WEBVTT

00:04.340 --> 00:07.460
it puts an end to one of the bloodiest

00:08.040 --> 00:10.210
and darkest chapters in the history of

00:10.210 --> 00:12.150
the Balkans and in the history of

00:12.150 --> 00:15.380
europe . It allows for

00:15.390 --> 00:18.710
justice to be done . And it also

00:18.730 --> 00:22.100
allows the whole region to move forward

00:22.110 --> 00:24.170
towards Euro atlantic integration ,

00:24.180 --> 00:27.950
which is what we all want to see . And

00:27.950 --> 00:31.910
of course NATO as a guarantor of peace

00:31.910 --> 00:33.970
and security in the Balkans for the

00:33.970 --> 00:36.960
best part of the last two decades ,

00:37.340 --> 00:40.860
strongly endorses that goal and support

00:40.860 --> 00:44.690
it . Finally , you could

00:44.690 --> 00:47.960
say that the arrest of Ratko Mladic

00:47.970 --> 00:51.130
also sends a broader message , an

00:51.130 --> 00:53.330
important message that international

00:53.330 --> 00:57.030
justice will be done . And

00:57.220 --> 01:00.460
it is a message for others

01:00.940 --> 01:03.620
who may be attacking or planning to

01:03.620 --> 01:06.360
attack their own people to think twice .

01:09.140 --> 01:12.990
Wall Street Journal , Stephen

01:12.990 --> 01:14.990
Fidler from the Wall Street Journal

01:15.640 --> 01:18.230
General , I I I'd like to ask about the

01:18.230 --> 01:20.730
helicopters , whether the fact that

01:20.730 --> 01:23.340
they have been sent in was at your

01:23.340 --> 01:26.830
request or whether it was an initiative

01:26.830 --> 01:29.960
of the Member States concerned

01:30.440 --> 01:33.830
um what capabilities they provide that

01:33.830 --> 01:35.830
you weren't , you can't feel at the

01:35.830 --> 01:38.210
moment and whether there are other

01:38.220 --> 01:42.210
assets that you'd like to see in the

01:42.220 --> 01:44.331
in the nearer term to to further help

01:44.331 --> 01:46.860
you in the campaign . I mean ,

01:48.240 --> 01:50.670
very good . Well , initially , uh the

01:50.680 --> 01:52.736
request , there was always a request

01:52.736 --> 01:54.902
for helicopters , uh I don't think you

01:54.902 --> 01:56.958
will ever meet a commander that will

01:56.958 --> 01:58.902
not ask uh for all of the possible

01:58.902 --> 02:01.760
capabilities that are available . Uh

02:01.770 --> 02:04.330
this I consider their arrival now being

02:04.330 --> 02:07.800
timely and to help us to continue . Uh

02:07.810 --> 02:10.700
the the targets that were engaging and

02:10.700 --> 02:14.340
soon we will have more uh more pictures

02:14.340 --> 02:16.507
of representation of the the challenge

02:16.507 --> 02:19.110
that we're facing is an additional

02:19.110 --> 02:21.980
capability to pinpoint exactly these

02:21.980 --> 02:24.950
vehicles uh that are that are more much

02:24.950 --> 02:26.728
more difficult to see from high

02:26.728 --> 02:28.672
altitude from the aircraft of high

02:28.672 --> 02:31.170
altitude and these helicopters are

02:31.180 --> 02:33.291
under NATO command and control and we

02:33.291 --> 02:35.458
will be working together . This is not

02:35.458 --> 02:37.770
about just working with helicopters but

02:37.770 --> 02:39.940
also working and bringing synergy

02:39.950 --> 02:43.390
between maritime activities being air

02:43.400 --> 02:46.170
activities and aviation helicopter

02:46.170 --> 02:48.650
activities that is brought together and

02:48.650 --> 02:50.817
really bring more synergy or continues

02:50.817 --> 02:52.983
to bring more synergy to the situation

02:52.983 --> 02:55.206
and to enable to complete the mission .

