WEBVTT 00:03.740 --> 00:05.907 Yeah , good evening . Hi . Good to see 00:05.907 --> 00:09.660 you think they would like Oh yeah , you 00:09.660 --> 00:12.870 like you to keep your that's yeah . So 00:12.880 --> 00:16.620 you should think yeah , we 00:16.620 --> 00:18.190 could . But you have a big 00:22.640 --> 00:26.330 oh very good and very useful this 00:26.330 --> 00:29.160 possible in Afghanistan was terrified 00:32.140 --> 00:34.140 of your six points . The media will 00:34.140 --> 00:36.430 take one we know . 00:39.240 --> 00:42.050 Yeah . Just to make it . Mhm . 00:43.240 --> 00:47.080 What ? Right . Good evening . The 00:47.080 --> 00:49.080 Secretary General will start with a 00:49.080 --> 00:52.520 short statement and then he'll be happy 00:52.520 --> 00:53.450 to stand . 00:56.140 --> 00:59.160 We started transition last year 01:00.240 --> 01:02.296 afghan security forces to have taken 01:02.296 --> 01:04.910 full response For security throughout 01:04.910 --> 01:08.860 Afghanistan by the end of 2014 . As we 01:08.860 --> 01:11.160 agreed at the NATO summit in this 01:12.640 --> 01:15.330 based on security and the realities on 01:15.330 --> 01:19.000 the ground . Let me stress this 01:19.010 --> 01:22.380 period within 01:22.380 --> 01:25.260 itself and with the Afghan authorities 01:27.440 --> 01:31.010 and at the NATO summit transition 01:31.230 --> 01:33.930 is a road that ISAF and the Afghan 01:33.940 --> 01:37.940 Foster 2014 this 01:37.940 --> 01:41.380 is a serious commitment for NATO and 01:41.380 --> 01:44.950 further by the time we meet in Chicago , 01:45.340 --> 01:47.920 I would expect us to have political 01:47.920 --> 01:51.360 agreement on number of projects 01:52.040 --> 01:54.880 as well as well . Come and go but we 01:54.890 --> 01:58.060 always need security and 01:58.640 --> 02:01.360 stick to the road map that was outlined . 02:02.940 --> 02:06.150 The NATO summit in this part in the 02:06.150 --> 02:10.080 session in 02:10.080 --> 02:13.450 Chicago changed of the role of 02:13.460 --> 02:16.440 our forces . Yeah . 02:17.140 --> 02:20.540 Carambola Savvy also made responding to 02:20.620 --> 02:23.660 the presidency telephone 02:25.140 --> 02:27.029 who discussed the missile defense 02:27.029 --> 02:30.140 tonight discussed missile defense this 02:30.150 --> 02:33.830 after I have nothing new to report on 02:33.830 --> 02:37.710 that spain and that's last 02:37.720 --> 02:41.360 trends of transition . Hey , 02:41.940 --> 02:45.890 much depends on security situation 02:45.890 --> 02:47.890 on the ground . Until now . We have 02:47.890 --> 02:51.860 been quite successful and being able 02:52.240 --> 02:55.420 aah good evening . The secretary 02:55.420 --> 02:57.930 General will start with a short 02:57.940 --> 03:00.680 statement and then he'll be happy to 03:00.680 --> 03:02.902 take your questions . Secretary General 03:04.150 --> 03:08.140 today we had a discussion 03:08.150 --> 03:11.760 on our operation in Afghanistan , 03:12.840 --> 03:16.250 this is NATO's top operational 03:16.260 --> 03:19.780 priority . I intend to say much more 03:19.780 --> 03:22.750 about this tomorrow after our 03:22.750 --> 03:25.710 discussion with ISaf partners . But I 03:25.710 --> 03:27.877 would like to take the opportunity now 03:27.877 --> 03:31.460 to clarify a few issues . Um 03:31.470 --> 03:34.830 At our summit in this one , we 03:34.830 --> 03:37.920 outlined a roadmap for a gradual 03:37.920 --> 03:40.430 transition of lead security 03:40.430 --> 03:43.270 responsibility to the Afghan security 03:43.270 --> 03:46.970 forces . That decision 03:47.170 --> 03:50.910 and that road map still stand . We are 03:50.920 --> 03:53.140 all committed to the principle in 03:53.140 --> 03:56.960 together out together . We 03:56.960 --> 04:00.240 started transition last year . 