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German President Joachim Gauck: "Nobody should have doubts regarding the capacity and functioning of the NATO alliance"
The NATO summit in Warsaw should transmit a powerful message of solidarity, unity and cohesion in the current international context, said President Klaus Iohannis, on Monday, at the Cotroceni Palace. The head of state stated that in the Warsaw Summit "NATO will have to make decisions that, on one hand, are very clear, and on the other, there is a need for decisions that will define NATO in the future."
"Firstly, let me tell you we do not feel left alone, on the contrary, we feel very well supported by our NATO allies. I will not comment on those said by Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier, he will clarify this position and, surely, German diplomats will take the clarifying message forward. However, it is obvious that in the Warsaw Summit, NATO will have to make decisions that, on one hand, are very clear, and on the other, there is a need for decisions that will define NATO in the future. Surely, it is important, and I have emphasized this every time, that we, those in the eastern flank, expect from our allies to be considered equal allies, for the whole eastern flank to be considered important to NATO and a balanced approach and consolidation of the eastern flank exist. Obviously that we do not want this to the detriment of the southern flank, but we wish for two principles that NATO is using more and more lately in its explanations. One is the basic principle of NATO — 28 for 28 — and the other is the principle of 360-degree defence, meaning that the whole spectrum of possible threats is granted importance, said Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in a press conference with his counterpart Joachim Gauck, when asked about the recent statements made by the German Foreign Minister regarding NATO's eastern flank.
In his turn, the German President Joachim Gauck stated that he is anxiously waiting for the decisions of the NATO Warsaw Summit and that together with the partners in Eastern, Central and Southeastern Europe a joint decision will be made at the end of the reunion.
"The Summit will take place in Warsaw, I am anxiously awaiting the decisions. Sometimes German diplomacy, when it comes to Eastern Europe, is seen with critical eyes because it tries to open and maintain open the doors of dialogue with Russia. It is not about defeatism or escapism, meaning we do not want to run from our responsibility. We all know where the challenges come from. This is why I am firmly convinced that together with the partners in Eastern, Central and Southeastern Europe a joint decision will be made at the end of the reunion,"said Gauck.
The German President added that "nobody, not in the south, nor in the east, should have doubts regarding the capacity and functioning of the NATO alliance."
German President Joachim Gauck stated that, according to the positions already expressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany "still firmly" desire that the Minsk Agreements be respected.
"Germany's position, as I understood from the Chancellor and the Foreign Minister, is that we still firmly desire that the Minsk Agreements be respected. This is why there is no reason for major concern. If we read the texts of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs you will understand that it is not about distancing ourselves from those stipulated in previously concluded agreements. The German party is, in its turn, the one that, together with its partners, fought for the existence and conclusion of these Minsk Agreements. When at first we didn't succeed, we picked up the effort and behold, we have managed to conclude this Agreement. It is about a conflict that seems hardly solved," said the German President on Monday in a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart, when asked about the maintaining of economic sanctions imposed on Russia.
Gauck added that "we need to make small, but visible steps".
"We must think what these steps are. They are not, however, steps that deny in any measure those stipulated in Minsk. We have somehow fallen in this ingrate situation of explaining the positions of the German Government, yet I have done nothing but present what I, in turn, read in the press. So, I can only explain this matter as I see it, without divulging a state secret. Think of what I was saying earlier. Germany isn't running away. Germany is on a path that would lead to participation in drawing up a solution. This is what is important to be known. We mustn't wish necessarily to keep some things that were stipulated in one way or another," said the German President.
The European Union should gradually eliminate sanctions imposed on Russia following the Ukrainian crisis if substantial progress is made in the peace process, said on Sunday the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Reuters reports.
He added that "an all-or-nothing approach, even though it sounds good, doesn't work".