02:55.240 --> 02:57.351
So I'm quite pleased with the support

02:57.351 --> 02:59.270
that we're receiving . And I look

02:59.270 --> 03:01.320
forward to see these helicopters

03:01.320 --> 03:04.010
joining us to complete this work . They

03:04.010 --> 03:07.530
have a specific capabilities but their

03:07.530 --> 03:10.670
capability will be used in a

03:10.680 --> 03:13.420
comprehensive manner with our entire

03:13.420 --> 03:16.350
campaign plan . If I may one ap will

03:16.350 --> 03:18.880
allow me uh one point on the lessons

03:18.880 --> 03:22.080
learned uh from my perspective , we

03:22.080 --> 03:24.191
have indeed learned many lessons from

03:24.191 --> 03:26.191
the other places that NATO has been

03:26.191 --> 03:28.302
operating . Uh And we have used these

03:28.302 --> 03:30.580
lessons , the lessons from the Balkans ,

03:30.580 --> 03:32.413
the lessons in Afghanistan , The

03:32.413 --> 03:34.870
lessons in uh in the Mediterranean in

03:34.870 --> 03:37.480
the med . Uh We are using all of these

03:37.480 --> 03:39.870
and learning these lessons in fact has

03:39.870 --> 03:42.920
enabled us today to respond in the

03:42.920 --> 03:44.976
manner that we have and to bring the

03:44.976 --> 03:47.031
success that we have reached . So we

03:47.031 --> 03:49.500
are building on previous success , we

03:49.500 --> 03:51.444
are learning from others and we're

03:51.444 --> 03:53.740
applying those in every way that we do

03:53.750 --> 03:56.060
and and therefore , and I have no doubt

03:56.060 --> 03:58.660
that uh such lessons were learned at a

03:58.660 --> 04:00.790
strategic level but also at the

04:00.790 --> 04:03.070
operational and tactical level and they

04:03.070 --> 04:05.350
are being applied daily . Thank you .

04:06.440 --> 04:09.540
Mhm german television . Um can you

04:09.540 --> 04:11.484
clash from german television ? Zdf

04:11.740 --> 04:14.030
General Bush , are are there any

04:14.030 --> 04:16.390
situations thinkable where these

04:16.390 --> 04:20.360
helicopters will be able to

04:20.360 --> 04:22.880
put troops on the ground ? Do you think

04:22.880 --> 04:25.280
there might be situations like this and

04:25.280 --> 04:27.760
that are covered by the mandate ?

04:28.240 --> 04:30.750
Because well it is known that these

04:30.750 --> 04:34.510
helicopters normally also provides the

04:34.510 --> 04:38.180
ability to put boots on the ground on

04:38.180 --> 04:42.140
the ground . My mandate is very

04:42.140 --> 04:44.380
clear , my mandate which is provided by

04:44.380 --> 04:46.830
the knack and through the through

04:46.830 --> 04:49.080
secure at Supreme Headquarters , allied

04:49.080 --> 04:52.340
powers europe and in Jfc Naples , no

04:52.340 --> 04:54.230
boots on the ground . In fact the

04:54.230 --> 04:56.397
helicopters that are being provided to

04:56.397 --> 04:59.590
us are armed and attack helicopters and

04:59.600 --> 05:01.690
they are not the type that do mass

05:01.690 --> 05:04.330
movement of troops on the ground and it

05:04.330 --> 05:07.070
is ground and it is not my intention to

05:07.070 --> 05:09.140
put boots on the ground . These are

05:09.150 --> 05:11.710
helicopters that will be used as

05:11.720 --> 05:15.220
another tool in the toolbox to continue

05:15.220 --> 05:17.109
to allow us to meet our mission .

05:18.940 --> 05:21.051
Mike back to your Naples for the next

05:21.051 --> 05:23.870
questions . The next question we have

05:23.870 --> 05:25.814
no more questions here . Thank you

05:25.814 --> 05:28.037
wanna . We'll see if there are any more

05:28.037 --> 05:31.260
questions in brussels HP .

05:32.440 --> 05:34.710
Mhm . You know , pascal Moliere just

05:34.710 --> 05:38.290
post place , who is in charge

05:38.300 --> 05:41.970
of de mining Misrata area , because I

05:41.970 --> 05:44.250
thought there were some kind of NATO

05:44.260 --> 05:46.310
standing force , the standing naval

05:46.310 --> 05:48.910
force for demining british and the

05:48.910 --> 05:52.910
Belgium ships Counter Mainz ships .

05:52.920 --> 05:55.030
So can you explain to us who is in

05:55.030 --> 05:58.160
charge , who started and when dr

05:59.240 --> 06:01.720
uh the there's two parts of the mining

06:01.720 --> 06:03.720
one is the minds that we found this

06:03.720 --> 06:05.887
morning that were laid on the ground .

06:05.887 --> 06:07.950
Anti personal mines , we do not have

06:07.950 --> 06:10.172
NATO does not have troops on the ground

06:10.172 --> 06:12.339
and this situation is developing as we

06:12.339 --> 06:14.600
speak . The first part in demining is

06:14.600 --> 06:17.210
to find out where they are according

06:17.210 --> 06:19.660
the area and obviously appropriate

06:19.670 --> 06:21.781
people will deal with that . But this

06:21.781 --> 06:24.050
is not our mandate as we do not have

06:24.060 --> 06:26.116
troops on the ground with regards to

06:26.116 --> 06:28.227
the mind that we're at sea , Three of

06:28.227 --> 06:31.030
them were at sea . Uh and these mines

06:31.040 --> 06:34.830
were dealt with by NATO maritime

06:34.830 --> 06:38.190
forces . From my perspective , this is

06:38.200 --> 06:40.780
a NATO operation and we have a NATO

06:40.780 --> 06:43.360
team and every member of this team

06:43.360 --> 06:47.040
provides actions and support to this

06:47.040 --> 06:48.707
point . And therefore from my

06:48.707 --> 06:50.818
perspective , I'm more concerned that

06:50.818 --> 06:53.010
our team works under the NATO banner

06:53.020 --> 06:55.340
than the national banner and therefore

06:55.350 --> 06:58.300
I would suggest to you sir that NATO

06:58.300 --> 07:01.160
forces , d mind the these maritime

07:01.160 --> 07:01.580
minds

07:04.840 --> 07:08.590
18 General Don

07:08.590 --> 07:11.290
Melvin Associated Press earlier this

07:11.290 --> 07:14.170
week . The french Defense Secretary

07:14.170 --> 07:16.600
said that the will to continue was not

07:16.600 --> 07:18.822
infinite . And he expected the campaign

07:18.822 --> 07:22.380
to be successfully wrapped up in weeks

07:22.380 --> 07:24.930
rather than months months . Do you

07:24.940 --> 07:27.210
share that assessment there ? That

07:27.210 --> 07:30.280
assessment ? This is a difficult

07:30.280 --> 07:32.613
question . If I knew the answer to that ,

07:32.613 --> 07:36.330
I would I certainly would uh would

07:36.330 --> 07:38.490
appreciate that very much really the

07:38.490 --> 07:41.590
decision is to reach the effects and to

07:41.590 --> 07:44.300
meet the directions as have been

07:44.300 --> 07:46.522
provided in the after the following the

07:46.522 --> 07:49.860
Berlin uh conference troops violence

07:49.860 --> 07:52.690
has stopped forces . Ground forces have

07:52.690 --> 07:55.590
been moved away from built up area into

07:55.590 --> 07:57.880
containment area in the place where we

07:57.880 --> 08:01.610
can conduct a verifiable ceasefire

08:01.620 --> 08:05.380
and a verifiable uh monitoring of all

08:05.380 --> 08:08.420
military forces that have gone back and

08:08.420 --> 08:10.253
finally , to ensure that there's

08:10.253 --> 08:12.370
unimpeded movement of humanitarian

08:12.380 --> 08:15.770
assistance . The timeline of the of

08:15.770 --> 08:18.360
this effort from our perspective is we

08:18.360 --> 08:20.471
will continue and I can assure you we

08:20.471 --> 08:22.693
are fully committed every day and every

08:22.693 --> 08:24.950
night and across the entire front in

08:24.950 --> 08:27.770
Libya to bring this situation to an end

08:27.780 --> 08:30.390
as soon as possible . But the ultimate

08:30.400 --> 08:34.350
decision lies in the Gaddafi regime

08:34.740 --> 08:37.060
and their acceptance that democracy

08:37.060 --> 08:39.470
must take place that is not acceptable

08:39.480 --> 08:42.260
to use their military to harm their

08:42.260 --> 08:45.520
population and population center . So I

08:45.530 --> 08:48.540
remain optimistic that we we will see a

08:48.550 --> 08:51.940
response soon . But when I cannot tell

08:51.940 --> 08:53.662
you that we are committed to .

