Stoltenberg emphasized that the Allies never promised not to expand eastward

NATO Secretary General: Russian threats are real..and we do not trust Moscow's promises

• The West cannot trust Putin.

  dad

• Stoltenberg: Ukraine distracts us from everything else.

  dad

• Russian soldiers take part in a military exercise near the border with Ukraine.

  Reuters

picture

For a long time, the fear of a major military conflict in Europe has never been so great at the end of this year.

Can NATO reduce the risk of war by making concessions to Russia?

During the interview conducted by the German News Agency (dpa), with the Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, he expressed his readiness to hold talks.

But the Norwegian politician also made it clear that there are no consensual solutions with regard to the basic principles.

He also spoke about the situation in Afghanistan and the speculation that arose about his personal future.

Below is the text of the interview:

■ Secretary-General, New Year's Day is standing around the corner.

Do you expect peaceful Eid days, or does NATO have evidence indicating the possibility of a Russian attack on Ukraine, of which you fear?

■■ We hope for a peaceful Eid days for everyone.

At the same time we must be prepared, so we have raised our state of alertness.

We are closely following the Russian deployment to and around Ukraine.

For some time, we have been following an important military build-up by Russia gradually, with the help of armed units, tanks, drones, and tens of thousands of combat forces.

We are also witnessing aggressive rhetoric from the Russian side, and we know the history of Russia. They practiced violence against Ukraine in the past, annexed Crimea in violation of international law, and they continue to destabilize eastern Ukraine.

There is uncertainty about Russian intentions.

But I also stress: We do not see a direct threat to the NATO allies.

■ Are we talking about more than 100 thousand soldiers?

■■ I will not go into the details of confidential information.

But it is an interesting military build-up, and there are no indications that this advance will stop or slow down, on the contrary.

That is why Russia has the potential to ensure a peaceful and relaxing Christmas for all of us, by reducing tensions and withdrawing its forces.

It is quite certain that Russia is the aggressor, not Ukraine.

concessions

■ The advance of Russian forces towards Ukraine was accompanied by demands for "NATO". Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the alliance to provide security guarantees, for example, excluding Ukraine's inclusion in the alliance, and not conducting exercises near Russia.

Are you willing to make concessions if this averts a major war in Ukraine?

■■ We are ready to meet and talk with Russia in the "NATO"-Russia Council, and for this I intend to send an invitation as soon as possible in the new year to hold a session of this Council, but we will not accept consensual solutions regarding the basic principles, and we cannot put NATO's right to protect and defend all its allies is questionable, as is the basic principle that every nation has the right to choose its own path.

This also relates to respecting the sovereignty of smaller nations?

The idea that a nation as large as Russia can determine what smaller neighbors can and cannot do means re-creating spheres of influence again.

This is in complete contrast to everything that has guaranteed peace and stability in Europe since the end of the Cold War.

■ In Russia, there is a view that says that "NATO" has violated its promise by expanding to the east. Those who hold this view provide evidence for it in the statements of the former Secretary General of "NATO", Manfred Woerner, who said in 1990: "The fact that we are ready not to deploy (NATO) forces behind the borders of the Federal Republic of Germany, gave the Soviet Union strong security guarantees." There were also similar statements issued by other politicians, such as former US Secretary of State James Baker and former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Isn't Russia right here even if these statements are not binding in international law?

■■ NATO never promised not to expand.

Our organization's founding treaty also stipulates that every European country can become a member of the Alliance.

Secondly, there are documents from the seventies and nineties, including the final chapter in the Helsinki Agreement, the Paris Charter and the main chapter in the “NATO”-Russia Council, and a number of other treaties, all of which make it clear that every country is free to determine its own destiny.

This is a fundamental principle of European security, signed by Russia itself.

We cannot change this with some quotes.

The allies also deny making such promises at any time.

The late Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev, himself had said that the issue of eastern expansion of "NATO" was not discussed before German unification.

reaction

■ One last question about the movement of Russian forces.

You said that you do not see at the present time a threat to the countries of "NATO", but should the alliance not take a reaction to the deployment of forces?

For example, to deploy more troops to the eastern region of the alliance?

■■ We will continue to check whether we should moderate the presence of our forces, and I would like to be careful to speculate on this, because it will only lead to tensions.

I think it is important now that we try to reduce tensions and have a reasonable dialogue with Russia without compromising NATO's right and responsibility to protect and defend our allies.

Another issue

■ The decision of the United States and "NATO" to withdraw from Afghanistan had tragic consequences;

The hardline Taliban movement managed to seize power, and the country is now threatened by a humanitarian catastrophe.

What will NATO do about it?

■■ I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation there, especially now, as we enter the winter season.

Over the course of two decades, the Allies have invested heavily in Afghanistan, improving the lives of millions of Afghans and combating international terrorism.

Given that NATO has ended its military presence in Afghanistan, I take it for granted that countries such as Germany, Norway, or other NATO countries will take advantage of emergency and development aid channels to provide support.

■ Is "NATO" as an organization that can do absolutely nothing?

■■ NATO is, of course, a forum in which allies discuss and address these issues. Of course, we discussed the dangerous humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. I and other officials appealed to NATO allies to provide support to Afghanistan through international relief institutions and various other international relief institutions.

■ Your current term ends in late September, and it has finally been announced that you have applied for the position of President of the Norwegian Central Bank.

Does this mean the exclusion of extending your mandate for the third time in "NATO"?

■■ I am currently focused on one thing only, and that is my mission as Secretary General of NATO.

We live in a challenging time, we are facing a difficult and uneventful situation in Ukraine, and my main focus is on this now.

My term ends on September 30th, and I will stay here until then.

■ This is not an answer "no"?

■■ do not like to speculate.

I focus on my job and the job I'm doing.

It is noteworthy that Stoltenberg, 62, has been the Secretary-General of NATO since 2014, and before that he served as the Norwegian Prime Minister for about 10 years, during which the attacks carried out by a right-wing extremist took place in Oslo and on the island of Utoya in the summer of 2011.

• "It is now important that we try to reduce tensions and have a reasonable dialogue with Russia without compromising the right and responsibility of (NATO) to protect and defend our allies."

• “I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, especially now, as we enter the winter season.

And the allies have invested heavily over two decades in Afghanistan.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news