NATO must continue to have central role in European defence: Portugal

LISBON (AFP) May 02, 2003
NATO should continue to play a central role in European defence even as the EU searches for ways to boost its own defense capabilities, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz said Friday.

"NATO continues to be the key to European defence," he said in an interview broadcast on the private radio station TSF.

"It is essential for European defence that the transatlantic partnership with the United States and NATO be maintained," he added.

Martins da Cruz was commenting on a proposal made Tuesday by Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg, which all opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, to create by 2004 a new European headquarters to command military operations independent of NATO.

The four NATO members also called for the acceleration of EU defence cooperation.

Martins da Cruz said the proposals deserved to be analysed but he added the goal should always be to strengthen the defence role of Europe within NATO.

"It is a matter of reinforcing the European pillar of NATO, giving the European Union its own defence capabilities for certain peace missions," the minsiter said.

Martins da Cruz was speaking from the Greek island of Rhodes where he is attending an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on on Friday and Saturday.

SPACE.WIRE