|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/roger.dnai/97Book/ |
Upload File : |
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//SoftQuad//DTD HoTMetaL PRO 4.0::19971010::extensions to HTML 4.0//EN"
"hmpro4.dtd">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META NAME="GENERATOR"
CONTENT="Mozilla/4.03 (Macintosh; U; 68K) [Netscape]">
<TITLE>Colonel General Leontiy Pavlovich Shevtsov</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" BGPROPERTIES="FIXED">
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">Russian
Participation in Bosnia-Herzegovina</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+2">Russian
Colonel General Leontiy Pavlovich Shevtsov</FONT></FONT></FONT> </CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Our Russian Ministry of
Defense Operational Group has been working at SHAPE for 21 months
supporting Russian participation in the peacekeeping operation in
Bosnia-Herzegovina. The main objective of our group was to find a way that
was acceptable to both Russia and NATO for the Russian Federation to
participate in the operation. The task was difficult. After years of
confrontation during the Cold War, it is not easy for those of us who
lived during that time to attempt to develop relations with NATO and,
moreover, to participate together with NATO troops in a joint military
operation for the first time since World War II. The decision that Russia
would participate in a joint operation with NATO was a political one. The
President of the Russian Federation decided that Russia would participate
in the operation. But how? What would be the mechanism of command and
control? Although it was a peacekeeping operation, it still was a military
operation, with all the underlying principles such as unity of command, a
common system of airspace management and ground movement control, and
interaction of different services and types of troops, to name but a few.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The issue had much deeper
implications. Could the militaries of Russia and NATO work together? As
you well know, a lot was at stake, much more than a purely military
problem. In reality, the foundation for future Russia-NATO cooperation,
the fundamental element of European security, was being laid down. And
such a global objective imposed a special responsibility on SHAPE, on
General Joulwan personally, and on the Russian group members. Many people
said: "It will not work. You will quarrel in a week and go home
having achieved nothing." Russian politicians would say: "If the
militaries find a common language and a solution, then we will catch up
and look for concrete ways for our state participation in the operation as
well as its size and troops numbers."</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">As an example, in a period
of three months the Russian Minister of Defense and the U.S. Secretary of
Defense conducted four meetings, but progress was very slow. The decision
to send a group of officers from the General Staff of the Russian
Federation to SHAPE was adopted at a Geneva meeting on 8 October 1995.
However, the Ministers understood that it was difficult to solve this
problem during short meetings on their level. Daily time-consuming and
detailed work had to be done. So a week later on 15 October 1995 a group
of five people and I arrived in Mons. I had studied NATO and SHAPE when I
was at Academy with quite a different purpose. Now I had to tread this
ground and tackle practical problems. I think you would understand my
feelings.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We did find an arrangement
for Russian participation. It was approved by the Russian Minister of
Defense and the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and later by the Presidents of
both countries and NATO leadership. So the militaries have found an
agreement. The main obstacle has been removed. But how did we manage to
agree? We agreed because: (a) We really wanted to find a solution to the
problem; (b) we understood how important it was; and (c) General Joulwan
had the necessary attitude towards finding the solution for this problem
and towards the Russian Operational Group. So much of our success can be
attributed to his very personable, friendly, and cooperative attitude,
especially at the beginning of our relationship. We depended a great deal
upon this man. I can only say that he was the right person in the right
place for this concrete task.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT FACE="Palatino">But, it is one thing to
solve an issue on paper and quite another thing to implement it. We needed
to coordinate many aspects of the arrangements, especially during Russian
brigade deployment by air</FONT><FONT FACE="Symbol">--</FONT><FONT FACE="Palatino">the
issues of joint Russia-NATO airspace management system. The brigade had to
be deployed in the minimum amount of time. I can only say that the
militaries found common language much faster than the diplomats and
politicians because they do concrete, practical things and are used to
thinking more about real business than about geopolitics. Let me give you
one example of this wonderful work. Russian planes with airborne troops
and equipment used to land in Tuzla and unload in 20 minutes with their
engines running, then immediately fly back to Russia before the next plane
landed. You can see how efficiently they worked (when meteorological
conditions permitted.) The Russian Independent Airborne Brigade (OVDBR)
carried out deployment to the theater in an organized manner. For a year
and a half it cooperated successfully with NATO, specifically the American
Division. We worked very well during the first operation, "Joint
Endeavour." In the second operation, "Joint Guard," General
Joulwan and I went a step further. General Joulwan issued a directive
focusing not just on cooperation but on joint training of Russian and
American units. Individual and collective training programs were worked
out and now are being carried out. General Joulwan and I personally
checked the training in Camp Bedrock on 4 June 1997. Joint training is
being conducted successfully. Joint Live-Fire Exercises between U.S. and
Russian artillery units are taking place presently.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">From all of this we can
see that the military of Russia, the U.S., and NATO can solve problems
together.<I> And this is most important. </I>We may conclude that we can
closely cooperate in the military area and solve any problems
successfully.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">How do we see the
development of Russia-NATO military cooperation? With the signing in Paris
of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security, a
political basis for further development of military cooperation between
Russia, NATO, and the U.S. has been established. Now we can openly discuss
this subject. But before the Founding Act was signed, it had been
extremely difficult to work because of different statements of different
political leaders. A fundamental course in Russia-NATO relations has now
been set. According to the Founding Act, a Russian permanent military
mission at NATO will be opened within the framework of the Joint Permanent
Council. Another direction will be participation in PFP. Three years ago
Russia signed documents on Russian participation in PFP. I think that now
this participation will be more active.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I also think that one of
the main directions of future cooperation lies within joint training for
coalition peacekeeping, peace support and, if necessary, peace enforcement
operations. In future operations we should use this coalition, this
multinational force model (when the European community solves conflicts in
hot spots) so that we may avoid potential global conflicts. Here a lot is
to be done. Future directions of joint work in this area could focus on
joint doctrine preparation for such operations; joint training programs;
joint Command Post Exercises; and Russia-NATO officers training.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I would like to conclude
with the following. One of the journalists I met before the beginning of
the Workshop asked me with great surprise if Russia was participating in
this Workshop. I told him that he still thinks in the terms of the Cold
War. It is normal for Russia to participate in such a Workshop. And it is
not normal when Russia does not.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="SHEVTS.HTM">Go
to top of Page</A></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="workshop97.htm">Return
to Prague '97</A></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="../index.html">Return
to Home Page</A></FONT></FONT> </P>
</BODY>
</HTML>