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EU, NATO Not Rivals: Albright
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Wednesday, December 13, said European countries should not be asked to choose between support for the European integration and NATO, implying that they are not competing rivals regarding defense and security.
Albright, who arrived here Tuesday for a two-day visit to Hungary before going to Brussels for a gathering of NATO foreign ministers, made the remark at a press conference after talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi.
Stressing the importance of a European capability within NATO, she said, "I think it's very important, as we have said, that there be a European capability within NATO and that there not be any duplication, that there not be a decoupling of the United States from Europe.
"I think that we have to be very careful as we watch the evolution but not be overly nervous. I think that basically this is a natural process, and there should not be false choices," added Albright, who was on her last European tour as secretary of state.
Planning to share some NATO planning facilities, intelligence and communications, the 15-nation EU is working to develop its own rapid-reaction force, separate from NATO, to handle crises that NATO does not want to get involved in.
The bloc expects to be able to deploy a 60,000-member force by 2003.
She gave assurances that the US presidential election would not affect nor change her country's European policies.
Fearful that its own security could be threatened when the EU carries out its force plans, Hungary, a NATO member but not yet a EU one, insists on the U.S. presence in Europe.
"Hungary attaches the utmost importance to the so-called trans- Atlantic link,'' said Martonyi. "We very much insist on a continuation of American presence and assistance on this continent. "
On the same day, the U.S. Secretary of State exchanged views with Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor on issues of Europe's defense and security and the Balkan situation. They agreed on the Kosovo issue that the first thing is to maintain regional stability.
Albright also expressed appreciation at the role Hungary has played in dealing with regional problems and promoting stability in southeastern Europe.
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