Interview de M. Alain Richard, ministre de la défense, à CBC Newsworld le 21 février 2000, sur les incidents de Mitrovica au Kosovo impliquant des soldats français de la KFOR, le programme américain de système d'interception de missiles balistiques, le re
Date: 2000-02-21
Orateur: Alain Richard
Fonction: FRANCE. Ministre de la défense

Don Newman : France's Defence Minister is in Ottawa today. Alain Richard is here to meet with his canadian counterpart, Art Eggleton, before heading on to Washington. One of the major issue that M. Richard is seeking assurances on is the American proposal to build an anti balistic defence system. M. Alain Richard is here with us now to discuss those concerns. Before we talk about those other issues, let me ask you about Mitrovica in Kosovo where Canadian, British but particulary the French troops have been on the ground trying to keep things under control. What can you tell us about that ? Do you think that this is a situation that can be run under control ? It seems that worse? Ministre : No. You may remember that we had already incidents like that in august and september last year. And after that, of course with less media attention, we took control of the situation and they were four months of quiet control with some political achievements by Kouchner who was able to introduce some of the Albanian leaders in his interim executive and who recently had also a first agreement with Serb local leaders. So we think that what is going on now is a reaction by extremists trying to prevent normal democratic reorganization to come over and we think that we will be able, with the all the allies of course - it is not a french operation - ... Don Newman : ...No, no, it's a KFOR operation... Ministre :... we will be able to overcome that and to make further steps in reconstruction and reorganization. Don Newman (DN) : But KFOR is here for a long time, isn't it ? Ministre : Yes, obviously. And you know... Don Newman (DN) : And probably in the number as it is now ? Ministre : No. I was going to take the example of Bosnia. You know, we have been in Bosnia for five years now. And if you remember what could be our assessment of the situation in 1996, we would have been also rather pessimistic. We are in 2000 and we know that we have achieved a lot in Bosnia. We'll still stay, I don't know, some years in Bosnia, but we have reduced our forces by 2/3 nearly; so, I think the evolution in Kosovo could be the same as soon as we have the same will, the same determination and the some coherence between the allies. And that is the case ! Don Newman : Let's talk, for a moment, about what I have mentionned when I was introducing you and this is the American plan, not quite "star wars", like Ronald Reagan in 1980... Ministre : ...Not exactly... Don Newman (DN) :... but this is the same idea : a system to use missiles to shot down incoming missiles and, in a sense, to make a fortress America that would be, if it works - a big "if" I know, because it doesn't work even in the test, so far - impregnable and that has an impact for American allies. Ministre : We share this view, basically. We agree with the Americans that there is a threat, there is a risk, wich cannot be copped, which cannot be countered by our deterrence, which is accidental strikes or which is, for instance, attempts by regional powers with arms of mass destruction. But is it worthwhile to organize a system which could be quite unbalancing for the world strategic situation and which is not reliable, yet ? So, we agree with most allies, to go further the assessment of that with the Americans. We want to have a real, a candid discussion, about the pros and cons of such a system related to its cost which is very heavy. Don Newman : But are you concerned, as well as if the Americans did feel they were impregnable, their interest in the transatlantic partnership would start to... Ministre : It's fearly a spread concern in Europe because we have organize all our conception of security within this partnership for 50 years now and for us, Canadian and French, even earlier than that, so it would be a big shock and I think the Americans are intimately convinced of their responsibility, their leadership. So, I think there will be "counter-influences" in front of this project. Don Newman (DN) : On the other hand, though, what is happening in Europe also has the Americans concerned and certainly Canadian very interested. The NATO summit, in april, last year, agreed that there should be a European stand alone component within NATO, but since then, people, in the United States say, "now, wait a minute, maybe the Europeans, they get their common currency, they are getting their common foreign policy, they want to have now their common defence system and maybe they see themselves as a "counter force" to the USA and not as part of an alliance". Ministre : I wouldn't say "stand alone" and I wouldn't say a "counter force", not even yet. But I think the values, the principles, the visions of society and the world we have in common will stay very strong. But we have been impressed, in the last decades, by American observations that we were too weak and we were not organized properly to act by ourselves, on our own, on regional crisis. We took this seriously and specially the British and ourselves made a sort of decision that we would try and convince our European partners that we should be more serious about that kind of crisis management. The European Council, which is the gathering of the heads of state and governement, has taken decisions on this track. We are going to implement that and I think we have been able to reassure the Americans that it is, basically, what they were wishing. I sometimes take the instance to talk to American authorities of the Timor crisis. I say, in Timor, you have been in favor of some operation and you have considered that the Australians were ok to lead this operation because it was at their sides/size (?). So, can you please rely on us as much as you did with the Australians if their is a regional crisis in Europe next time. That's it. Don Newman : What do you think the defence requirements are going to be with the expansion of the European Union and the negociations are getting under way now ; there is a long list of countries that want to join. Most of them will not add much to a military component but I suppose could add to the demands for military protection. Ministre : I agree with that. And it's one of our problems. Sometimes I say we better have that kind of problems because they are the problems of success. If the European Union was in crisis and not credible, no one would apply. But it is true that we need - and that's a specific French approch - we are rather proud of what has become Europe now, we want it to become as credible as it is now or even more, so we need the applicant countries to take more consience of what the duties of the club are and that Europe is also a list of responsibilities. We have been advocating some enlargement of the NATO last year but we must admit that it requests time and when it is about enlarging the EU, we think it needs time. So let's be consistent. Don Newman (DN) : Thank for your time now. Ministre : Thank You. (Source http://www.defense.gouv.fr le 7 mars 2000)