Hendrick BIEGMAN: Civilian Control over the Armed Forces Is One Of NATO’s Key Ideas

Kyiv recently hosted for the first time an away session of the 19 permanent NATO ambassadors with NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson at the head. The Day’s Viktor VORONIUK asked Hendrick Biegman, NATO permanent representative and ambassador of the Netherlands, to tell us about how the Atlantic alliance considers the role of Ukraine, its Armed Forces and how NATO is going to build a relationship with this country.

“Mr. Ambassador, what difficulties or perhaps irreconcilable differences exist in the relations between Ukraine and NATO?”

“Today we do not think there are any irreconcilable differences. Our relationship is only in the making. Since 1997, when we signed the Charter on Special Partnership between Ukraine and NATO, we have been building our relations exclusively on the basis of partnership. So we at the very beginning of the journey. At the same time I would like to note that the Ukraine-NATO commission meets every two months at ambassadorial level and twice a year at that of foreign and defence ministers. Moreover, Ukraine is a member of the Partnership for Peace NATO program. This envisions both cooperation in the military field and exchange of information in the course of various workshops and exercises. Our contacts may become still closer on the Yavoriv proving ground after Verkhovna Rada ratifies SOFA, the agreement on the legal status of foreign armies on the territory of Ukraine. So I view with optimism the future relations between NATO and Ukraine.”

“Lord Robertson stressed at the Ukraine-NATO meeting in Kyiv that the Ukrainian military reform had been subjected to criticism. Should we conclude that Brussels thinks the year 2015 is too remote a date for the formation of a professional army in Ukraine?”

“I would not say NATO representatives criticized very harshly Ukraine’s military reform. In general, we approve of the fact that Ukraine has considerably cut its troop strength. But we think, on the basis of our experience, that much is still to be done. Reforms in the army mean not only reduction but also the adaptation of servicemen to new conditions. Moreover, conditions have changed a great deal. Until very recently, most European armies were intended to repel a massive strike from Russia. The Netherlands alone had an army of 100,000, lots of tanks, various armored vehicles, and weapons. Now we state that we need no longer fear Russian aggression against Western Europe. But, on the other hand, NATO is preoccupied with new crisis spots in Europe, such as Bosnia and Kosovo.

“In general, we think Ukraine should have small well-equipped and highly mobile armed forces capable of operating very far from their own country. Thus, the defense reform should not be limited to defending your own territory and drafting new recruits. The army should be manned on a volunteer basis, and servicemen should be trained to participate in peacekeeping and emergency relief operations.

“In the Netherlands, soldiers and officers serve on contract. Some time ago, we reduced the army, leaving a smaller number of professionals who can handle high-tech weaponry, and we think our experience can be used by such countries as Ukraine. But, in the long run, it is up to this country’s leadership to assess possible risks, to carry out reform, and build a professional army with due account of these risks. NATO is not going to dictate to Ukraine what to do and how to do it. Yet, if your state accepts our recommendations, we will help you fulfill them.”

“Do you think it is enough for Ukraine’s Armed Forces to have a troop strength of 300,000? And how can NATO help them reform financially”

“Judging by Ukraine’s national income and the size of its army, I can say even the Netherlands, with a much larger national income, is in no position to maintain an army like this. As of today, our armed forces number 75,000. Ukraine is a big country, so people here perhaps think they need a big army. In that case, I don’t think we will be able to subsidize the Ukrainian army, one way or another, in the future.

“All we can do and NATO offers is technical aid. In other words, the transfer of experience we gained while reforming our own armed forces. As to money, the Netherlands also experienced financial difficulties in reforming its army, first of all because we have many other priorities, such as funding the system of education and public health. It is never easy to find money for the needs of the army.”

“NATO has pointed more than once at the absence of adequate civilian control over the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Does it mean the alliance would like to see in Kyiv a civilian as Minister of Defense?”

“I would not like to comment on the personality of the Minister of Defense. He accorded us good reception in Kyiv and informed us about his plans. Yet, I must say it is one of NATO’s fundamental ideas that the military sphere should be under civilian control. And you will find only civilian ministers of defense in the NATO countries. Incidentally, the NATO armed forces are controlled by the NATO Council consisting of civilians only. This is part of our democratic system.”

“In the immediate future, the KFOR multinational forces in Kosovo, also represented by Ukrainian peacemakers, will be transferred from NATO command to that of the Eurocorps of five countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Spain. Would you comment on this?”

“A good question. For it seems to me there is certain misunderstanding in Ukraine about this matter. The Eurocorps was formed as part of KFOR for a period of six months. This is a technical reorganization because specific operations require specific headquarters. The NATO headquarters was used at the beginning of the KFOR operation. About 1000 servicemen were stationed in Pristina under the command of a British general. Six months later, it gave way to a headquarters called LAND CENTRAL. It had also to be replaced six months later. A new headquarters, the so-called Eurocorps, has been set up now, consisting of 300 representatives of five countries. It will be increased to 1000 in due time as it is joined by representatives of other countries participating in the operation. The chain of command will remain the same: General Wesley Clark, as Supreme Allied Commander, will also be commander-in-chief of this force and the peacekeeping operation as a whole. Political control will be exercised, as before, by the NATO Council. So the Eurocorps headquarters is fully integrated with NATO.”

“What is your vision of the future relationship between Ukraine and the alliance?”

“I would like to note one cannot bring the future closer. If someone had said twelve years ago that the NATO Council would meet in Kyiv, nobody would have believed it. If Ukraine feels it is Western oriented, then it will, in the long run, integrate into European structures. This also applies to other countries. But... Ukraine is the largest of them as of today. It is very important now for Ukraine to conduct a systematic reorganization in the economy, politics, and legislation, as well as to carry out privatization. And then it will perhaps become a member of the European family as much as other countries are.”