12 June 2003
North Atlantic Council Renews Commitment to NATO Transformation
(Communique following meeting of NATO and candidate countries
defense ministers) (1120)
Defense ministers of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) met June 12 in
Brussels and reaffirmed their commitment to transform NATO
capabilities "to conduct or support operations wherever the Alliance
decides, to ensure our common security and collective defence."
A final communique summarized current NATO deployments to support
peace and stability in the Balkans and to carry out anti-terrorist
activities in the Mediterranean Sea. It also noted the recently ended
deployment of NATO forces to defend Turkey against a possible attack
by Iraq, NATO's upcoming take-over of the International Security
Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF), and NATO's support of Poland's
role in efforts to stabilize Iraq.
The ministers said they were pleased that the seven countries invited
to join NATO -- Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,
Slovakia and Slovenia -- had taken part in the NAC meeting, which
included a review of the progress they have made on defense and
military reforms required for membership.
The communique concluded by stating that NATO's partnerships "make a
direct and irreplaceable contribution to Euro-Atlantic peace and
stability," and that the alliance attaches great importance to the
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Partnership for Peace, and its
special partnerships with the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the
countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue.
Following is the text:
(begin text)
NATO Press Release (2003)065
12 June 2003
FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ
Meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Defence Ministers session
held in Brussels on Thursday, 12 June 2003
Today, the North Atlantic Council met in Defence Ministers Session in
Brussels to advance the Prague Summit vision of a transformed Alliance
with the capabilities to conduct the full range of Alliance missions.
We remain committed to continue the speedy implementation of all the
decisions taken in Prague. NATO is the basis for our collective
defence and the essential transatlantic forum for security and
consultation among the Allies. We were very pleased that our
colleagues from the seven countries invited to join the Alliance took
part in all our discussions.
The Alliance's ability to conduct operations is crucial to the common
security of all Allies. NATO continues to deploy substantial forces to
support peace and stability in the Balkans. NATO naval forces continue
to carry out anti-terrorist activity in the Mediterranean Sea. The
Alliance has just ended the deployment of forces and capabilities to
defend Turkey against any possible attack by Iraq. From August 2003,
NATO will take the leading role in the International Security
Assistance Force in Kabul, under its existing UN mandate, by assuming
strategic coordination, command and control, strongly contributing in
this way to the international community's commitment to building a
peaceful and democratic Afghanistan. NATO has also agreed to Poland's
request for support to the role it is taking on this summer in the
stabilisation of Iraq.
NATO will continue to play an essential role in regional security
through its ongoing operations, PfP programmes, and by working with
the EU. NATO's continuing missions in the strategically important
region of the Balkans are evolving, as improvements in stability and
security continue. NATO-led forces in the Balkans are being and will
be further restructured and reduced in numbers as progress allows.
NATO and the EU are developing a framework for an enhanced dialogue
and a concerted approach on supporting security and stability in the
Western Balkans. We welcomed the first concrete implementation of the
Berlin Plus arrangements in support of the EU's Operation Concordia in
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia(1), following on from NATO's
successful Operation Allied Harmony. The developing relationship with
the EU presents us with an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to a
strategic partnership as agreed between our two organisations. The
development of this partnership between NATO and the EU is important
for the further stabilisation of the Balkans, and future planning
should take this into account. We look forward to the NATO-EU joint
crisis management exercise which will take place in November 2003.
We express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those who have
served, or continue to serve, in NATO-led operations, particularly
those who have suffered injuries. We once again extend our deepest
sympathies to the families of those who have lost their lives. We are
grateful to NATO's Partners and other nations for the substantial
contributions they have made and are making to our common effort.
Our forces must be able to conduct or support operations wherever the
Alliance decides, to ensure our common security and collective
defence.
Success in doing so depends fundamentally on the effectiveness of the
Alliance's capabilities. We have issued a separate statement on the
discussions we have held and the decisions we have taken in this
regard.
We also reviewed with the Invitees, and acknowledged, the progress
they are making in the defence and military reforms required and in
preparing more generally for the defence aspects of Alliance
membership.
Responding to terrorism is a critical challenge for which our military
forces must be prepared. Recent events have again shown that terrorism
remains a grave threat to our citizens, forces and territory, as well
as to international security, and we reiterate our determination to
combat it as long as necessary. We welcome the progress that has been
made to strengthen NATO's capabilities in this regard. As Defence
Ministers, we particularly commend the work that has been done to
implement NATO's military concept for defence against terrorism. A
concept for operations has been developed which provides the basis for
more detailed plans, procedures, and measures in this area. We
realise, however, that much more needs to be done, including the
intensification of our efforts with our Partners.
NATO's partnerships make a direct and irreplaceable contribution to
Euro-Atlantic peace and stability. We continue to attach great
importance to the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the
Partnership for Peace, as well as to our special partnerships with the
Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the countries of the Mediterranean
Dialogue, and remain fully committed to the speedy implementation of
the relevant Prague decisions aimed at strengthening and further
developing them. The various work programmes and implementation plans
will be robust, forward-looking and responsive to the requirements of
Partners seeking closer cooperation with the Alliance. We also commit
ourselves to the implementation of the military and defence-related
aspects of the NATO-Russia Council Work Programme and to assist
Ukraine in the implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan and
Ukraine's Annual Target Plan.
We fully agree with the statements made on these and other matters by
our Foreign Minister colleagues earlier this month.
(1)Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional
name.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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