues and from the point of view of Central Europe, this part of the world the key question is expansion. Next Thursday there will be a NATO statement on a decision to admit another round of countries to NATO. The Americans are using the term 'a robust expansion' and I think there probably will be a good seven countries that will be invited including the Baltic states, Slovakia, and Slovenia. What we won't be seeing in quite such a prominent place as was originally thought is discussion of NATO's relations with Russia and Ukraine. The simple reason for that is because the talks won't be at a summit level because neither Mr. Putin nor Mr. Kuchma will be coming to Prague.

Ian: And in order to admit more countries, NATO will presumably change itself as well...

David: Yes, well NATO was set up obviously for a Cold War situation. In order to make it work more efficiently especially with a number of countries joining, there do have to be reforms within the organization. One of the key things that are going to be up for discussion is the role of the General Secretary and reinforcing his powers. What I don't think is up for discussion at all is the question of consensus. I think that remains absolutely sacred and a basic principal of the alliance.

Ian: And what about NATO in the wake of September 11th?

David: Well yes that's interesting because this is the first summit since September the 11th and I think one of the key issues is going to be changing NATO's capacity to respond to the terrorist threat. The American's have come up with quite an interesting proposal which is going to be discussed in I think some detail next week, for a rapid response force which would be able to act more or less instantly just about anywhere in the world. Here's what Robert Bradtke had to say about it:

"The idea would be to have a force which would have land, sea and air capabilities that could respond in a very brief period of time and again deal with a threat to a NATO country."

Ian: So, all together quite a broad agenda...

David: Yes I think that when it comes to it, it's probably not an exaggeration to say that this is going to be one of the most important NATO summits in its history.