Press Communiqué
NATO RISKS LOSING BATTLE FOR “HEARTS AND MINDS” IN AFGHANISTAN,
WARNS NATO PA PRESIDENT
“A much better balance between military action and reconstruction” is
needed if NATO is to win “the all-important battle for ‘hearts and minds’
at home and in Afghanistan” warned Bert Koenders, President of the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly, in his address to Alliance Heads of State and
Government gathered in Riga for the NATO Summit, on 29 November.
“Afghanistan is the reality check on all aspects of NATO’s
transformation”, Mr Koenders said to NATO leaders, bringing the view of
the AssemblyÂ’s 248 legislators from Alliance countries.
Noting that NATO Parliamentarians, meeting recently in Quebec, called
upon NATO governments to “deploy the required capabilities”, Mr Koenders
insisted in Riga that “one hundred percent means one hundred
percent. Anything less places operations at risk and reduces the scope
for reconstruction”.
The NATO PA President added that there is “strong parliamentary support”
for removing those national caveats that impair the effectiveness of NATO
in the field, and for establishing “a more equitable system of common
funding.”.
But the battle for ‘hearts and minds’ requires “at all times” respect for
the Afghani people and strict adherence to international humanitarian law
and the Geneva Conventions. Working with other international
organisations is a crucial aspect for NATO, and a common approach must be
adopted towards Afghanistan’s government “by emphasising that much more
needs to be done in the fight against corruption, drug traffickers and
the neglect of the South”. NATO and the EU in particular should work
better together and “end institutional rivalry and bickering”, Koenders
said.
While commending the role of the armed forces in all NATO operations, Mr
Koenders admitted that “political leaders have not yet passed the test”.
“Politicians” he said in Riga “must lead public opinion and build the
consensus to reinvent a more political NATO”, despite the difficulties
represented by “transatlantic differences and a sceptical public opinion
that is increasingly inward-looking”.
The full text of Mr. KoendersÂ’ speech can be found at:
http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?CAT2=0&CAT1=0&CAT0=0&SHORTCUT=1077
For further information, please contact
Simon Lunn: +32.478.361.662
e-mail: Press@nato-pa.int
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Place du Petit Sablon 3, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tél: (32) 2 513 28 65 | Fax: (32) 2 514 18 47 |
website: http:// www.nato-pa.int |
Background
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly, founded in 1955 with a Brussels-based secretariat,
brings together 248national parliamentarians from the 26 NATO countries.
In addition, 13 associate delegations from Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Russia;
4Mediterranean Associate delegations: Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Israel
and 8 Parliamentary Observer delegations participate in Assembly activities and meetings.