Pence confirms Nato support
GERMANY: During a speech at the Munich Security Conference at the weekend, US Vice President Mike Pence said he had come to deliver a message from President Donald Trump that ‘‘the United States of America strongly supports Nato and will be unwavering in its support of this transatlantic alliance’’.
Trump has often referred to Nato as ‘‘obsolete’’, although he and his cabinet have since talked about how vital the alliance is.
Pence, who is on his first overseas trip as vice president, said the US would ‘‘hold Russia accountable’’ to the 2015 Minsk agreement, which committed Moscow to disarm separatists in eastern Ukraine.
‘‘Know this,’’ said Pence. ‘‘The United States will continue to hold Russia accountable, even as we search for new common ground, which as you know President Trump believes can be found.’’
A senior Russian lawmaker expressed disappointment at Pence’s remarks, which he said ‘‘unequivocally blamed’’ Russia for the violence in eastern Ukraine. In a Facebook post, Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Russian upper house of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said the Trump administration’s stance towards Moscow was contradictory.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that his country was seeking a ‘‘constructive’’ relationship with the US, adding that ‘‘Russia is not seeking conflict with anyone but will protect its interests’’.
Lavrov’s comments were critical of Nato, which he said remained an institution of the Cold War.
Pence later met Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and expressed concern about the recent surge in violence in eastern Ukraine.
Pence and Poroshenko agreed on the need for an immediate comprehensive ceasefire, a White House statement said.
Pence underscored US support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and selfdetermination and said the US ‘‘does not recognise Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of the Crimean peninsula’’.
The vice president also expressed US support for the full implementation of the Minsk agreement and the leaders discussed how the US could support negotiations, the statement said.
Earlier German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the conference that Nato was ‘‘very much in the German and the European interest, but also in the interest of the United States’’.
Pence also held an impromptu meeting with U2 front man Bono, who calls the vice president ‘‘the second busiest man on Earth.’’
The Irish rock star offered his appreciation to the vice president for the meeting and noted that Pence had twice supported bills in Congress to provide Aids medication to African nations.
Bono called it an ‘‘extraordinary historic accomplishment’’ and credited Pence with playing a ‘‘leading role.’’ — DPA