WEBVTT 00:10.578 --> 00:12.166 - Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 00:12.166 --> 00:14.348 The Secretary General will make a brief statement, 00:14.348 --> 00:16.765 and then take some questions. 00:17.475 --> 00:18.864 - Good afternoon. 00:18.864 --> 00:21.281 I have just finished chairing 00:21.291 --> 00:24.374 a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. 00:25.201 --> 00:28.951 The fifth such meeting since April last year. 00:30.665 --> 00:32.832 Dialogue can be difficult, 00:32.834 --> 00:37.001 but it is also essential and in times of raised tensions, 00:38.218 --> 00:41.635 such as now, it is particularly important 00:41.971 --> 00:45.221 to keep channels of communication open. 00:46.148 --> 00:48.981 At today's meeting, we had a frank 00:49.283 --> 00:52.783 and useful discussion on three key issues: 00:54.322 --> 00:58.489 Ukraine, Afghanistan, and transparency and risk reduction. 01:01.068 --> 01:02.744 In the case of Ukraine, 01:02.744 --> 01:04.564 NATO Allies and Russia continue 01:04.564 --> 01:07.397 to have fundamental disagreements. 01:08.389 --> 01:12.133 The Crimean issue and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine 01:12.133 --> 01:14.966 remain clear points of contention, 01:16.043 --> 01:18.227 and heavy weapons have not been 01:18.227 --> 01:20.977 withdrawn from the conflict zone. 01:21.529 --> 01:24.520 The Minsk Agreements provide the best chance 01:24.520 --> 01:27.020 of a solution to the conflict, 01:27.463 --> 01:30.130 but they need to be implemented, 01:30.500 --> 01:32.390 and the work of the OSCE monitors 01:32.390 --> 01:35.723 need to be allowed to proceed unimpeded. 01:36.509 --> 01:38.620 At today's meeting, we also discussed 01:38.620 --> 01:41.237 the security situation in Afghanistan, 01:41.237 --> 01:43.404 which remains challenging. 01:44.325 --> 01:48.492 A stable Afghanistan is essential to regional security. 01:49.782 --> 01:53.163 NATO Allies and Russia share a common interest 01:53.163 --> 01:56.340 to support the National Unity government 01:56.340 --> 02:00.507 and to work towards a free, safe and democratic Afghanistan. 02:02.853 --> 02:05.836 The third and final topic we discussed 02:05.836 --> 02:08.836 was transparency and risk reduction. 02:08.854 --> 02:12.249 At previous meetings of the NATO-Russia Council 02:12.249 --> 02:14.631 we have given reciprocal briefings 02:14.631 --> 02:17.214 on exercises and force posture. 02:18.461 --> 02:20.794 Such exchanges are important 02:22.752 --> 02:25.752 elements of our continuing dialogue. 02:26.437 --> 02:29.516 They help to limit the risk of misunderstanding, 02:29.516 --> 02:32.933 miscalculation and unintended escalation. 02:34.060 --> 02:37.797 This is why it was significant that at today's meeting, 02:37.797 --> 02:41.964 we exchanged advance briefings on upcoming exercises. 02:42.853 --> 02:47.020 Russia briefed on the upcoming ZAPAD 2017 exercise, 02:47.947 --> 02:52.114 and NATO briefed on Exercise Trident Javelin 2017. 02:53.537 --> 02:56.083 I am encouraged by this progress. 02:56.083 --> 02:58.223 It is a dialogue that can continue 02:58.223 --> 03:01.140 at future meetings of this Council. 03:01.657 --> 03:05.170 At the same time, these voluntary exchanges 03:05.170 --> 03:09.337 do not substitute for the mandatory transparency required 03:10.051 --> 03:12.218 under the Vienna Document. 03:13.103 --> 03:17.270 So, today's meeting covered a range of different topics. 