English/Nat
NATO's senior General in Europe, George Joulwan, says the alliance is considering a shift in its command structure, to address a dispute between Portugal and Spain.
General Joulwan, speaking at the Pentagon in Washington, said NATO may create a new regional structure in the Canary Islands administered jointly by the two Iberian countries.
Spain had opposed that the Canary Islands were put under Portuguese control.
General George Joulwan stressed Monday that the decision on who will command NATO in the Spanish Canary Islands will be taken before the NATO summit next July.
Spain wants to have a sub-regional command that includes all its territory, including the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"That discussion is going on right now, and I think it will be decided before the summit in July. And there are several key issues there. As Spain comes into the integrated structure, more into the integrated structure, how we handle all of Spanish territory is going to be important. There must be unity of command on the air and on the land, and that has to be linked to all of Allied Command Europe, which is my command."
SUPER CAPTION: General George Joulwan, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe
SOUNDBITE: (English):
"The other issue is what happens with the maritime peace, and that's where the concern is by the SACLANT, or the Atlantic Command. So that will be worked out. I am convinced that it would be worked out to the agreement of both Spain and Portugal and will be a stronger alliance as a result."
SUPER CAPTION: General George Joulwan, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe
Asked about Bosnia, the four-star U-S general said NATO forces had accomplished the key military goals set forth by the Dayton agreement.
In line with those goals, he reported the allied forces had deterred or halted hostilities.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We're now 31-thousand, not 60-thousand, a great input from our Partnership for Peace and other non-NATO nations, we have 34 nations now contributing to the Stabilization Force. We have completed the military task and will maintain those military tasks of Dayton."
SUPER CAPTION: General George Joulwan, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe
About recent rumours that Russia had reached an agreement with NATO, the General said he couldn't confirm such reports.
However, he added that he was very optimistic about Russia's future with the organisation.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are building the foundation for the future. And on that I think a great deal of trust and confidence is coming. There are some tough issues left, what the Russians would call infrastructure, that needs to be worked out, but again, I'm convinced that we're going to work it out and I'm very, I'm very optimistic of the Russian-NATO relationship for the future in Europe."
SUPER CAPTION: General George Joulwan, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe
General Joulwan spoke at the Pentagon on the eve of a visit by Russian Defence Minister Igor Rodionov to Washington.