04:00.250 --> 04:04.170 Uh this process will continue until the 04:04.170 --> 04:06.360 end of 2014 . 04:06.940 --> 04:10.820 We expect Afghan 04:10.820 --> 04:12.780 security forces to have taken full 04:12.790 --> 04:15.020 responsibility for security throughout 04:15.020 --> 04:18.970 Afghanistan by the end of 2014 . As we 04:18.970 --> 04:21.370 agreed at the NATO summit in Lisbon 04:21.380 --> 04:24.730 until we reach that 04:24.740 --> 04:27.600 point , the role of forces would 04:27.610 --> 04:31.040 gradually change from combat to 04:31.040 --> 04:34.210 support based on security and the 04:34.210 --> 04:37.830 realities on the ground . But let me 04:37.830 --> 04:40.380 stress , we will conduct combat 04:40.390 --> 04:43.010 operations throughout the transition 04:43.010 --> 04:46.280 period . This 04:46.290 --> 04:49.480 shift in our force presence and role 04:49.490 --> 04:52.060 during the transition period will take 04:52.060 --> 04:54.360 place in close consultation and 04:54.360 --> 04:57.190 coordination among allies and partners 04:57.200 --> 05:00.090 within the F and with the Afghan 05:00.100 --> 05:03.840 authorities and at the NATO 05:03.840 --> 05:06.180 summit in Chicago , we will take 05:06.180 --> 05:08.620 decisions on how to implement 05:08.620 --> 05:11.440 transition from that point until the 05:11.440 --> 05:14.420 end of 2014 05:14.430 --> 05:18.250 transition there's a road that 05:18.260 --> 05:20.920 is f and the afghan forces will walk 05:20.930 --> 05:24.070 together Every step of the 05:24.080 --> 05:26.420 way 05:26.430 --> 05:29.460 tomorrow . Together with all our 05:29.460 --> 05:31.627 partners in SF we will have a thorough 05:31.627 --> 05:34.390 discussion on these issues and consult 05:34.400 --> 05:36.920 on how we will support the Afghan 05:36.920 --> 05:38.440 forces after 05:38.450 --> 05:42.110 2014 . This is a 05:42.110 --> 05:45.580 serious commitment for NATO and for the 05:45.580 --> 05:48.440 whole international community because 05:48.440 --> 05:50.750 we all have an interest in making sure 05:50.760 --> 05:54.450 Afghanistan is stable and secure 05:54.460 --> 05:57.820 today . We also discussed Smart 05:57.820 --> 06:01.790 defense . We agreed we have to 06:01.790 --> 06:04.800 make sure that every cent we spent 06:04.810 --> 06:08.700 delivers the maximum effect with 06:08.710 --> 06:11.970 maximum efficiency . Together 06:11.980 --> 06:15.740 we have to decide what 06:15.740 --> 06:19.680 capabilities our alliance needs and 06:19.680 --> 06:23.240 we have to prioritize specialists and 06:23.240 --> 06:25.760 cooperate to make sure we can get them . 06:26.240 --> 06:29.760 We have identified a number of areas 06:29.760 --> 06:31.950 where smart defense would make a real 06:31.960 --> 06:35.070 difference , such as intelligence , 06:35.070 --> 06:36.959 surveillance and reconnaissance , 06:36.959 --> 06:40.450 logistics and maintenance and 06:40.450 --> 06:43.950 training allies are 06:43.950 --> 06:46.750 discussing a number of projects which 06:46.750 --> 06:49.460 will deliver real 06:49.940 --> 06:53.590 improvements and make maximum use of 06:53.590 --> 06:56.150 the limited resources we have . 06:56.160 --> 06:59.650 By the time we meet in 06:59.650 --> 07:02.930 Chicago , I would expect us to have 07:02.930 --> 07:05.540 political agreement on a significant 07:05.550 --> 07:08.540 number of projects as well as an 07:08.540 --> 07:11.500 approach for a longer term . 07:13.340 --> 07:16.640 A strategy which sees smart 07:16.640 --> 07:20.590 defense at the hub of the way we do 07:20.600 --> 07:24.200 business because economic hard 07:24.200 --> 07:27.560 times will come and go but we always 07:27.570 --> 07:30.780 need security and we need to stay 07:30.780 --> 07:34.380 serious about our security and with 07:34.380 --> 07:36.602 that I'm ready to take your questions . 07:37.930 --> 07:39.763 Please don't forget to introduce 07:39.763 --> 07:43.030 yourself . Sorry Associated Press 07:43.900 --> 07:46.180 like it's from the Associated could you 07:46.180 --> 07:48.450 please clear up whether there's been a 07:48.450 --> 07:51.340 change in the 2014 timetable of the 07:51.340 --> 07:53.490 transition of the role of ISIS forces 07:53.490 --> 07:56.200 from forces from combat to support . 07:56.210 --> 07:58.321 Does this mean that combat operations 07:58.321 --> 08:01.650 will start , will wind down in 2013 . 08:01.660 --> 08:03.810 Prior to your comments on monday with 08:03.810 --> 08:06.032 the Romanian president ? None of us who 08:06.032 --> 08:08.254 covered NATO had ever heard of this mid 08:08.254 --> 08:11.240 2013 days which has been mentioned so 08:11.240 --> 08:15.170 much today . First of all let 08:15.170 --> 08:19.140 me stress there is no change of time . 08:19.750 --> 08:23.750 We stick to the road map that was at 08:24.550 --> 08:28.220 the NATO summit In 08:28.220 --> 08:31.720 November 2010 transition has started 08:39.640 --> 08:42.870 and as 08:42.870 --> 08:46.370 I well to 08:46.370 --> 08:49.340 complete To complete transition by 08:50.320 --> 08:54.210 2000 and we will 08:54.220 --> 08:57.230 of course have to hand over lead 08:57.240 --> 09:00.890 responsibility sometime 09:00.900 --> 09:04.710 before . Exactly when we 09:04.710 --> 09:08.280 don't know yet . Probably we will be in 09:08.280 --> 09:10.850 a position to take a decision 09:12.740 --> 09:16.260 uh huh in Chicago . Anyway , that 09:16.260 --> 09:17.260 decision , 09:23.340 --> 09:26.870 the point is that the Lisbon 09:26.870 --> 09:30.180 roadmap a 09:30.180 --> 09:34.100 timeline that By the 09:34.100 --> 09:35.610 end of 2000 09:41.400 --> 09:44.220 will continue and continue 09:55.540 --> 09:59.430 combat operations continue 10:03.840 --> 10:04.896 arjun sauce please 10:19.040 --> 10:20.570 in the individual 10:22.080 --> 10:25.790 uh uh 10:25.860 --> 10:29.590 to infer the root cause 10:30.270 --> 10:32.920 as you know also made respond nose 10:32.920 --> 10:36.360 around question uh intel for the route 10:36.430 --> 10:39.850 presented pour in transition 10:40.080 --> 10:43.540 for provo young on transfer 10:43.710 --> 10:46.300 transfer progressive 10:46.360 --> 10:50.260 responsibility principle security 10:50.260 --> 10:52.700 or force the security Afghan said 10:52.710 --> 10:55.290 decision is set for the good 10:57.160 --> 10:57.730 news , 11:01.910 --> 11:05.800 for example , telephone 11:06.290 --> 11:09.910 together out together and to make 11:11.700 --> 11:14.540 the transition last year support shoes . 11:15.140 --> 11:16.160 Uh 11:21.220 --> 11:22.630 The end of 2014 11:25.390 --> 11:28.700 Foster Security Afghan National 11:28.700 --> 11:31.850 Security Responsibility for 11:31.870 --> 11:33.400 Security to 11:35.500 --> 11:36.170 Afghan . 11:41.450 --> 11:43.250 The city decided 11:50.110 --> 11:51.990 evaluation of our forces 11:53.800 --> 11:54.510 element 11:58.120 --> 12:01.320 and function this imperative security . 12:01.320 --> 12:05.040 It's a reality realities on the ground . 12:12.330 --> 12:15.150 The transition period 12:17.140 --> 12:21.060 evolution don't do old and force 12:21.060 --> 12:23.227 to put down the period of transition . 12:25.370 --> 12:27.190 Le dune concept 12:37.190 --> 12:40.970 afghan platform 12:44.510 --> 12:48.080 Jonathan from BBC . I understand what 12:48.080 --> 12:50.080 you're saying about there's been no 12:50.080 --> 12:52.230 change in the timetable yet . People 12:52.230 --> 12:56.150 are now talking more about 23rd 2013 . 12:56.150 --> 12:58.850 Would you agree that 2013 is now the 12:58.850 --> 13:02.260 crucial year in which they see whether 13:02.440 --> 13:04.607 there is success in the operation . In 13:04.607 --> 13:06.718 other words , that transition process 13:07.390 --> 13:09.670 well underway almost complete by then . 13:10.120 --> 13:12.398 And therefore that is the crucial year . 13:14.740 --> 13:17.560 And it goes without saying that if we 13:17.560 --> 13:19.540 are to complete the transition 13:20.530 --> 13:24.430 to lead afghan responsibility , 13:24.430 --> 13:27.040 that is if we are to hand over full 13:27.040 --> 13:29.290 responsibility to the afghans by the 13:29.290 --> 13:33.030 end of 2014 , then we have to 13:33.030 --> 13:36.870 hand over the last provinces uh 13:36.880 --> 13:40.460 22 , the afghans sometime before it may 13:40.460 --> 13:44.310 be In 2013 . We don't know 13:44.310 --> 13:46.310 yet . It depends very much on the 13:46.310 --> 13:49.420 situation on the ground that's actually 13:49.420 --> 13:51.309 one of the issues we are going to 13:51.309 --> 13:54.610 discuss at the summit in 13:54.620 --> 13:58.460 Chicago . Um so you will see 13:59.240 --> 14:01.460 a continual um 14:02.040 --> 14:03.960 uh 14:05.440 --> 14:08.370 evolution of our operation in 14:08.370 --> 14:12.360 Afghanistan based on development 14:13.690 --> 14:14.570 security . 14:17.740 --> 14:20.450 Television Secretary 14:20.450 --> 14:23.730 General , did you speak today about 14:23.730 --> 14:27.480 missile defense And there are new 14:27.480 --> 14:29.536 information about the relations with 14:29.536 --> 14:32.430 Russia and this question . And can you 14:32.430 --> 14:35.200 say something about Ramstein in the 14:35.200 --> 14:35.860 future ? 14:38.740 --> 14:42.420 We'll discuss missile 14:42.420 --> 14:44.910 defense tonight . We have not discussed 14:44.920 --> 14:48.690 missile defense this afternoon . I have 14:48.700 --> 14:50.811 nothing new to report on . Ramstein . 