Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

Leaked cables show US used informer in NATO chief's office

Jorge Benitez — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:32:49 -0600

From DPA: NATO staff under the command of both the current NATO chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and his predecessor Jaap de Hoop Scheffer supplied information to authorities in the US, according to the cables released by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks. ...

Norway's daily Aftenposten published several of the cables on its website. One, dated 10 September 2009, referred to a letter sent by Rasmussen to the secretary general of the Russian-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

The letter was leaked to the US mission 'by a member of the NATO International Staff (strictly protect)),' the cable read. The letter was a cordial response to an earlier message from CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha welcoming Rasmussen to his new job. ...

The US cable concluded that it was 'unusual for a Secretary General to act on such a politically sensitive topic without clearer guidance from and transparency with Allies.'

'Rasmussen appears to feel empowered to act with a greater degree of independence than did his predecessor,' the diplomatic communique noted.

From Aftenposten, excerpts from leaked cable: NATO Secretary General ready to reach out to CSTO?

The SecGen sent CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Borduyzha an August 24 letter thanking him for an earlier message in which Borduyzha offered Rasmussen congratulations on his appointment as NATO SecGen. We understand that Rasmussen had his letter delivered to Borduyzha through Russian Ambassador to NATO Rogozin. Rasmussens brief message (a copy of which was provided by a member of the NATO International Staff (strictly protect)) thanked the CSTO chief for his "kind letter" of August 1, noted that he had taken over NATO at a time when the "organization is faced with a wide range of challenges," and concluded that "NATO is well placed and well equipped to meet these challenges." We have not seen Borduyzhas initial letter to Rasmussen. ...

Rasmussen intends to address the topic of improving NATO relations with Russia, one of his stated priorities as SecGen, in an upcoming speech that a member of the NATO International Staff told us would probably "go further than many Allies, including the United States, will be comfortable with." We do not have details on the speech, which is one of several thematic addresses the SecGen intends to give laying out his vision for NATO. (photo: Reuters)

Rasmussen Reinvigorating NATO

sebastian-bruns — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:17:46 -0500

In the summer of 2008, the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen followed up an invitation from his fellow country-man, Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis, to cycle the steepest rise of the central stage of the Tour. Twelve months later, career wise, Rasmussen ascended even higher: He succeeded Dutchman Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as Secretary General of NATO. The civilian top job in Brussels is the highest international office ever occupied by a Dane. Similar to cycling, Rasmussen is expected to show stamina, endurance and leadership qualities in the light of the current challenges faced by the alliance.

NATO, now in its seventh decade of existence, is confronted by enormous tasks of varied natures. The most pressing issue is - and will remain to be - Afghanistan. Consequently, that was the first country Rasmussen visited once he took office. There, he announced an open-ended mission and underlined the determination to remain active in Afghanistan until the job is done. Beside the fierce war effort in Afghanistan, NATO is substantially involved in the Mediterranean and the Horn of Africa, where it has established maritime security with some tangible success. In both regions, diverse threats including piracy, human trafficking, proliferation of small arms and WMD, and failing and failed littoral states threaten the maritime security.

However, these activities can hardly conceal the huge number of unsolved question NATO faces. On the one hand, there are internal issues such as the inter-member relationships, the integration of new member states, and the strategic and operational adjustment to new threats. On the other hand, there are issues concerning NATO's "foreign policy": the relationship with Russia, the question of membership candidates like Georgia and Ukraine and its working relations with other alliances. Against this backdrop, the development of a new strategic concept for NATO by a working group led by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is a major step in the right direction. The alliance has to reinvent itself - once more.

But center-right politician Rasmussen is up for the job, and brings his much needed political socialisation skills to frantic Brussels. For the small kingdom and founding member of NATO, the alliance has always been more than just an end in itself; it was regarded as a unique military and geopolitical life-insurance during the Cold War. When the deepening integration of the European Union resulted in an additional security and foreign policy dimension in Europe, this was met with fierce opposition in Denmark, with the Danish parliament even threatening to reject these treaties. That shows that an Atlantic approach to security continues to dominate Danish foreign policy and is preferred to the EU foreign and security policy. The reasons for that are good and peaceful experiences with NATO on the one hand and the strategically significant rights over Greenland on the other hand. The latter is a prominent example of Atlantic power and dominance. It is safe to say that Rasmussen shares this view as well.

