WEBVTT

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- Good evening.

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NATO Foreign Ministers have just met

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for the first time via
secure video conference.

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It was a successful meeting,

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proving that NATO is able to adapt

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to the circumstances created
by the COVID-19 crisis.

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We addressed a number of different issues,

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including our missions
in Afghanistan and Iraq

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and our support for Georgia and Ukraine.

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But our response to the COVID-19

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was at the top of our agenda.

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We have agreed a joint declaration.

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We express our deepest
sympathies with all the victims

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and with all those affected.

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We pay tribute to the health care workers

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and all those who are on the front line

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in our battle against the disease.

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This includes the men and
women in uniform who continue

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to work daily for our collective security.

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NATO was created to deal with crises

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so we can help and our
Alliance is playing its part.

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Today, we decided to
direct our top commander,

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General Wolters, to
coordinate the necessary

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military support to combat the crisis,

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to speed up and step up assistance.

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For instance, by identifying
the airlift capacity

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to ensure that medical
supplies are delivered,

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coordinating on any
surplus capacity or stocks,

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and better matching requests for support

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with offers from Allies and partners.

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He will also implement
simplified procedures

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for Rapid Air Mobility, in
coordination with Eurocontrol

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using the NATO call sign
for military relief flights.

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We will also convene a meeting

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of NATO defense ministers in mid-April

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to review the support we
are providing to Allies,

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take decisions on any further steps,

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and start assessing the medium
and long-term implications

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for our resilience, the
continuity of our essential work,

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and the broader geostrategic picture.

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I am grateful for the further offers

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of assistance which NATO Allies made today

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and for the substantial support

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that Allies have already provided

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including by airlifting critical

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medical supplies from across the globe,

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providing medical personnel and equipment,

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harnessing all our resources

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to deliver innovative responses

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and ensuring transparent and
timely information to overcome

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this global pandemic and
to combat disinformation.

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While we focus on our common
fight against COVID-19,

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we know that other threats

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and challenges have not gone away.

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NATO's primary responsibility
is to deliver security

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and defense for almost one billion people.

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General Wolters updated ministers

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on the state of our military preparedness.

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NATO's ability to conduct operations

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has not been undermined.

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Our forces remain ready and
our crucial work goes on

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including in our
multinational battlegroups

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in the east of the
Alliance, NATO air policing,

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and our maritime deployments.

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NATO military medical
staff remain vigilant

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monitoring the impact for NATO

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troops deployed on operations.

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We continue to adapt
to the COVID-19 crisis.

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But we also continue to plan,

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prepare, and act to maintain our security,

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now and in the future.

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Today, Ministers agreed
on NATO's next steps

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to fight terrorism, build stability,

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and strengthen our partnerships across

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the Middle East and North Africa.

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Ministers agreed to enhance
our training mission in Iraq,

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taking on some of the training activities

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of the Global Coalition,

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including the training and education

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of non-commissioned officers,
engineers, and federal police.

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This is being done in full consultation

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with the Iraqi authorities
and the Global Coalition.

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Ministers also discussed what more

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we could do across the wider region.

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This includes more help to partners

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with reforms and capacity building,

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NATO-led exercises, with a
focus on fighting terrorism,

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and deepening our
partnerships in the region,

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including with the African Union.

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We also discussed Afghanistan
and our continued commitment

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to long-term peace and
stability in the country.

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To support the peace efforts,

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we are reducing our presence
to around 12,000 by the summer.

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No decision for a further
reduction has been taken

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and all of our steps
will be conditions-based.

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We welcome efforts to
set up an inclusive team

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for the inter-Afghan negotiations.

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We call on the Taliban

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and all potential actors
to play their part.

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This includes reducing violence.

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This is the time for Afghans

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to show national unity
in the national interest,

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to achieve peace in Afghanistan,
but also to fight COVID-19.

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We decided to deepen our partnerships

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with Ukraine and Georgia even further

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including with exercises in
the strategic Black Sea region

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as well as joint work to
counter hybrid warfare,

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and efforts to share more
air traffic radar data,

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making the skies safer for all.

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We also agreed to increase NATO's

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cooperation with the United Nations

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with a package of measures to help

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with UN peacekeeper training.

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This includes medical care,

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countering improvised explosive
devices, and communications.

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And Ministers formally
launched the Reflection Process

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to further strengthen
NATO's political role.

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I will lead this process with

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the support of a group of experts.

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Finally, we welcomed the foreign minister

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of the Republic of North Macedonia,

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which is now a full
member of the Alliance.

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This is an important step
forward for the stability

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of the Western Balkan
region and of Europe.

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And it shows that, in uncertain times,

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we must further strengthen
our multilateral institutions.

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Global challenges demand global solutions.

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COVID-19 is making this clear.

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And as a transatlantic Alliance,

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NATO is determined to
continue playing its part.

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And with that I am ready
to take your questions.