04 October 2001
Text: Robertson Statement on Alliance Measures Against Terrorism
(Oct. 4: series of collective actions operationalize Article 5) (510)
NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson announced October 4 that the
Alliance is taking a series of measures at the request of the United
States that operationalize Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which
states that an armed attack against one or more of the Allies in
Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them
all.
The measures range from blanket overflight clearances to access to
ports and airfields.
Robertson also announced two North Atlantic Council decisions on
readiness to deploy elements of its Standing Naval Forces and its NATO
Airborne Early Warning force.
"These decisions clearly demonstrate the Allies' resolve and
commitment to support and contribute to the U.S.-led fight against
terrorism," he said.
Following is the text of the statement:
(begin text)
NATO Headquarters
Brussels
4 October 2001
STATEMENT TO THE PRESS BY NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, LORD ROBERTSON, ON
THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 5 OF
THE WASHINGTON TREATY FOLLOWING THE 11 SEPTEMBER ATTACKS AGAINST THE
UNITED STATES
Following its decision to invoke Article 5 of the Washington Treaty in
the wake of the 11 September attacks against the United States, the
NATO Allies agreed today -- at the request of the United States -- to
take eight measures, individually and collectively, to expand the
options available in the campaign against terrorism. Specifically,
they agreed to:
- enhance intelligence sharing and co-operation, both bilaterally and
in the appropriate NATO bodies, relating to the threats posed by
terrorism and the actions to be taken against it;
- provide, individually or collectively, as appropriate and according
to their capabilities, assistance to Allies and other states which are
or may be subject to increased terrorist threats as a result of their
support for the campaign against terrorism;
- take necessary measures to provide increased security for facilities
of the United States and other Allies on their territory;
- backfill selected Allied assets in NATO's area of responsibility
that are required to directly support operations against terrorism;
- provide blanket overflight clearances for the United States and
other Allies' aircraft, in accordance with the necessary air traffic
arrangements and national procedures, for military flights related to
operations against terrorism;
- provide access for the United States and other Allies to ports and
airfields on the territory of NATO nations for operations against
terrorism, including for refuelling, in accordance with national
procedures.
The North Atlantic Council also agreed:
- that the Alliance is ready to deploy elements of its Standing Naval
Forces to the Eastern Mediterranean in order to provide a NATO
presence and demonstrate resolve; and
- that the Alliance is similarly ready to deploy elements of its NATO
Airborne Early Warning force to support operations against terrorism.
Today's collective actions operationalise Article 5 of the Washington
Treaty. These measures were requested by the United States following
the determination that the 11 September attack was directed from
abroad.
These decisions clearly demonstrate the Allies' resolve and commitment
to support and contribute to the U.S.-led fight against terrorism.
(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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