"We speak too much and achieve too little,” criticised the Federal Defence Minister. By way of examples, he mentioned the NATO headquarters, the command structure and joint financing issues. He hoped for "courageous and pragmatic” proposals, he declared.
The Munich Security Conference is a non-governmental event which attracts high-ranking personalities from the realms of politics, economics and publishing. It was founded by the publisher Ewald von Kleist. Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger is the third chairman. All in all about 300 participants from 50 countries meet in the Bavarian capital. Free of the constraints of protocol and diplomatic niceties participants can indulge in some straight talking.
Strengthening consensus
The reworking of the strategic concept should also be used to include those states which were not yet members in 1999, said the Defence Minister. "That way we can strengthen consensus,” he added.
NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen declared that, "NATO should become a forum for consultation on worldwide security issues". Not, however, as competition to the United Nations, which would be neither desirable nor possible. "The Alliance should become the hub of a network of security partnerships and a centre for consultation on international security issues,” he said.
Stepping up training in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has repeatedly left its mark on discussions within the alliance in recent years, declared Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. We all depend on one another, he said. "We have the right concepts, but the situation cannot be resolved by military means alone.”
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg underscored the fact that German engagement in Afghanistan will in future be geared more strongly to training the Afghan security forces. The number of Federal Armed Forces instructors deployed to train the Afghan army is to be dramatically increased. "This mission has its price and entails high risks,” said the Defence Minister.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen regretted than in Afghanistan there are still a large number of organisations working each one for itself. "We don’t really plan together. We aren’t joined up in the field. ... And many NGOs still resist closer contacts with the military, out of concern that this could compromise their impartiality.” He continued, "Ending this fragmentation will require a real ‘cultural revolution’ – breaking with conventional thinking”.
Security must be guaranteed
The Federal Defence Minister also warned of overly ambitious disarmament steps. Although he shares the goal of ridding the world of all nuclear weapons, as announced by President Barack Obama, disarmament must never be allowed to result in a loss of security, said the Minister.
