Solana urges EU, U.S. to take seriously Medvedev proposals on European security

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 7 -- European Union (EU) High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said Saturday that the EU and the United States should take seriously Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's proposals on restructuring European security arrangement.

"They (the proposals) are still to be precise further. But the underlying ideas deserve to be taken seriously. And engagement in a debate is in itself a road to build trust (between EU and Russia, and between Russia and America), Solana told 350 world politicians attending the 45th Munich Security Conference.

The main points of Medvedev's proposals include the convening of an all-European conference on security, with the participation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO, the EU, the CIS and the Collective Security Treaty Organization; the adoption of a legally binding new document, based on the UN Charter, to provide for a new European security structure based on familiar principles such as respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence; a broader discussion on the validity of existing European arms control agreements, including reopening discussion on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty.

But Western analysts said the Russian proposals may aim to prevent NATO expansion to Ukraine or Georgia, and block or substantially modify the planned U.S. missile defense deployment in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Solana said that as one of the pillars of the pan-European security order along side EU and America, Russia had been "uncomfortable" due to a lack of trust with the other two sides, although the three-way cooperation on some of the most difficult global issues had been positive.

He urged Russia to establish good relations with neighboring countries and avoid conflicts, pointing to the conflict with Georgia last August.

Meanwhile, he emphasized the significance of good cooperation among the three sides -- EU, Russia, and America. "Our goal should be that all three pillars of European security feel comfortable with and attached to whatever order we have. The advent of a new U.S. administration offers new opportunities," he said.

"Those three agreeing is often a necessary, even if it's not a sufficient condition, to get things done around the world," he said.

The three-day Munich conference, which concludes Sunday focuses on discussion on major international and regional security issues, with participation of some 350 top politicians and security experts from more than 50 countries.