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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Obama underlines al-Qaeda threat | Obama underlines al-Qaeda threat |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama has urged better use of Nato resources in Afghanistan, saying al-Qaeda is a greater threat to Europe than to the US. | President Barack Obama has urged better use of Nato resources in Afghanistan, saying al-Qaeda is a greater threat to Europe than to the US. |
| Speaking before a Nato summit, Mr Obama said the US wanted to see Europe with stronger defences, as it wanted to be a partner rather than a patron to Europe. | Speaking before a Nato summit, Mr Obama said the US wanted to see Europe with stronger defences, as it wanted to be a partner rather than a patron to Europe. |
| However, Nato's secretary general said draft Afghanistan laws violated human rights, hindering involvement. | However, Nato's secretary general said draft Afghanistan laws violated human rights, hindering involvement. |
| A massive French-German security operation is in place for the summit. | A massive French-German security operation is in place for the summit. |
| Mr Obama said he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had discussed Afghanistan. | Mr Obama said he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had discussed Afghanistan. |
| "It's not just a matter of more resources, but more effectively using the resources we have," Mr Obama said. | "It's not just a matter of more resources, but more effectively using the resources we have," Mr Obama said. |
| President Obama: 'America is changing' | President Obama: 'America is changing' |
| He thanked France for leadership regarding Afghanistan. | He thanked France for leadership regarding Afghanistan. |
| "France recognises that having al-Qaeda operate safe havens that can be used to launch attacks is a threat not just to the United States but to Europe. | "France recognises that having al-Qaeda operate safe havens that can be used to launch attacks is a threat not just to the United States but to Europe. |
| "In fact it is probably more likely that al-Qaeda would be able to launch a serious terrorist attack in Europe than in the United States because of proximity. | "In fact it is probably more likely that al-Qaeda would be able to launch a serious terrorist attack in Europe than in the United States because of proximity. |
| "This is not an American mission, this is a Nato mission, this is an international mission." | "This is not an American mission, this is a Nato mission, this is an international mission." |
| Partnership | Partnership |
| On the issue of wider defence, Mr Obama said: "We would like to see Europe have much more robust capabilities." | On the issue of wider defence, Mr Obama said: "We would like to see Europe have much more robust capabilities." |
| He added: "We're looking to be partners with Europe, and the more capable they are defensively, the more we can act in concert on the shared challenges we face." | He added: "We're looking to be partners with Europe, and the more capable they are defensively, the more we can act in concert on the shared challenges we face." |
| NATO: KEY MOMENTS Founded 1949, largely to block Soviet expansion into EuropeTwenty-six member states who vow to defend each otherMilitarily dominated by the USActed in non-member state for first time in 1995 - implementing military aspects of Bosnia peace accordOperated outside Europe for first time in 2003 - in Afghanistan New doctrine for new threats New start for US and Russia | NATO: KEY MOMENTS Founded 1949, largely to block Soviet expansion into EuropeTwenty-six member states who vow to defend each otherMilitarily dominated by the USActed in non-member state for first time in 1995 - implementing military aspects of Bosnia peace accordOperated outside Europe for first time in 2003 - in Afghanistan New doctrine for new threats New start for US and Russia |
| France last month announced it would be fully re-integrated into Nato. For decades it had not been a member of the alliance's military command. | France last month announced it would be fully re-integrated into Nato. For decades it had not been a member of the alliance's military command. |
| Later, President Obama told an audience in Strasbourg that the US and Europe had allowed the alliance to drift in recent years. | Later, President Obama told an audience in Strasbourg that the US and Europe had allowed the alliance to drift in recent years. |
| He said the US had been "arrogant" and "dismissive" towards its allies, while there was "insidious" anti-Americanism in Europe. He said these attitudes had to change. | He said the US had been "arrogant" and "dismissive" towards its allies, while there was "insidious" anti-Americanism in Europe. He said these attitudes had to change. |
| "I've come to Europe this week to renew our partnership - one in which America listens and learns from our friends and allies. But where our friends and allies bear their share of the burden," he said. | "I've come to Europe this week to renew our partnership - one in which America listens and learns from our friends and allies. But where our friends and allies bear their share of the burden," he said. |
| Mr Obama also announced a long-term goal of "a world without nuclear weapons", and said he would outline details of his non-proliferation proposal in a speech in Prague on Sunday. | Mr Obama also announced a long-term goal of "a world without nuclear weapons", and said he would outline details of his non-proliferation proposal in a speech in Prague on Sunday. |
| "Even with the Cold War now over, the spread of nuclear weapons or the theft of nuclear material could lead to the extermination of any city on the planet," he said. | "Even with the Cold War now over, the spread of nuclear weapons or the theft of nuclear material could lead to the extermination of any city on the planet," he said. |
| New leader | New leader |
| Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said it could be difficult to persuade European countries to contribute more in Afghanistan because of a planned Afghan that, among other things, sanctions rape within marriage. | Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said it could be difficult to persuade European countries to contribute more in Afghanistan because of a planned Afghan that, among other things, sanctions rape within marriage. |
| He told the BBC: "How can I defend this, and how can the British defend this, when our boys and girls are dying there in defence of universal values, and here is a law that fundamentally violates human rights. | He told the BBC: "How can I defend this, and how can the British defend this, when our boys and girls are dying there in defence of universal values, and here is a law that fundamentally violates human rights. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYNato came into existence in a period when Cold War hostilities had become quite strong. What's the meaning of its existence in today's world?Deboshree, Delhi Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYNato came into existence in a period when Cold War hostilities had become quite strong. What's the meaning of its existence in today's world?Deboshree, Delhi Send us your comments |
| Mr Obama, who flew in from London where he attended the G20 summit, is now due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Baden-Baden. | Mr Obama, who flew in from London where he attended the G20 summit, is now due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Baden-Baden. |
| French police were still holding more than 100 of the 300 people arrested on Thursday when masked protesters smashed bus shelters and burned rubbish bins. | |
| Some 25,000 French police are set to patrol protests which could attract tens of thousands of demonstrators. | Some 25,000 French police are set to patrol protests which could attract tens of thousands of demonstrators. |
| Several hundred German soldiers are at two sites where activists are expected. | Several hundred German soldiers are at two sites where activists are expected. |
| The German town of Kehl and the resort of Baden-Baden are also hosting Nato events for the alliance's 60th-anniversary summit. | The German town of Kehl and the resort of Baden-Baden are also hosting Nato events for the alliance's 60th-anniversary summit. |
| At the talks, alliance leaders are expected to consider relations with Russia and possibly announce a new secretary general. | At the talks, alliance leaders are expected to consider relations with Russia and possibly announce a new secretary general. |
| The current secretary general steps down at the end of July. | The current secretary general steps down at the end of July. |
| Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the frontrunner, but Turkey has expressed opposition to his appointment, based on his stance over the Danish publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2006, and the broadcasting of a Kurdish TV station in Denmark. | Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the frontrunner, but Turkey has expressed opposition to his appointment, based on his stance over the Danish publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2006, and the broadcasting of a Kurdish TV station in Denmark. |
| Speaking in London hours before the summit began in Strasbourg, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "I look at [his candidacy] negatively." | Speaking in London hours before the summit began in Strasbourg, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "I look at [his candidacy] negatively." |
| Are you Strasbourg or Baden-Baden? Are you planning to take part in demonstrations? Send us your views on the Nato summit using the form below. | Are you Strasbourg or Baden-Baden? Are you planning to take part in demonstrations? Send us your views on the Nato summit using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |