26 September 2001Text: NATO Release on Sept. 26 Informal Meeting of Defense Ministers
(Discuss anti-terrorism campaign, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo) (460) NATO defense ministers met in Brussels September 26 and reaffirmed NATO's solidarity in the face of terrorism; they discussed the Alliance's role and what Allies might do collectively and individually to assist the United States following the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The ministers also "underlined NATO's commitment to support the security of international monitors in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," discussed ongoing NATO-led peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Kosovo, and met with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov to discuss NATO-Russia cooperation in the fight against terrorism and in the Balkans, a NATO press release said. The informal meeting of defense ministers had been scheduled to take place in Naples but was changed to Brussels because of "acute pressure of business at NATO headquarters" in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Following is the release: (begin text) NATO Press Releases Brussels 26 Sep. 2001 INFORMAL MEETING OF DEFENCE MINISTERS The Defence Ministers and Representatives of the Alliance met informally in Brussels on 26 September. The meeting had previously been scheduled to take place in Italy but acute pressure of business at NATO headquarters, stemming from the recent attack on the United States, necessitated a change in venue. This was the first meeting of Alliance Ministers since the terrorist attack on the United States, and the Ministers accordingly turned first to its implications for Alliance security. Ministers extended their deepest sympathy to the families of those who had been killed or injured, and to the entire American people. The United States provided its Allies with further information on its intentions for a comprehensive response using the full set of tools available to governments. The Ministers reaffirmed NATO's solidarity in the face of terrorism and discussed the Alliance's role and what Allies might do collectively and individually to assist the United States. The Ministers also discussed the results of Operation ESSENTIAL HARVEST, the 30-day mandate for which has just ended. They underlined NATO's commitment to support the security of international monitors in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and welcomed in this regard the approval of OPLAN AMBER FOX earlier in the day by the Council in Permanent Session. The execution of this operation is subject to further discussions with the authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1). The Ministers also exchanged views on the status of the ongoing peace-keeping operations led by NATO in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Kosovo. The NATO Ministers met with their Russian counterpart, Sergei Ivanov. They discussed NATO-Russia cooperation in the fight against terrorism and in the Balkans. 1. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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