03:17.879 --> 03:20.806 Our discussion was frank and useful. 03:20.806 --> 03:23.973 Allies and Russia hold different views 03:24.449 --> 03:27.687 but we are committed to continuing our dialogue 03:27.687 --> 03:31.854 as part of our commitment to preserving peace and security. 03:33.941 --> 03:37.691 And with that, I am ready for your questions. 03:38.131 --> 03:39.548 - Julian, please. 03:42.510 --> 03:44.500 - [Julian] Julian Barnes, Wall Street Journal. 03:44.500 --> 03:47.417 On the transparency, two questions. 03:48.518 --> 03:52.429 One, Russia and NATO have had very different accounts 03:52.429 --> 03:56.596 of the Zapad exercise, NATO saying 100,000 troops, 03:59.130 --> 04:01.880 Russia saying under the threshold 04:01.950 --> 04:03.779 for notifying under Vienna. 04:03.779 --> 04:07.362 Was there any sort of meeting of the minds? 04:07.809 --> 04:10.206 Was there any sort of information that 04:10.206 --> 04:14.373 NATO got that put you at ease about this upcoming exercises? 04:17.259 --> 04:20.676 And secondly, on the issue of air safety, 04:21.056 --> 04:25.223 we've had some uptick in recent months on incidents. 04:26.845 --> 04:28.694 Was there any discussion of that? 04:28.694 --> 04:32.111 Was there any discussion about mitigating 04:32.247 --> 04:34.622 the chance for a mishap in the Baltic region 04:34.622 --> 04:37.289 during these upcoming exercises? 04:38.440 --> 04:42.607 - First on numbers, Russia briefed on exercise Zapad 2017, 04:48.070 --> 04:50.820 and they also provided numbers on 04:55.079 --> 04:58.746 the total number of forces, but also planes, 04:59.082 --> 05:02.082 ships participating in the exercise, 05:03.136 --> 05:05.455 and also gave numbers for Russian troops 05:05.455 --> 05:08.705 and for troops from Belarus separately. 05:10.474 --> 05:13.297 And then many allies asked questions, 05:13.297 --> 05:16.797 and we had a discussion about the numbers. 05:17.354 --> 05:21.521 I think that my message today is that it's too early to say 05:23.172 --> 05:25.044 because it remains to be seen 05:25.044 --> 05:28.711 because the exercise hasn't yet taken place. 05:29.461 --> 05:33.628 But from previous experiences related to previous exercises, 05:36.331 --> 05:40.164 we have every reason to believe that it may be 05:40.544 --> 05:43.304 substantially more troops participating 05:43.304 --> 05:46.221 than the official reported numbers. 05:47.742 --> 05:50.867 So our message is that we call on Russia 05:50.867 --> 05:53.617 to adhere to the Vienna document, 05:55.243 --> 05:58.326 and allow for mandatory transparency, 06:02.906 --> 06:06.573 inspections and observation of the exercise, 06:07.070 --> 06:09.820 according to the Vienna document. 06:10.077 --> 06:11.525 But as I said, it remains to be seen 06:11.525 --> 06:15.192 because the exercise hasn't yet taken place. 06:15.242 --> 06:18.391 But numbers was an important part of the discussion today. 06:18.391 --> 06:22.058 Then on air safety, that was also discussed, 06:22.660 --> 06:25.312 and air safety, especially the Baltic region 06:25.312 --> 06:26.582 was also discussed. 06:26.582 --> 06:28.641 That is an important issue, 06:28.641 --> 06:32.808 and it was raised by several members of the council. 06:37.354 --> 06:41.521 Air safety is an example of why dialogue is important. 06:42.362 --> 06:45.837 Air safety in the Baltic region was raised 06:45.837 --> 06:49.393 last year at the meeting of the NATO Russia Council. 06:49.393 --> 06:52.893 Following that we had a Finnish initiative 06:54.230 --> 06:57.563 to host and to organize an expert group. 