Another key challenge facing Rasmussen is France's return to NATO. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has repeatedly stressed that the return of his country into the command structures of NATO aims to strengthen the European pillar of the alliance and, whilst doing so, massively revives France's influence. Rasmussen will have to act as a broker between Sarkozy and the administration of Barack Obama, who has openly moved away from the critical position to the Alliance of his predecessor George W. Bush. It is Rasmussen's task to loose the image of "Bush's poodle" quickly, without instantly turning into either Obama's or Sarkozy's puppy. With September 11, 2001 and the events following it, we have witnessed the decline of the Eurocentric alliance. This is Rasmussen's window of opportunity: The future of NATO will be decided in Washington rather than in Brussels.

The first Secretary General of NATO, Lord Ismay, is often quoted for pointedly summing up NATO's initial mission in Europe: "To keep the American in, the Soviets out, and the Germans down." More than half a century later, Rasmussen's Herculean task is "to keep the Americans in, the French satisfied, and the rest of the allies united." This is a challenge far too great for a single person: Like in professional cycling, alliance politics needs team spirit of those involved. In the light of the challenging ramps ahead, this will prove to be indispensable.

Sebastian Bruns is project leader at Haus Rissen Hamburg, where he is in charge of the maritime security, Model United Nations and consultancy on local politics programs. This essay was previously published at Atlantic Community as "Rasmussen Set to Reinvigorate NATO." Photo: Getty Images.

NATO Can Survive Afghanistan Failure

James Joyner — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:45:29 -0500

In my latest for The National Interest, I argue that, despite the constant urging otherwise by former Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO can survive failing in Afghanistan.

The piece is exclusive but here are two brief excerpts:

Quite naturally, citizens in free societies do not want to send their troops to fight and die unless the cause is just and the danger is enormous. This leads to the unfortunate tendency for democratic leaders to oversell war efforts—and undersell the dangers—to rally public support. Recall George H. W. Bush’s touting Saddam Hussein as “Hitler revisited,” Bill Clinton’s promise that American troops would remain in Bosnia no more than a year, or George W. Bush’s cherry-picking the intelligence on Saddam’s WMD and warning of “mushroom clouds.”

But:

[T]he fact of the matter is that NATO went to war in Afghanistan, invoking Article V’s declaration that an “attack against one” shall be “considered an attack against them all” in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The Taliban government that sheltered al-Qaeda has been ousted and hundreds of the terrorist group’s leaders have been killed. The original mission has long since morphed into an incredibly ambitious nation-building exercise with murky goals.

NATO would never have achieved consensus on undertaking such a mission, even in the emotional wake of 9/11. Why, then, should its future rest on its achievement?

Much more at the link.

James Joyner is managing editor of the Atlantic Council.

Armenia Says NATO Support For Azerbaijan Prompted Pullout

Jorge Benitez — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:36:00 -0500

From Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: "Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian says his country's main reason for canceling its participation in the NATO military exercises in Georgia was NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's support for Azerbaijan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports."

NATO Expels Russian Diplomats on Espionage Charges

Valerie Nichols — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:40:14 -0500

The expulsion of two Russian diplomats from the nation’s mission to NATO will surely put a damper in recent attempts to thaw relations. Yesterday’s confirmation of the action comes only one day after the first resumption of formal talks between NATO and Russian representatives since last summer’s war with Georgia. The talks were meant to ease tensions, but, so far, have only proved to escalate them.

According to the BBC, Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s ambassador to NATO, has revealed the identity of the two diplomats as Viktor Kochukov, a senior counselor at the Russian mission and the head of its political section, and Vasiliy Chizhov, a lower-level attache and the son of Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's envoy to the European Union.

Previous worries about Wednesday’s meeting had centered on differences concerning the military exercises planned by NATO for May 6 to June 1 in Georgia, as previously discussed in the New Atlanticist. The Deutsche Welle also explains: “Russia strongly opposes Georgia's desire to join NATO and sees the anti-terrorism and peacekeeping exercises as a step in that direction.”

These concerns, however, were quickly overshadowed by the expulsion scandal.

NATO diplomats claim that the two men were undercover intelligence agents that are somehow connected to Estonian official Herman Simm. The Financial Times:

Herman Simm, the Estonian official, was convicted of treason in February and jailed for 12 years by an Estonian court for passing Nato and other defence and diplomatic secrets to Russia. Investigators called the case “the biggest spy scandal in Nato history”. Mr Simm, 61, handed over more than 2,000 pages of information to his Russian handlers, investigators found.

Simm was arrested last September and convicted of treason. The scandal was an embarrassment to the former Soviet-ruled NATO member. Interestingly, the Financial Times report concludes that, “The two expelled Russian diplomats were not directly involved in the Estonian spy affair. But Nato sources said the scandal had caused such damage to the alliance’s security that it had to deliver a hard response.”

The BBC, despite stating that NATO diplomats have claimed the two men were spies, reports that, “A Nato spokesman said he could not confirm the story because he could not comment on intelligence matters.”

While the NATO response to the expulsions has been somewhat cryptic, the Russian response has been more than clear. The BBC reports that Russia’s foreign ministry believes the move to be unjustified. The ministry continues: "A crude provocation has been made in relation to two employees of Russia's permanent mission to Nato on an absolutely trumped up pretext without any clear explanation." The report also quotes Mr. Rogozin’s forewarning: "There will be a response to such steps, which Nato will learn about shortly," he warned, adding that "someone in the West strongly dislikes how relations between Russia and individual countries of Western Europe are developing." The Deutsche Welle also captured the foreign ministry’s unhappiness: "This outrageous action fundamentally contradicts statements by NATO's leadership on its readiness to normalize ties with Russia." The Manchester Guardian also caught the language of Rogozin in an interaction with Russian news agency, Interfax: “They are being charged with espionage, which is incompatible with diplomatic status." He continues to state that, "Nato officials should be aware that these diplomats were not involved in any activity incompatible with their professional status." Rogozin found the accusations to be "invented, irresponsible, and provocative", as well as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the recent thaw in relations ahead of a crucial meeting of the Nato-Russian council on 19 May.

Wednesday’s meeting was held under the framework of the NATO-Russia Council (NCR), which is meant to ease tensions between the two. With its resumption marked by the expulsions, however, it is once again clear that the road ahead is not going to be easy.

The Deutsche Welle recorded the high hopes of alliance spokesman James Appathurai for the meeting before it began: "The meeting opened with a shared view that the time has come to take the next step." He continues to argue that, "There was a shared desire to focus on areas where we can be productive and not be backward looking". NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was also found to be in a positive mood, as reported in the same Deutsche Welle article: "The NATO-Russia Council is not a fair-weather body." Scheffer continues: "But we also have a great number of issues, I think, where we can have a fruitful discussion. Let me mention Afghanistan. Let me mention the fight against terrorism." Not surprisingly, the Secretary General did not mention espionage as an issue that could create fruitful discussion.

As more details emerge about the expulsions, and the Russians unveil their response as forewarned by Rogozin, we will see exactly how “fair-weather” of a body the NCR actually is. The formal resumption of meetings lasting only one day would certainly not be a good sign.

Valerie Nichols is a web editor at The Atlantic Council. Photo Credit: Reuters Pictures

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

Brooke Heaton — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:03:24 -0500

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

NATO Head: Pakistan FATA Key to Afghan Security

Brooke Heaton — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:34:36 -0500

Speaking before a full house at the Warsaw Transatlantic Forum, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called for enhancing regional cooperation in Afghanistan in order to counter the Taliban insurgency. Noting the central role of Pakistan in the conflict, he urged for improving security and development in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

"For that, we need Pakistan because the same people who want to destabilize the FATA in Pakistan are the guys who are coming over the border and making life for Polish and Dutch and Canadians and Danes and Americans miserable in Afghanistan," he said. "Let us build a relationship in the training of Pakistani officers - that is a Pakistani wish. Like in Afghanistan, if you look at the FATA in Pakistan and other areas, people want to see their standard of living improve. If you ask the Afghan what is your main worry, he'll not say Taliban. He'll say: 'I want my daughter or son to go to school; I want to have a market for my products... I want roads, could there be a power station?"

Recognizing the historic occasion of the 10th anniversiary of the entrance of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to NATO ten years ago, Scheffer noted that Europe was no longer divided and faced a new future. “The acceptance of these countries proves that mistakes have been corrected and that the enlargement creates a sphere of mutual European security.Poland the Czech Republic and Hungary integrated deeply into the Organization and their voices have been heard and heard the whole time,” stated the Secretary General.

Regarding NATO reinstating relations with Russia, following the freeze after Russia started the conflict with Georgia, Scheffer rejected a freezing of bilateral relations. “Despite talking about it, having no relations is not an option that we even took into account.”

Press Reports:

NATO must deepen engagement with Pakistan: Scheffer (Reuters)

NATO must deepen its engagement with Pakistan, ensure it has sufficient troops in Afghanistan and keep up a dialogue with Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on Thursday. "Of course we need to look beyond Afghanistan... and especially Pakistan, with which we must deepen our engagement," Scheffer told a conference in Budapest on the 10th anniversary of the accession of Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic to NATO.

He also said NATO must ensure it has enough troops in Afghanistan as that country prepares for elections. "We must ensure that we have sufficient troops on the ground to enforce security both during and after the coming election period," Scheffer said.

NATO Chief Touts Alliance Expansion ( VOA News)

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says alliance expansion remains a necessity for the stabilization of Europe, and says NATO's door will remain open for future members.

De Hoop Scheffer spoke Thursday in Budapest, at ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of Polish, Hungarian and Czech accession into the defense alliance.

The NATO chief said current and future challenges include the stabilization of Afghanistan, European energy security, cyber-crime and piracy. He also said NATO needs to improve its relationship with Russia, which remains opposed to alliance expansion closer to its borders, and opposes a U.S. plan to build a missile defense system on Polish and Czech soil.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Warsaw (Polski Radio)

Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is in Poland today to mark the 10th anniversary of the country's accession to the alliance. He has already visited the Czech Republic and Hungary on that same occasion. A conference has also been held in Warsaw discussing the decade of Poland's involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

During the conference "NATO - challenges and tasks" in the morning, head of the alliance said the event was significant for the world, for Europe and for the new members themselves. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who also took part in the conference, emphasized that today NATO should be the defender of a civilization based on values such as freedom, free market and solidarity: 'that's why Poland is for widening the alliance, to include those nations and states, where the values which I mention are also alive, or at least are a wish of authorities and the people,' he said. In reply, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said widening NATO so far has proven a success and the alliance is definitely not closing doors.

Ukraine, Georgia will join NATO, Secretary General Scheffer asserts (Kyiv Post)

Ukraine and Georgia will eventually become members of NATO, NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer reiterated at a Warsaw conference Friday, commemorating Poland's accession to NATO 10 years ago. "That decision stands: Ukraine and Georgia will eventually be members of NATO [...], but enlargement is a performance-based project, and the question of when depends on their performance," Scheffer said.

NATO has set up Ukrainian and Georgian commissions, which will work together with the governments of those countries to bring about the necessary reforms for accession, Scheffer added.

Related Publication:

Saving Afghanistan: An Appeal and Plan for Urgent Action

Photo Credit: Antoni Łoskot

NATO Resumes Russia Ties

James Joyner — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:23:24 -0600

NATO has ended Russia's "time-out," presumably thinking it has suffered long enough for invading its neighbor.

NATO foreign ministers agreed Thursday to resume high-level formal ties with Russia, suspended last year after Moscow's military thrust into Georgia.

Russia immediately welcomed the move. "This decision is a step in the right direction," Russia's RIA news agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced the decision after Lithuania dropped its objections to work resuming within the NATO-Russia Council, the body that directs cooperation between the two sides on security issues. "The ministers reached agreement to formally resume the NATO-Russia Council including at ministerial level ... as soon as possible after the NATO April summit," said de Hoop Scheffer." "Russia is a global player. Not talking to them is not an option," he added.

But Russia was a global player in August when the suspension was announced. What's changed? Last I checked, Russian troops were still occupying South Ossetia and Abkhazia and looking to stay there for the long hual. Scheffer's still SecGen and Sarkozy, Merkel, and Brown still head up Europe's Big 3.

The only significant new fact is that Barack Obama is now president of the United States. Reading between the lines of Sue Pleming and Ingrid Melander's report for Reuters, that appears to be the difference:

Earlier U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, attending her first NATO summit, pressed for a fresh start to relations with Moscow. But she said the door to alliance membership must be kept open for ex-Soviet Georgia and Ukraine. Moscow strongly opposes their membership of the U.S.-led military alliance.

"We can and must find ways to work constructively with Russia where we share areas of common interest, including helping the people of Afghanistan," said Clinton. [..] Clinton and other allies emphasized that differences persisted with Russia, particularly over Georgia. But she said NATO had to find ways to "manage" these differences while also standing up for its principles when security or other interests were at stake. "We should continue to open NATO's door to European countries such as Georgia and Ukraine and help them meet NATO standards," Clinton said.

We shall see if this olive branch to Russia is rewarded in any meaningful way. Thus far, Medvedev and Putin seem not to have budged on any important point.

James Joyner is managing editor of the Atlantic Council. Photo from Reuters Pictures.