Minister Roberta Pinotti took part in NATO Defence Ministers Meeting on 8 October 2015.
Taken from www.difesa.it:
Today’s ministerial meeting focused on the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan (RAP), defining the long-term adaptation strategy that the Alliance intends to approve during next NATO Summit in Warsaw (July 2016), the situation in Syria and Afghanistan.
The Defence Ministers reviewed the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan – approved during the Wales Summit on 5 September 2014 – which ensures NATO’s readiness to confront challenges in an evolving and fast-moving security environment. The Enhanced NATO Response Force military concept, including its command and control provisions, was then approved.
During the meeting, the Ministers also gave the green light to the establishment of two more NATO Force Integration Units (NFIUs), i.e. small headquarters in Hungary and Slovakia, which will allow the Allied forces to move swiftly and effectively in case of deployment in the surrounding area.
Six more NFIUs were activated in September in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. The Ministers also discussed Syria and security in Afghanistan.
On the sidelines of the event, Minister Pinotti met her British, Albania and Czech Republic counterparts.
As regards the possibility of arming our Tornado aircraft currently employed in surveillance activities, in reply to journalists in Brussels, Minister Pinotti stated that: “A possible new Italian commitment in Iraq within the framework of the Coalition to fight the Islamic State will be assessed by also taking into account current Italian efforts in other theaters. Assessments – she explained – are conducted when a complete picture of the situation on the ground is available, and, in the current circumstances, they must also include the efforts that Italy is implementing in various theaters, efforts that are among the most relevant.
In this regard, the Minister underscored that: “We are engaged in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Lebanon, important missions in the Mediterranean, and have a strong presence in the Coalition to fight ISIL. We will take our decisions on the basis of the complete engagement picture.”
As for the future engagement in Afghanistan, Italy will assess whether to maintain its mission based on Afghan requirements. “No decisions have currently been taken. We are waiting for the Resolute Support report to have a specific picture of the situation on the ground, and have agreed to meet after the report is issued to evaluate possible further requirements.”
Then, the Defence Minister expounded on the Syrian issue and the relationship with Russia: “This is an open question that has raised the concern of some allied countries, and about which the US has expressed its will to find room for a strategic dialogue for the future. Today there’s a lack of dialogue, and that’s a problem”, said the Minister.
Read and watch the Ministerial timeline at https://storify.com/ITALY_NATO/nato-defence-ministers-meeting
For further information:
Pre-ministerial Press Conference by the NATO Secretary General
Doorstep statement by the NATO Secretary General
Press conference by the NATO Secretary General following NATO Defence Ministers Meeting
Press conference by the NATO Secretary General following NATO-Georgia Commission
