UNITED STATES: BRITISH DEFENCE MINISTER MICHAEL PORTILLO APPLAUDS NATO DECISION TO HELP WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS

Record ID: 337621

  • Title: UNITED STATES: BRITISH DEFENCE MINISTER MICHAEL PORTILLO APPLAUDS NATO DECISION TO HELP WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS
  • Date: 23rd January 1996
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 23, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY (MINISTER) MICHAEL PORTILLO AT PODIUM 0.08 2. SCU PORTILLO SPEAKING ABOUT NATO'S (NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION) MISSION TO SECURE THE SITES OF ALLEGED WAR CRIMES. HE ADDS THAT ALL THOSE CONCERNED HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO INVESTIGATE THE ALL
  • Embargoed: 7th February 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA1XTDK9HDAKOHLUDPNTSENRDM9
  • Story Text: British Defence Minister Michael Portillo on Tuesday (January 23) applauded NATO's recently announced cooperation with war crimes investigators in Bosnia and emphasised transatlantic alliances as the core of NATO's strength.

    "It is now understood that war crimes sites must be safeguarded...The (NATO-led) Implementation Force recognises its part of the responsibility to make sure that that result is achieved," Portillo said at the National Press Club in Washington.

    Portillo was referring to a statement released in Sarajevo on Monday (January 22) in which Admiral Leighton Smith, the commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-led forces in Bosnia, agreed NATO would provide "appropriate assistance, at the appropriate time" to ensure security for war crimes tribunal investigators.

    Portillo, in a wide-ranging speech on topics such as NATO's importance to European security in the 21st century, called the transatlantic link between the United States and Europe a central element to "enduring" stability in the region.

    Portillo urged understanding and openness with Russia during its "peaks and troughs" on its path to reform.

    Portillo also touched on arms procurement between the United States and the United Kingdom. He urged the U.S. to invest at the same level he said the U.K. had been doing, mentioning the 5 billion U.S. dollars of arms shipment orders the U.K. placed in the U.S. last year.

    Portillo also said there was no cause for concern by reports the Turkish government will provide training to the Moslem-led Bosnian government army.

    "It's always been understood that the arming and training mission would involve Moslem countries and Arab countries...I don't believe anything we're hearing contradicts that," Portillo said.

    Turkey's role in post-war Bosnia is a contentious issue among the Bosnian Contact Group -- Russia, the United States, Britain, France and Germany.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register