29 November 2006
Tony Blair has told world leaders in Riga that the operation in Afghanistan is of "crucial importance" to our security. He spoke to journalists about this, as well as Turkey’s accession to the European Union.
Parts of this transcript may have been edited
Read the transcript
Prime Minister:
First of all my apologies. I know you have all been waiting outside and I had a meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister that went on a bit longer than I anticipated.
First of all I think the summit has made significant progress in achieving what we need in respect of Afghanistan. Everyone accepts this is NATO’s absolutely critical mission. The armed forces Chief has told us that we have about 85% of what we need and there have been pledges of further forces and further equipment and an additional number of flexibilities given to the way troops are deployed. In particular there was an agreement right across the piece, including from countries like Germany and France - very important - that in any situation where there is an emergency then troops can be deployed in order to help those that are in difficulty.
So I think we have made significant progress towards what we want. There has been a real sense I think as well that this mission in Afghanistan is obviously not yet won but it is winnable and indeed we are winning. And I think there is a significant amount of optimism about the prospect provided we put alongside the military aspect the politics and the reconstruction and the development, which of course is what the British and our allies are doing down in the south of Afghanistan at the moment.
So I still think there are more things to be done, but these have been significant steps in the right direction and I would say that the mood certainly is to make sure now that the remaining gap in any requirements are filled over the coming period of time.
And then of course there has been discussion in respect of NATO’s changing nature, the potential new members of NATO and so on, there is a whole range of issues there. But anyway I think that is enough that I need to say by way of opening.
Question:
Prime Minister, one NATO official described what France, and in particular Germany, have done as a pretty symbolic gesture. You said that NATO’s credibility is on the line in Afghanistan, do you think those two nations in particular have done enough? And very briefly on Iraq, there are some important talks in Jordan today, do you agree with the UN Secretary General that the country is entering civil war?
Prime Minister:
First of all in respect of Iraq I think really I have said all I wanted to say at the press conference yesterday. In respect of Afghanistan, first of all it is important that we recognise the contributions that are being made by countries like Germany and France not just in Afghanistan but also now in the Lebanon as well. And we are satisfied with what has been said, not merely in terms of their troops being deployed to help in an emergency, but also in terms of the additional helicopters and so forth that was announced by the President of France yesterday.
And I think the removal of caveats by various nations is important but in the end it is a question of making sure, and this is really the job for NATO, to make sure that the gap in forces and in equipment is made up. Now the thousands of troops that have been announced by Poland is very important in that regard, there have been further offers of equipment, there has been a reduction in the number of caveats. I think the truth is that we have made significant progress but we still need to take those last remaining steps. But there is I think there is a complete acceptance around the table that NATO’s credibility is indeed on the line in respect of this mission and that if NATO stands for anything it is the defence of values of liberty and democracy, those values are being defended now in Afghanistan and if we don’t make sure this mission succeeds it will have a devastating impact on our own security and I think there was a very clear sense of that right round the table. So we will continue to do everything we can and I hope that the remaining gaps in capability are filled in the time to come.
Question:
Prime Minister, you said something about your talks with Turkey, how much trouble do you think Turkey’s application to the EU is in now following today’s announcement? And also while we are on Muslim matters, are you pleased that the runaway teenager, Molly Campbell, has been told by the Pakistanki court to go back to her mother in Britain?
Prime Minister:
I don’t think I will comment on the last bit, mainly because I am really not up to speed on it. In respect of the first, I think that there is going to be a real challenge to make sure that Turkey’s succession proceeds in the way that we want it to. But I would say that in Europe we face a division today between short-term political considerations, which I totally understand, in many European countries are very, very difficult indeed. But there is a division between that and the long-term strategic interest of Europe and the wider world - which is to have Turkey inside the European Union.
So what I have said with the Turkish Prime Minister today is that we will continue, with other countries that feel the same as Britain does on the issue of Turkey’s membership of the European Union, to try and find a way through before the European Council - that is the critical date. Today is not the critical date, the Council is the critical date and we have got to make sure that we allow Turkey’s accession to proceed. Now that will mean compromises all round in order to get this happening, but just at the moment to send an adverse signal to Turkey I think would be a serious mistake for Europe long term.
Question:
It has still been quite a hard grind though here hasn’t it? There are 2.4 million men under arms though in Europe and you are struggling to get a few extra thousand. That says it all doesn’t it?
Prime Minister:
Well you have got a NATO force of over 30,000 in Afghanistan, you have got $10.5 billion of money pledged, but you know you are right, it is important that we make sure that the reality lives up to the rhetoric and if this mission is critical to our security then we have to commit to it. If it is genuinely going to decide, certainly a significant battle in the war against terrorism, then we have got to succeed, and we have to say it, and we have to mean it, and we have to do it. Now we have come some way, I mean this is always the difficulty with a situation like this, have we got absolutely everything we wanted? Not yet, but we have made significant progress to getting it and we have at least got an in principle commitment round the table that we will do what is necessary. But in the end, sometimes it is very difficult - look we find it difficult in our own public opinion to explain to people why you should have British troops serving in situations of great difficulty and danger thousands of miles away from Britain.
And the answer to that is that a country like Afghanistan, which was used as a training ground for terrorism, terrorism is exported round the world, not least since 9/11, and although it seems strange, that is the early 21st century, that is what we fight today, we fight in countries that are a long way from ourselves, alongside other nations in circumstances where it is very often difficult to explain to our own public opinion why it is important. And I think that is the real issue, people find it difficult particularly when your troops are facing danger and when we are unfortunately losing troops, and not just Britain but Canada, the United States, other countries have lost troops over these past few months, so it is very, very tough to do. And you know you are right, it is a real test for Europe as well as NATO and we have got to pass that test.
delicious
digg
facebook