08:55.640 --> 08:58.120
And I can also tell you that was very

08:58.120 --> 09:00.150
much the feeling around the council

09:00.150 --> 09:03.750
table this morning from allies and

09:03.750 --> 09:07.650
partners . Uh they have been restating

09:07.650 --> 09:10.840
their commitment to the mission until

09:10.840 --> 09:14.670
the Berlin goals are fulfilled . We

09:14.670 --> 09:17.240
will see this through . But obviously ,

09:17.250 --> 09:20.670
everybody , I would want to see this ,

09:21.420 --> 09:23.860
this job done sooner rather than later .

09:24.640 --> 09:28.020
But it is not just a military mission ,

09:28.030 --> 09:30.252
it is part of the broader international

09:30.252 --> 09:33.150
effort to find a political settlement

09:33.150 --> 09:35.317
to this crisis , because they can only

09:35.317 --> 09:38.060
be ultimately a political solution . I

09:38.060 --> 09:41.330
think we have one last question in

09:41.330 --> 09:44.040
brussels and it's back to two german

09:44.040 --> 09:47.460
television . Thank you . Let me just

09:47.940 --> 09:50.320
pick up that point , Candy crush again

09:50.320 --> 09:53.050
from german television . There was an

09:53.050 --> 09:54.994
agreement when the mission mission

09:54.994 --> 09:58.610
started that it would last 1990 days ,

09:58.610 --> 10:01.680
three months . And uh , do you think

10:01.680 --> 10:05.380
you could solve the

10:05.390 --> 10:07.450
problem or the military problems you

10:07.450 --> 10:09.640
have to solve in this framework ? Do

10:09.640 --> 10:13.300
you have any signals , any reports

10:13.300 --> 10:15.400
that Gaddafi is getting nervous now

10:15.400 --> 10:17.400
that you have the east more or less

10:17.400 --> 10:19.122
under control and that you are

10:19.122 --> 10:21.289
progressing so well , the way you have

10:21.289 --> 10:23.060
described arrived ,

10:25.840 --> 10:27.896
there's no doubt in my mind that the

10:27.896 --> 10:30.007
regime is feeling the pressure of our

10:30.007 --> 10:33.060
successes and that we have reached some

10:33.070 --> 10:35.014
significant effect in reducing the

10:35.014 --> 10:37.410
violence against the population . But

10:37.410 --> 10:40.740
here again , uh remain a significant

10:40.740 --> 10:43.260
amount of forces , albeit much less

10:43.260 --> 10:46.180
than there was on the 31st of March .

10:46.190 --> 10:48.246
But there is a significant amount of

10:48.246 --> 10:51.800
forces as far as the uh , my timelines ,

10:51.810 --> 10:54.790
my timelines are based on effects to

10:54.790 --> 10:56.920
reach the objective that the nac has

10:56.920 --> 10:59.960
given us and this is what my timelines

10:59.960 --> 11:03.140
are . And uh perhaps I will turn over

11:03.140 --> 11:05.030
to wanna for further comment with

11:05.030 --> 11:07.260
regards to the question of timings .

11:08.940 --> 11:12.510
Indeed , um the standard uh planning

11:12.510 --> 11:16.480
format for this kind of operation is

11:16.490 --> 11:19.740
a 90 day template . Uh This is the

11:19.740 --> 11:22.140
template that has been followed for

11:22.150 --> 11:25.890
Operation Unified Protector . Uh and

11:25.900 --> 11:28.410
the North Atlantic Council needs to

11:28.410 --> 11:32.380
formally extent the mission . Uh as I

11:32.390 --> 11:34.700
was saying earlier , we are currently

11:34.710 --> 11:36.990
reviewing the effects of the operation

11:37.000 --> 11:39.850
uh and that's what allies and partners

11:39.860 --> 11:43.170
are doing and will continue to do . The

11:43.180 --> 11:45.236
review will go to the North Atlantic

11:45.236 --> 11:48.270
Council in good time . Allies will then

11:48.270 --> 11:49.960
decide how to go forward .

11:52.740 --> 11:54.796
Thank you very much . Thank you very

11:54.796 --> 11:56.962
much . Thank you very much . Thank you

11:56.962 --> 11:59.184
very much . Thank you very much . Thank

11:59.184 --> 12:01.351
you very much . I wanna thank you very

12:01.351 --> 12:03.407
much . All uh we remain committed to

12:03.407 --> 12:05.629
achieving our goals our objective for a

12:05.629 --> 12:07.629
better future for Libya . Thank you

12:07.629 --> 12:07.260
very much