Elseneur / Brussels, 02/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - CFSP High Representative Javier Solana pointed out at the informal "Gymnich" meeting this weekend in Elseneur that he does not rule out the possibility NATO may continue its mission in Macedonia for a longer period until end November or even the end of the year, and that the EU would take over the relay after this. The EU had proposed to take over the Amber Fox mission after the end of the current mandate of the Atlantic Alliance which expires in principle on 26 October, but which could be extended. So that the European rapid reaction force becomes fully operational, the EU must, however, sign an agreement with NATO on the use, above all, of the Atlantic Alliance command capacities. This agreement has hitherto been blocked by a dispute between Greece and Turkey, concerning Turkey's participation in the decision-making process that could lead to EU intervention in its geographical area. Javier Solana said on Saturday that work would be carried out to allow the Amber Fox operation to be taken over. He hoped it would be concluded in coming weeks and said that, if no agreement is official, the idea is that NATO would remain in place until the agreement is finalised. He specified that he did not wish to interpret what NATO hopes to do. The CFSP High Representative and Greek Foreign Minister Georges Papandreou tackled the question at the meetings in July during the informal Council in Elseneur.
Javier Solana may this week meet the new Turkish Foreign Minister, Sükru Sina Gürel (Ed.: who is to hold a meeting on Tuesday in Strasbourg with the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox).