Today's Date:

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THE MINISTER – As the present situation in Africa shows us, terrorism and ethnic conflicts are rendering the world increasingly unstable. In ten years' time, there will be even more crises than today. NATO and the European Union will have to face up to them.

DEFENSE SPENDING

THE MINISTER – After the fall of the Soviet Union, many European States believed that peace would be definitively established. Yet there seems to be growing insecurity in the world. Only three European countries spend more than 2% of their GDP on defense: France, Britain and Greece. All the other European Union countries aren't doing enough.

THE MINISTER – Germany isn't only a major economic power, she's also in Europe's hard core. She must be capable of responding to all situations, which necessitates her investing more in defense than she has done until now.

THE MINISTER – All States are having financial difficulties, but their nations' security remains their priority. No one else can ensure it. So I've asked for defense spending to be deducted from the calculation of government deficit in the framework of the Stability Pact. It is unfair to punish States who are making efforts to protect not only their nationals, but also all Europeans. Indeed, this protection also benefits States who are investing little for their security.

GERMANY/CAREER FORCES

THE MINISTER – Today France has the world's second- or third-largest armed forces. Our strength lies in adaptable and very motivated professionals, able to provide a very rapid response and deploy throughout the world. We can also be the engine of the European defense policy. That's been made possible only by the establishment of a career army. Obviously, I don't need to tell you that a career army is expensive. We have to spend more to pay specialists, sometimes coming from the private sector, and to finance the weaponry and the training of professional soldiers.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS/FRANCE/GERMANY

THE MINISTER – I wouldn't take the liberty of giving advice to other countries. I can speak only about our experience, and it's extremely positive. But every country has its own history and its own traditions. Moreover, structures differ greatly from one country to another. For example, Germany doesn't have nuclear weapons and it's on this point that the professionalization of the armed forces is essential.

THE MINISTER – For us, nuclear weapons are a last-resort protection against an external threat. There are an increasing number of States which, let's say, aren't irreproachable democracies, and are trying to procure nuclear weapons. Such States might one day be tempted to launch their missiles against France or her neighbours. We can say to them "watch out: when you carry out your threat, we shall destroy you, and you won't be able to do anything about it. We have undetectable submarines and planes."

THE MINISTER – What I'm saying, with respect to the possibility of a nuclear threat, is also valid for an attack with chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction. It's a deterrent to countries who are beyond the pale of democracy and also to some extent outside international law. I think this protection is absolutely indispensable.

THE MINISTER – We have to envisage the context in which such a situation could take place. But if Germany were to ask for our help, European solidarity would probably come into play./.