Ukraine excerpts from Secretary of Defense Hagels Media Availability en route to Japan April 5, 2014 Q: Mr. Secretary, getting back to Helenes first question, what message do you think China should take from the Western response to Russias actions in Crimea as it looks to its territorial disputes with neighbors, including Japan? SEC. HAGEL: Well, I think, first, lets review a little bit of what has happened in the last couple of weeks. Japan was one of the G-7 members that strongly endorsed a very forceful position on Russias actions, economic sanctions at the EU, the United States has imposed against the Russians. Also when you look at the activities at the United Nations and the resolutions that were agreed to, Japan has been very clear on how it has voted, and its position. I think any time you have a nation, Russia in this case, try to impose its will to refine and define international boundaries, and violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a nation by force, all of the world takes note of that. All of the world should take note of that. And the world will respond to that. And the world will reassess and they will -- in their own self-interest theyll reassess. And so I think, again, it just happens that the timing was such that Im here not because when we first planned this that we had any early warnings that things would be different in Europe than they were six months ago, or a year ago, basically, when we started talking about this. But, yes, nations do need to stay alert to these kinds of actions, and respond to these kinds of actions. And allies are going to look at each other to be assured, and want to be reassured that the commitments that are made to each other. Another reason Im here to reassure our allies of our commitments to their security. So its a pretty predictable, I think, reaction not just of nations of this area, in this region, but all over the world. It has to concern nations. Q: If I could just follow up on that just a little bit. U.S. and international actions in -- against Russia have not proven to effect any change at this point. What is it that the U.S. should be doing more to show that it does indeed intend to do more to effect change? And isnt that why some of the Pacific nations are concerned, because they think that perhaps if something happened in their region, nothing would actually effect change? SEC. HAGEL: Let me start with what President Obama has said, and I think the leaders of NATO and the EU have said the same thing. There is not a military solution to this -- this issue in Ukraine. The president, the United States, our NATO partners, our EU partners, continue to pursue diplomatic and economic actions to deal with this. These actions, these responses need to always be thought through, not just in short term consequences, but longer term consequences. And as we have imposed with the European Union, the United States, economic sanctions on Russia, as we continue to look at new measures that NATO could possibly employ. And thats under consideration, as you know, Supreme Allied Commander of NATO General Breedlove will be reporting back by the middle of April on those new options. There are a number of things being taken right now. And I think, too, Russia has essentially isolated itself in the world. And there will be consequences for that. And I think the evidence is pretty clear, just take a look at some of these UN votes where most of the world is. I mean, when I say most of the world, a vast majority of the world on these issues. So its a combination of short-term/long-term, and nations will always look at their own security interests, how to protect those interests with allies, and needing the reassurance of allies and treaty partners to assure that their security is going to be protected. So I think, again, when you look at whats going on in Europe, and the actions of Russia, the responses have been responsible. I have -- I think they have been significant. We have made it very clear, President Obama, that there can be more responses and consequences. And thats what we are planning to do as we look at all options for this kind of violation that we have seen occur. ###
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 13:27:25 +0000
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