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The President's Corner
 Fred Kempe
President & CEO

Atlantic Alliance Key to Confronting Global Problems


 

Ron Asmus,  "NATO's Hour"

Wall Street Journal, Aug 18, 2008

David Philips discusses the conflict in Georgia, BBC, Aug 11, 2008

[Listen]

David Philips' guest column for the Financial Times, July 30, 2008

Step back from the brink in Georgia

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Russian Actions Undermine Western Confidence

Jim Townsend, the Atlantic Council’s vice president for international security, told a C-SPAN audience that, "The Russian reaction to what happened in Georgia ... harkened back to a Russia of old" and undermined Western confidence in Russia as a partner. It is a "time of great challenge" for NATO, the EU, and other international institutions to find appropriate response to this "complex situation." Ultimately, "we need Russia to act like a mature partner."

[video] 

Atlantic Council Media Advisory on Georgia

Restoring Georgia's Sovereignty in Abkhazia

At the release of the Atlantic Council’s latest report “Restoring Georgia’s Sovereignty in Abkhazia,” David L. Phillips, the report’s author and a senior fellow of the Council, made clear that “the status quo in Abkhazia is dangerous and extremely volatile.” According to Phillips, “the issue of Abkhazia should be of first-order significance” for the transatlantic community because what happens in Georgia has implications for Western security interests and relations with Russia.

As Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council highlighted, this report is part of an ongoing effort at the Council to think about ways in which the transatlantic community can grow closer to Russia and engage it as a constructive partner and player. Kempe noted that the report “takes in all sides of the issue,” and reflects consultations Phillips had not only with Georgian leaders and experts, but also Russian experts and the Abkhaz leadership.

[read more] [report]  [press release]
 

Facing Undefinable Threats  

Gen. Victor Renuart, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, told the Atlantic Council and a live C-SPAN audience that most threats to the homeland are no longer definable and exist on the seams between military, information, and communications.

[video] 

Georgia Crisis about First Principles  

An all star panel of Georgian and American diplomatic thinkers agreed that resolving the conflict between Russia and Georgia is ultimately not about the fate of tiny Georgia but rather whether the West will demand adherence to its basic values: International borders are sacrosanct, especially in Europe; countries have a right to choose their own leaders; and any European democracy who meets NATO’s standards should be allowed to join the Alliance.

[video]  [transcript]

Georgia Chooses Values Over Geography

Making the case for NATO membership, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili argued that his country has moved from a “failed state” into a thriving democracy and one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. NATO is a “values based alliance” and Georgia has proven by deeds that it shares those values. While many contend Georgia should choose a middle way between Russia and the West, Saakaskvili declared there is “no middle ground between evil and good.”

[read more]