15 May 2000 Transcript: U.S. Army Central Command CINC General Zinni at Tashkent Media Roundtable on Security Threats Tashkent, Uzbekistan -- The international community should provide more support to Central Asian countries facing security threats from extremists, terrorists, and drugs and arms traffickers, General Anthony Zinni, commander in chief (CINC) of the U.S. Army Central Command, said May 15 during a media roundtable in Tashkent. "This threat doesn't only endanger one country or the region, but this threat can and will affect the whole world," said Zinni, who had consulted with Uzbek officials and attended a conference on regional security issues. Extremist groups are cooperating with each other, gaining sanctuary in places such as Afghanistan, and engaging in weapons and drug trafficking and other criminal acts, he said. "Their forces can destabilize governments and regions if they are not contained.... Countries like Uzbekistan are on the frontline of this conflict and should have the support of the international community to deal with these threats." Zinni stressed that the United States has "good and positive relationships with the vast majority" of countries in the region, most of which are Islamic. "We are very careful not to make this an issue of religion, but only to identify those fanatics whom you might find in any religion, who take things to an extreme. In the vast majority of cases our relationship with Islamic countries is very good because the vast majority are good, peaceful, law-abiding, and want our cooperation and friendship." He said this year's joint Centrazbat exercise -- the Central Asian Peacekeeping Battalion -- will take place in Kazakhstan September 12-21. It will involve Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, the United States, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Mongolia. Following is a transcript of the media roundtable: Media Round-table With U.s. Army Central Command Cinc General Anthony Zinni Tashkent, Uzbekistan May 15, 2000 General Zinni: I think all of you know that I am the Commander-in-Chief [CINC] of the United States Central Command. My command is responsible for military-to-military relations in an area that ranges from Africa, through the Middle East to southwest and Central Asia. We have had responsibility for military-to-military programs and relations for Central Asia with the United States for about 18 months now. And we have begun many programs ranging from joint training to courses in the United States, and to assistance with equipment. Our principal concern, recently, of course, has been with the threats posed to the region from the south by extremists who are operating from Afghanistan and other places. Much of the focus of our efforts has been to assist and support capabilities to meet this threat. As you know, our Secretary of State, our Director of the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA], and our Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] have been here. We are looking to coordinate programs from all these agencies to help with border security and to counter these threats. I come to the region several times a year to look at the progress of these programs and to consult with the Minister of Defense. I also get an assessment from the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs and others on the situation in the region. We have done that already during this visit. One of the things that was added to my visit this time was to attend the opening of a conference supported by the Marshall Center. The conference specifically had on its agenda these threats from the south -- the threat of terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime. And I was encouraged to see all the countries of the region represented and some countries from outside the region participating in this important conference. I would be glad to take the questions now. I think that this brief statement gives you an idea why I am here and what I've been doing. Turkiston-Press: Mr. Zinni, I would like to hear your insights on the programs of cooperation with Uzbekistan and about the participation of the Central Asian Battalion in possible NATO exercises? General Zinni: Well, first, on Centrazbat, we changed the scope of Centrazbat one year ago. As you may know, in the past before Central Command took responsibility, this was a combined battalion-sized exercise. But at the request of the countries here, we have increased the size of this so that each country can have its own peacekeeping battalion. These battalions would participate in a larger-scope exercise. This makes sense to us, since the requirement for peacekeeping may be greater, and each country having at least a battalion, maybe more, made more sense. And this meant the country that might make a decision to participate in peacekeeping operations, such as UN operations, would have a full capability to contribute. At the same time they have agreed to continue a regional exercise each year that, then, will be bigger than the Centrazbats of the past. As far as Partnership for Peace programs, we work very closely with and in NATO in the Partnership for Peace Programs, and a number of programs that are implemented out here under Partnership for Peace. Let me give you one example. The Partnership for Peace Information Management System, by which we set up centers in the countries of the region that have Internet connections with the rest of NATO and that give them access to additional information, is a program's funded and supported under the PFP. This is to enable us to share information of a military nature and to share information on peacekeeping, and to allow the graduates of places like the Marshall Center to continue access to those institutions and the information that's available once they've become alumni or graduates. Agence France-Presse: General Zinni, what do you think of the strengthening of Uzbek-Russian relations? Do you think this will undermine U.S. interests in Central Asia? General Zinni: We don't view Russia's involvement or Russia's interest in the region or Russia's cooperation as competition with us or as threatening to us. I think it is natural that Russia would have security, economic, and other concerns in this region since it is very close to their borders. And I don't see how in any way this would affect our relationships with Uzbekistan or with that of any other country in the region. As a matter of fact, in some efforts such as Centrazbat, Russia participates as does the United States in the exercises and will again this year. So, in some areas such as this I can see where there is cooperation in our efforts and interests in the region. Inter-Fax: How do you evaluate the conference that began today in Tashkent and its significance for regional security? General Zinni: I think the conference is important for several reasons. First, I think, the subject of the conference is very timely and is probably the most important issue that the region faces. Second, I think, the participation from all the countries of the region was important. Third, I think, the involvement of others from outside, such as the United States, and the support and hosting by the Marshall Center were significant. And finally, I think that what can come out of this conference in the way of ideas on how to proceed against these threats, and then issues as to where we may have differences or problems, will be important for all of us to study. So, for these reasons, I think that this is an important conference, and one from which I will be anxious to see recommendations when it has concluded. VOA: What is the opinion of U.S. experts attending this conference on the scope and duration of military conflicts that potentially might start in Central Asia? General Zinni: I think it is, first, very serious. And I think it is important for everyone to understand that this threat doesn't only endanger one country or the region, but this threat can and will affect the whole world. Extremists are beginning to cooperate around the world. They are gaining the benefit of sanctuary that places like Afghanistan give them. And they are beginning to mix their extremist efforts, terrorist efforts with criminal acts and the movement of weapons and drugs. Their forces can destabilize governments and regions if they are not contained. For this reason, I think this is an international threat, and should be dealt with by the international community. Countries like Uzbekistan are on the frontline of this conflict and should have the support of the international community to deal with these threats. UPI: Will the United States help Uzbekistan install an air defense system? The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, said in his recent meeting with the three other Central Asian leaders that Uzbekistan will be on the side of the country which helps [Uzbekistan] install an air defense system. General Zinni: We have no program planned at this time for support in this particular area of anti-craft or anti-missile defense. And no request has been made, to my knowledge, for such support. Inter-Fax: Based on your evaluation of the situation in the region, doesn't it seem to you that the international community should have proposed more decisive measures against Afghanistan to stabilize the situation in the region? General Zinni: I do believe the international community should do more. I think the international community should realize that this threat endangers them, and it is not just confined to this region. I think also that the international community can do a number of things, for example, put more pressure on the Taleban to not allow the forces of extremism to operate from their land. And the international community should also provide more support for countries that have to face this directly, such as Uzbekistan. Agence France-Presse: Mr. Zinni, in connection with the existing threats addressed to Uzbekistan by extremist organizations, what would be your forecast on the possibility of an intrusion of these forces into Uzbekistan? General Zinni: Well, I think a lot is going to depend on the ability of the region to cope with the threats that come this year and in the immediate future. And not only the ability of Central Asian countries to deal with the threat, but also the ability of countries in the Middle East, in South Asia and in Africa to deal with this threat also. If these countries fail, or if they are unable to stop this threat from growing, then it will reach, I think, all countries in the world. As you know, we have had terrorists just at the turn of the New Year who attempted to cross into the United States to conduct terrorist acts. We had terrorists in the Middle East who were planning to attack tourists and other innocent people, before they were discovered in countries like Jordan. We have terrorists in the Philippines now who hold hostages, some of whom are Europeans. And we have had our own embassies in Africa bombed in the last two years. And all these problems find their roots in the same place. If they are not contained and dealt with by the frontline states, we could see more of these kind of events and acts throughout the world. So I think it is very dangerous. BBC: Having mentioned these threats, could you tell us what Central Asian countries can best do to counter the threats. General Zinni: I think, obviously, the first thing that can be done is to conduct the kinds of operations that work against things such as drug trafficking, as well as counter-terrorist activities. Conduct operations against organized crime and things such as the movement of weapons, the kinds of things you would expect police and military to do in dealing with security issues that are an immediate threat. That would be the first step. The second step would be one of education and information to ensure that the populations are aware of this threat and no one believes that the causes and courses of action offered by these extremists represent any kind of viable alternative or future for the peoples of the counties. The third is to work for regional and international cooperation and coordination so that this threat can be dealt with in much broader terms than just with the immediate things facing these countries, as in the case of Uzbekistan from the south. Radio Liberty: General, you mentioned cooperation between the United States and Uzbekistan in the military area. Last year at U.S. Congressional hearings on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, some Congressman stressed a concern that this military assistance might be used to silence the voices of dissidents. General Zinni: Well, obviously, our Congress and our government are always concerned about issues such as human rights. If those issues come up in given countries they want assurances from us, the U.S military, as we are involved in joint training, that the training we participate in can't be used or won't be used to violate any human rights or raise issues such as that. It is our obligation to assure our political leaders in the United States that neither the nature of the training nor the forces we are working with are part of any such events or problems. If there are questions like this, of course, we would be prevented from providing the training or providing that support. That's why it is very important for us, along with the forces of the country we are helping, to make these assurances. And our political leaders monitor our activities very closely for this reason. Jahon National News Agency: After the break-up of the Soviet Union, most U.S policy makers tended to ignore the Central Asian countries because of the presence of the Islamic factor in this region and due to uncertainty over whether or not these countries could deal with their independence. How different is the situation now? And do you think that Central Asian countries are more prepared now to deal with terrorism than they were ten years ago? General Zinni: Well, I would say, first of all, I don't necessarily agree that the United States was slow in beginning relationships here for the reason of fundamentalism or for some sort of impression that the countries of Central Asia were unable to deal with this problem or that this problem was growing in the region. I think for the United States, the Soviet Union's collapse came very fast, maybe faster than expected. The United States, perhaps, was slow in connecting to the former republics of the Soviet Union, perhaps began with a West-to-East approach. I don't think that this was done in a way to exclude or to prioritize any countries, but more to get our own house in order as to how to best approach the countries in this region. I also think we had to do it in a way that did not appear to be immediately threatening to a country like Russia and to China, and we had to do it in a way that was in cooperation with our partners in such organizations as NATO. We began programs and contacts almost immediately, at some times, at a small, initial level, but they have continued to grow since the Berlin Wall came down. We had to decide ourselves which agencies and which organizations would begin which programs, and how they would progress. For example, the U.S. Central Command was only assigned responsibilities in this region less than two years ago. Military-to-military contact had begun well before this, but it was only two years ago when the scope of these programs began to grow where, in our terminology, a unified command had to be assigned to the region. I think from the beginning that our policy and our hope here have been for the development of democracy, of free-market economies, and of stability in the region. Our intent through all of our agencies, such as our Department of Defense, is to help these new republics, such as those in Central Asia, in this process. And it may seem slow, but I would say you have to appreciate that this happened very quickly, and we were faced with many countries not only in this region, but also elsewhere that were looking for the same assistance and support. Let me say one other thing. We do not view Islam or any conservative interpretation of Islam as a threat. As a matter of fact, almost every country in the region for which I am assigned responsibility is an Islamic country. We have good and positive relationships with the vast majority of those countries. I think that the only danger is presented when fanatics and extremists view this as an excuse to twist the meanings of these religious beliefs to suit their purposes. But we are very careful not to make this an issue of religion, but only to identify those fanatics whom you might find in any religion, who take things to an extreme. In the vast majority of cases our relationship with Islamic countries is very good because the vast majority are good, peaceful, law-abiding, and want our cooperation and friendship. France-Presse: What is the prospect of Uzbek-American military relations in the future? Will there be new projects and programs in addition to joint exercises and technical assistance? General Zinni: In each of the areas that we provide support such as exercises, training, availability of courses or education, and providing equipment and material support and conducting conferences and seminars on specific issues and many others; we will see in the coming year an expansion in all these programs. I have had a discussion with the Minister of Defense on how these programs should be directed over the next year, and where we should concentrate on expanding our programs. Each year that we meet, our staffs also meet to develop the plan for the upcoming year, so that it one that is supportable by both of our forces. And we both sign an agreement so that we can implement that plan. Each year these programs grow or they progress or we move to the next level. UPI: Where and when will the next "Centrazbat" military exercises be held, and which countries will participate? General Zinni: Each year the exercise shifts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. This year it will take place in Kazakhstan, during September 12-21. In addition to the United States and those three countries, the others that will participate are Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Mongolia. Thank you. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File