14:50.811 --> 14:53.033 Ramstein is one of our headquarters and 14:53.033 --> 14:56.580 will remain one of our important 14:56.590 --> 14:59.600 headquarters as regards 14:59.610 --> 15:02.290 cooperation with Russia on missile 15:02.290 --> 15:05.450 defense . Um nothing new to 15:05.450 --> 15:09.360 report . Not as much progress in 15:09.360 --> 15:12.540 the talks as we would have hoped to see , 15:12.550 --> 15:15.220 but I still think there's a fair chance 15:15.220 --> 15:17.220 that we can reach an agreement with 15:17.220 --> 15:21.050 Russia by the time we meet 15:21.060 --> 15:24.070 in In Chicago . I can't give any 15:24.070 --> 15:25.681 guarantee . There's also the 15:25.681 --> 15:27.626 possibility that we can't reach an 15:27.626 --> 15:29.880 agreement , but we'll do what we can 15:32.240 --> 15:34.240 from the times this morning when he 15:34.240 --> 15:36.462 addressed us before the conference , he 15:36.462 --> 15:38.629 said that transition continues through 15:38.629 --> 15:40.740 2012 And we expect the last provinces 15:40.740 --> 15:42.796 to be handed over to Afghan security 15:42.796 --> 15:44.907 forces by the middle of 2013 . You're 15:44.907 --> 15:47.129 very precise now you're being much more 15:47.129 --> 15:49.351 cautious what's changed in the last few 15:49.351 --> 15:51.462 hours to mean that you are now saying 15:51.462 --> 15:53.518 that it could happen at some point , 15:53.518 --> 15:55.684 but you don't know where that pressure 15:55.684 --> 15:57.684 on you or signing that people don't 15:57.684 --> 15:59.851 agree . Can you just clear that please 16:00.500 --> 16:04.060 represents what we have 16:04.070 --> 16:07.970 discussed today and an agreement on the 16:07.970 --> 16:11.840 way forward . Um I think 16:11.840 --> 16:15.070 there is still a broad expectation 16:15.080 --> 16:18.860 that the last trance of 16:18.870 --> 16:22.440 transition can take 16:22.440 --> 16:24.770 place uh in 16:24.770 --> 16:28.310 2013 . But obviously and that's been 16:28.310 --> 16:30.560 the case all the time . Uh That will 16:30.560 --> 16:33.900 very much depend on the 16:33.900 --> 16:36.067 situation on the ground , the security 16:36.067 --> 16:39.150 and the relatives on on the ground . Um 16:39.160 --> 16:42.380 uh but the main point is 16:42.390 --> 16:44.660 that even when 16:46.240 --> 16:48.290 the last tranche of provinces and 16:48.290 --> 16:50.512 districts have been handed over to lead 16:50.520 --> 16:53.710 afghan responsibility , we will still 16:53.710 --> 16:57.360 need to support 16:57.370 --> 17:00.270 the Afghan security forces including by 17:00.270 --> 17:03.610 conducting combat operations . 17:03.740 --> 17:06.870 And I uh if there's any 17:06.870 --> 17:09.490 misunderstanding on that , I would like 17:09.490 --> 17:12.850 to be very clear on that . Uh If 17:12.860 --> 17:14.910 anyone yeah , 17:15.540 --> 17:18.860 things that 17:20.040 --> 17:23.060 The mission will be completed by 17:23.060 --> 17:26.650 2013 , then I can declare 17:26.660 --> 17:30.260 that's not the case . We stick to the 17:30.260 --> 17:33.220 road map that was outlined 17:33.230 --> 17:36.900 in Uh Lisbon in 17:36.900 --> 17:39.810 November 2010 , according to which the 17:39.810 --> 17:42.080 transition will continue until the end 17:42.090 --> 17:45.570 of 2014 . But obviously from now until 17:45.570 --> 17:47.450 then you will see 17:47.460 --> 17:50.280 a gradual 17:50.290 --> 17:53.960 development of our 17:54.040 --> 17:57.640 operation already already . Now 17:57.650 --> 17:59.360 we're in the midst of the 17:59.360 --> 18:01.527 implementation of the second trends of 18:01.527 --> 18:04.560 transition already . Now , you you will 18:04.560 --> 18:07.970 see changes in our force 18:07.970 --> 18:11.260 presence and the role of our forces 18:11.270 --> 18:14.640 as the afghans take on 18:14.650 --> 18:17.760 responsibility for the security . 