06:59.448 --> 07:01.867 I also spoke several times to the Finnish President 07:01.867 --> 07:03.450 about these issues. 07:03.746 --> 07:07.913 And now there is an expert group with NATO, Russia, 07:08.609 --> 07:12.118 littoral states like Sweden and Finland participating, 07:12.118 --> 07:15.035 and they are working in a good way. 07:15.332 --> 07:18.893 It's promising the work in that expert group 07:18.893 --> 07:22.476 addressing air safety in the Baltic region. 07:23.548 --> 07:27.568 And for me that underlines the importance of dialogue. 07:27.568 --> 07:29.895 It also underlines the importance of dialogue 07:29.895 --> 07:33.648 of NATO-Russia, but also involving other relevant states, 07:33.648 --> 07:36.398 in this case, Sweden and Finland. 07:36.970 --> 07:40.637 And we have seen an increase in air activity 07:41.960 --> 07:45.793 in the Baltic region, but with few exceptions, 07:47.346 --> 07:51.429 the vast majority of the intercepts are conducted 07:52.599 --> 07:56.599 in a safe and responsible manner by all parties. 08:00.630 --> 08:04.047 So there are examples of unsafe behavior. 08:06.788 --> 08:09.208 We have to work more on the risk reduction, 08:09.208 --> 08:11.208 air safety transparency, 08:11.455 --> 08:14.197 but I think it's important also to recognize 08:14.197 --> 08:16.699 the progress and also the fact that 08:16.699 --> 08:18.589 the vast majority of the intercepts 08:18.589 --> 08:22.089 are conducted in a safe and secure manner. 08:24.249 --> 08:26.842 - Yes, please, the lady in the front. 08:26.842 --> 08:28.590 - [Reporter] (mumbles) First Roman Television. 08:28.590 --> 08:32.088 Secretary General, was Syria not at all on the agenda 08:32.088 --> 08:34.181 because NATO is now involved? 08:34.181 --> 08:36.247 And any exchange of information about 08:36.247 --> 08:38.423 the situation in Syria today or no? 08:38.423 --> 08:40.303 - Syria was not discussed. 08:40.303 --> 08:44.220 NATO is a member of the coalition fighting ISIL 08:45.191 --> 08:46.691 in Iraq and Syria. 08:47.489 --> 08:50.739 NATO provides support to the coalition. 08:50.799 --> 08:53.658 We provide, we have stepped up our support 08:53.658 --> 08:56.375 with our AWACs surveillance planes 08:56.375 --> 08:58.903 where also Germany's playing a key role, 08:58.903 --> 09:02.653 and German personnel are key to that support, 09:02.816 --> 09:06.151 and many NATO allies are directly involved 09:06.151 --> 09:09.070 in different kinds of air operations, 09:09.070 --> 09:11.070 including Germany's also 09:12.092 --> 09:16.259 having some air presence and support for the coalition. 09:18.216 --> 09:21.178 But Syria was not an item, not an issue, 09:21.178 --> 09:24.197 at the meeting today because we discussed 09:24.197 --> 09:28.364 Ukraine, Afghanistan, and transparency, risk reduction. 09:28.572 --> 09:30.443 - Please, Teri, in the front row. 09:30.443 --> 09:32.218 - [Teri] Hi. Teri Schultz with NPR and Deutsche Welle. 09:32.218 --> 09:35.444 So you say that the Russia side presented some numbers. 09:35.444 --> 09:38.375 And were you satisfied that those numbers 09:38.375 --> 09:41.375 are below the observation threshold, 09:41.507 --> 09:43.281 if not the reporting threshold? 09:43.281 --> 09:47.114 You said that you have some, what did I tweet? 09:47.346 --> 09:50.905 Reason to believe that they will be much higher, 09:50.905 --> 09:52.162 and we've heard of course estimates 09:52.162 --> 09:54.428 of as high as 100,000, which it seems like 09:54.428 --> 09:56.287 no matter how you chop that up, 09:56.287 --> 09:59.211 would probably require some reporting under Vienna. 09:59.211 --> 10:01.261 So what are your concerns? 10:01.261 --> 10:03.763 And do you have any leverage over Russia 10:03.763 --> 10:05.788 to make them actually follow the requirements 10:05.788 --> 10:07.038 under the OSCE? 10:07.195 --> 10:09.307 And a quick one like Julian on air safety, 10:09.307 --> 10:11.785 there have also been some reports that the Russians 10:11.785 --> 10:15.053 say they may not, that they aren't giving direct orders 10:15.053 --> 10:17.672 to the pilots who don't follow the rules, 10:17.672 --> 10:20.214 who aren't behaving safely in the air. 10:20.214 --> 10:22.530 Does that concern you on its own? 10:22.530 --> 10:23.363 Thanks. 10:24.694 --> 10:28.277 - On numbers, Russia gave numbers on troops 10:34.084 --> 10:36.407 which are going to participate in Zapad, 10:36.407 --> 10:40.574 but also on other capabilities, like ships and planes. 10:42.611 --> 10:46.319 I welcome that and that also made it possible 10:46.319 --> 10:48.014 for allies to ask questions, 10:48.014 --> 10:52.159 and they asked several questions about the numbers. 10:52.159 --> 10:54.909 I think it's for Russia to answer 10:56.212 --> 10:59.125 about numbers to the media, to the public, 10:59.125 --> 11:02.208 but I can say that according to them, 11:02.310 --> 11:03.639 according to the official numbers, 11:03.639 --> 11:07.389 they are below the Vienna document threshold. 11:08.623 --> 11:10.123 And that was then, 11:14.112 --> 11:17.472 that was also many allies was focusing on 11:17.472 --> 11:21.555 exactly that threshold when they asked questions. 11:22.156 --> 11:23.744 And again, it remains to be seen 11:23.744 --> 11:27.661 because the exercise hasn't been conducted yet, 11:28.330 --> 11:30.675 so it's hard to tell now exactly 11:30.675 --> 11:34.429 how many troops that will actually participate. 11:34.429 --> 11:37.096 But NATO will monitor and follow 11:37.189 --> 11:39.522 the Zapad 2017 very closely. 11:40.478 --> 11:42.918 And of course we will base our information 11:42.918 --> 11:46.795 about the exercise not only on official Russian reports, 11:46.795 --> 11:48.962 but also on other sources. 11:51.435 --> 11:54.340 And again, for us it is important to 11:54.340 --> 11:58.507 not only adhere to and follow the mandatory transparency 11:58.535 --> 12:00.647 according to the Vienna document, 12:00.647 --> 12:04.223 but I think it's also a good thing, as many NATO allies do, 12:04.223 --> 12:07.241 that they are actually on a voluntary basis 12:07.241 --> 12:10.241 even showing even more transparency, 12:10.327 --> 12:13.744 notifying even exercises with less troops 12:15.761 --> 12:19.344 than the thresholds in the Vienna document. 12:22.503 --> 12:24.670 Then on air safety, again, 12:27.544 --> 12:29.901 we have seen increased air activities, 12:29.901 --> 12:33.392 meaning that we also have seen more intercepts. 12:33.392 --> 12:35.477 Intercepts is a normal thing. 12:35.477 --> 12:38.060 That's a thing we do in planes, 12:38.121 --> 12:42.038 which are identified approaches NATO territory. 12:42.742 --> 12:45.494 But that can be done in a safe and professional manner, 12:45.494 --> 12:46.799 and it's not a dramatic thing. 12:46.799 --> 12:49.132 It's a routine normal thing. 12:49.174 --> 12:51.635 The unnormal thing and the dangerous thing 12:51.635 --> 12:55.802 is if the intercepts are conducted in a dangerous way, 12:56.274 --> 12:58.441 too close to the plane or, 13:00.268 --> 13:03.612 in other ways conducted in a dangerous way. 13:03.612 --> 13:07.779 So the issue is how can we make sure that intercepts 13:08.169 --> 13:11.419 air activities are conducted in a safe, 13:12.257 --> 13:14.013 and safe and professional manner? 13:14.013 --> 13:17.016 And of course it is the different states 13:17.016 --> 13:19.417 who own the planes who are responsible 13:19.417 --> 13:21.982 for the behavior of the planes. 13:21.982 --> 13:25.482 And I welcome the work of the expert group 13:26.002 --> 13:27.403 hosted by Finland. 13:27.403 --> 13:30.370 I welcome the fact that we have seen progress 13:30.370 --> 13:33.942 and that the vast majority with a few exceptions 13:33.942 --> 13:35.930 of the intercepts are conducted 13:35.930 --> 13:38.763 in a safe and professional manner. 13:38.920 --> 13:41.663 - [Moderator] Lady in the front row here. 13:41.663 --> 13:42.882 - [Reporter] Thank you, Secretary. 13:42.882 --> 13:44.912 You said you're talking about Afghanistan 13:44.912 --> 13:46.662 also in this meeting. 13:47.068 --> 13:50.939 Was there issue of the reported support to the Taliban 13:50.939 --> 13:53.031 by Russia raised in this meeting? 13:53.031 --> 13:53.864 Thank you. 13:55.235 --> 13:59.402 - It was mentioned, but not as an important issue. 14:00.408 --> 14:04.105 We have seen reports, but we haven't seen any proofs, 14:04.105 --> 14:08.272 any confirmed information about that kind of support, 14:09.013 --> 14:10.398 and Russia has clearly stated 14:10.398 --> 14:13.398 that they're not supporting Taliban. 14:15.348 --> 14:17.814 The focus of the meeting today 14:17.814 --> 14:21.558 was the importance of supporting an Afghan led 14:21.558 --> 14:24.891 and Afghan owned reconciliation process. 14:25.799 --> 14:28.585 I welcome the fact that President Ghani 14:28.585 --> 14:31.002 has initiated such a process. 14:33.404 --> 14:37.154 And it was a meeting in Kabul a few weeks ago 14:39.393 --> 14:42.060 that was an important first step 14:43.174 --> 14:47.007 to try to re-energize or to give more strength 14:49.075 --> 14:52.825 to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. 14:55.054 --> 14:56.721 - [Moderator] Irina. 14:58.614 --> 15:01.668 - [Irina] Irina Somer, Ukrainian News Agency, UNIAN. 15:01.668 --> 15:02.812 Actually two questions. 15:02.812 --> 15:06.979 You said that NATO will monitor exercise Zapad 2017, 15:07.975 --> 15:12.142 but will NATO be able to send their own observers? 15:12.200 --> 15:13.579 It's first part on this one. 15:13.579 --> 15:17.746 And did Russians give you any guarantee that these exercises 15:18.899 --> 15:23.066 will be not used to occupy other neighboring countries? 15:24.561 --> 15:25.902 And the second question is, 15:25.902 --> 15:29.319 like it happened by the way in Georgia in 2012. 15:29.319 --> 15:31.403 The second one, I would like to know if 15:31.403 --> 15:34.903 Russian asked you about next visit to Kyiv 15:35.814 --> 15:38.481 which took place a few days ago. 15:38.525 --> 15:42.692 And particularly about the fact that President Poroshenko 15:43.545 --> 15:46.462 touched an issue of MAP, thank you. 15:50.140 --> 15:52.982 - So every nation has the right to exercise its forces, 15:52.982 --> 15:56.315 and that of course also goes for Russia. 15:58.137 --> 16:00.541 Second, we don't see any imminent threat 16:00.541 --> 16:03.208 against any NATO allied country. 16:05.413 --> 16:09.496 Third, we will follow the Zapad exercise closely. 16:10.132 --> 16:13.842 And of course if this is an exercise which is 16:13.842 --> 16:17.509 not defined according to the Vienna document 16:18.431 --> 16:22.598 and there is a mandatory inspection and transparency 16:22.629 --> 16:25.879 then of course we will be part of that. 16:27.228 --> 16:31.395 On the visit of NAC to Kyiv, it was briefly mentioned, 16:33.428 --> 16:35.761 and I underlined the message 16:39.593 --> 16:41.022 from the North Atlantic Council, 16:41.022 --> 16:43.860 and we visited Kyiv on Monday this week, 16:43.860 --> 16:47.527 that NATO stands in solidarity with Ukraine. 16:49.709 --> 16:53.876 We support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, 16:54.802 --> 16:56.329 and NATO provides practical 16:56.329 --> 16:59.079 and political support to Ukraine. 16:59.100 --> 17:01.433 And the focus is on reforms, 17:01.910 --> 17:03.276 the importance of fighting corruption 17:03.276 --> 17:07.443 and modernize Ukraine's defense and security institutions. 17:09.284 --> 17:12.951 There has been no change in the relationship 17:13.145 --> 17:15.228 between Ukraine and NATO. 17:17.819 --> 17:20.829 We continue to focus on our partnership 17:20.829 --> 17:23.162 and on implementing reforms. 17:25.844 --> 17:28.387 - Yes, please, lady in the front row. 17:28.387 --> 17:31.230 - [Reporter] Georgian TV Company, RUSTAVI. (mumbles) 17:31.230 --> 17:33.118 Secretary General, as you know, last week 17:33.118 --> 17:37.285 occupation regime moved occupation line so-called border. 17:37.974 --> 17:42.073 It was in South Ossetia region, village (mumbles). 17:42.073 --> 17:45.568 And today we have more dangers in other villages. 17:45.568 --> 17:48.434 Maybe do you discuss this issue today, 17:48.434 --> 17:52.190 and in general how you estimate this situation? 17:52.190 --> 17:53.023 Thanks. 17:53.929 --> 17:56.121 - We didn't discuss this issue today. 17:56.121 --> 17:58.927 And that's not because NATO is not concerned 17:58.927 --> 18:00.735 about the situation in Georgia, 18:00.735 --> 18:04.138 but that's because the issues we discussed today 18:04.138 --> 18:07.971 were Ukraine, Afghanistan, and risk reduction. 18:10.822 --> 18:12.713 But as Secretary General of NATO, 18:12.713 --> 18:14.922 not related to the meeting that took place today, 18:14.922 --> 18:18.422 I can say that of course we are concerned. 18:18.500 --> 18:21.168 We have seen that the border posts 18:21.168 --> 18:23.511 have been moved several times, 18:23.511 --> 18:27.594 and we don't recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia 18:27.735 --> 18:31.735 as any kind of independent republics or nations. 18:33.415 --> 18:35.579 They are a part of Georgia, 18:35.579 --> 18:38.455 part of the international recognized borders of Georgia 18:38.455 --> 18:40.455 or within those borders. 18:41.632 --> 18:44.905 We therefore support all efforts to try to find 18:44.905 --> 18:48.569 a negotiated peaceful solution to these conflicts, 18:48.569 --> 18:52.130 and we continue to provide support to Georgia. 18:52.130 --> 18:54.797 And we have the training center. 18:55.464 --> 18:57.720 We have the assistance package. 18:57.720 --> 19:00.220 We have many other activities, 19:00.895 --> 19:03.538 which are going on where we continue to help 19:03.538 --> 19:07.705 Georgia to modernize and to strengthen its capability 19:07.825 --> 19:10.242 to protect and defend itself, 19:11.366 --> 19:14.116 and also to stabilize the country 19:14.996 --> 19:18.746 where we see foreign troops on Georgian soil. 19:20.242 --> 19:22.342 - Okay, we have time for one more question, Ana. 19:22.342 --> 19:23.728 Hiding behind her laptop. 19:23.728 --> 19:25.666 - [Ana] Thank you, Secretary-General. 19:25.666 --> 19:27.310 Could you tell us a bit about the numbers 19:27.310 --> 19:29.724 that will participate in the NATO exercise? 19:29.724 --> 19:31.195 And also is there a bit of clarity 19:31.195 --> 19:32.737 of what will happen with the U.S. Patriots 19:32.737 --> 19:35.996 that would be deployed in Lithuania, I think? 19:35.996 --> 19:37.904 Is it only for the next upcoming exercise 19:37.904 --> 19:40.263 or will they probably stay a bit longer 19:40.263 --> 19:42.410 just for extra reassurance measures. 19:42.410 --> 19:44.080 We understand that especially Lithuania 19:44.080 --> 19:47.243 was one of the countries pushing for extra measures, 19:47.243 --> 19:49.076 to fend off from Zapad 19:49.562 --> 19:51.842 given that they are extremely worried about this exercise. 19:51.842 --> 19:52.675 Thank you. 19:54.477 --> 19:57.682 - The deployment of the Patriot batteries 19:57.682 --> 20:00.857 is a bilateral issue, the United States 20:00.857 --> 20:03.274 provides this kind of support 20:04.066 --> 20:07.316 or are deploying the Patriot batteries. 20:07.379 --> 20:11.379 But of course that's, they are invited to do so, 20:16.224 --> 20:17.974 and it's also part of 20:18.687 --> 20:22.854 the strengthening of the U.S. military presence in Europe, 20:24.089 --> 20:27.922 and I welcome this increased U.S. presence of, 20:28.535 --> 20:31.368 increased U.S. presence in Europe. 20:32.673 --> 20:35.199 How long the Patriots will be deployed? 20:35.199 --> 20:36.602 I'm not able to tell you, 20:36.602 --> 20:39.019 but I'm certain that the U.S. 20:39.125 --> 20:41.958 will be able to answer about that. 20:43.251 --> 20:45.139 Then the other question was about? 20:45.139 --> 20:47.650 (reporter mumbles) 20:47.650 --> 20:50.733 Oh, the Exercise Trident Javelin 2017 20:53.611 --> 20:55.861 is a command post exercise. 20:56.211 --> 20:59.128 It's exercising almost the whole of 20:59.444 --> 21:02.763 the NATO command structure, which is extremely important, 21:02.763 --> 21:04.624 and it's also a part of the preparations 21:04.624 --> 21:08.624 to the Trident Juncture 2018 exercise next year, 21:09.381 --> 21:12.214 which will be a big live exercise. 21:13.773 --> 21:16.106 The numbers are below 5,000. 21:18.109 --> 21:22.276 So it's not a big exercise measured in the number of troops, 21:24.333 --> 21:28.464 but it is NATO's most significant exercise this year 21:28.464 --> 21:32.297 because it's exercising our command structure. 21:32.726 --> 21:35.825 Next year we'll have a much bigger live exercise, 21:35.825 --> 21:39.284 and NATO allies are ready to be transparent 21:39.284 --> 21:41.951 and to be from Trident Juncture, 21:42.095 --> 21:46.109 and of course then we speak about much higher numbers, 21:46.109 --> 21:47.859 around 35,000 troops. 21:49.162 --> 21:51.760 But of course the final number's yet to be decided 21:51.760 --> 21:53.747 because it depends a bit on how many nations 21:53.747 --> 21:57.914 will send troops and contribute, but around 35,000. 21:59.239 --> 22:00.233 - [Moderator] Okay, ladies and gentlemen, 22:00.233 --> 22:01.900 thank you very much. 22:02.301 --> 22:03.968 - Thank you so much.