18:18.260 --> 18:21.790 So it's a dynamic , it's a 18:21.790 --> 18:25.500 dynamic operation and this development , 18:25.500 --> 18:28.370 we will continue to National Public 18:28.370 --> 18:30.940 Radio Teri Schultz with National Public 18:30.940 --> 18:33.480 Radio Mr Secretary understand you've 18:33.480 --> 18:35.647 tried to be as clear as possible , but 18:35.647 --> 18:37.980 then , given what you've just explained , 18:37.980 --> 18:39.980 is there any possible way to square 18:39.980 --> 18:41.758 what you've said with Secretary 18:41.758 --> 18:43.869 Panetta's statement that he'd like to 18:43.869 --> 18:46.147 see combat operations finished by 2013 . 18:46.147 --> 18:48.258 Because if as you say , it's possible 18:48.258 --> 18:50.480 that transition doesn't isn't completed 18:50.480 --> 18:52.813 until 2014 , that would be very clearly , 18:52.813 --> 18:54.869 combat operations are going going on 18:54.869 --> 18:56.758 even with with an afghan lead and 18:56.758 --> 18:59.440 support uh well into 2014 . Um and 18:59.450 --> 19:01.561 Secretary Secretary Panetta said he'd 19:01.561 --> 19:03.728 like to see them finished by 2013 . Is 19:03.728 --> 19:05.894 there any possible circumstances under 19:05.894 --> 19:08.006 which that could be true ? Yes , that 19:08.006 --> 19:10.061 has been squared by what I said here 19:10.061 --> 19:13.570 because we agree on the 19:13.570 --> 19:17.080 fact that the transition process of 19:17.080 --> 19:20.750 course will be condition based . It 19:20.750 --> 19:24.710 will uh , the pace in 19:24.710 --> 19:27.120 which the scope in which transition can 19:27.120 --> 19:29.176 take place . Well , of course , very 19:29.176 --> 19:31.490 much depend on the security situation 19:31.500 --> 19:34.980 on the ground . We all hope to see 19:34.990 --> 19:37.950 the quick improvements 19:37.960 --> 19:41.460 uh , the security situation 19:41.470 --> 19:44.210 which will also allow the 19:44.220 --> 19:47.110 more provinces and districts will be 19:47.110 --> 19:49.950 handed over to lead afghan 19:49.960 --> 19:53.690 responsibility . So , it's very 19:53.690 --> 19:56.860 important to understand that all the 19:56.860 --> 19:59.810 discussion we have seen takes place 19:59.820 --> 20:02.810 within the framework of the Lisbon 20:02.810 --> 20:06.240 decision , the transition will take 20:06.240 --> 20:09.550 place continue until the end of 20:09.560 --> 20:13.050 2014 . How exactly 20:13.060 --> 20:16.150 uh the timelines will be , will of 20:16.150 --> 20:19.230 course very much depends on the 20:19.240 --> 20:21.410 security situation on the ground until 20:21.410 --> 20:24.620 now . We've been quite successful uh 20:24.630 --> 20:28.550 and being able to hand 20:28.560 --> 20:31.030 over responsibility to the afghans into 20:31.030 --> 20:34.270 trances . Um , at , 20:34.940 --> 20:38.560 at the dates we had expected more or 20:38.560 --> 20:41.360 less so far , we have been very 20:41.360 --> 20:44.710 successful . We hope this process can 20:44.720 --> 20:48.600 continue , but again , it's 20:48.600 --> 20:52.440 premature to predict you 20:53.180 --> 20:57.060 in all details . Uh , exactly 20:57.340 --> 21:01.310 of Provinces and districts will 21:01.310 --> 21:05.200 be handed over to Afghan responsibility . 21:05.660 --> 21:09.140 What is clear is that we stick to the 21:09.150 --> 21:12.030 list one roadmap . Thank you very much .