NATO/PA Press release
NATO Parliamentary Assembly Press Release
ORLANDO, Florida, Nov 8 - More than 300 parliamentarians from 19 NATO
member states and 20 associate states gathered in Orlando, Florida today
(Saturday) to debate the impact of the war in Iraq and its aftermath on
transatlantic relations and the new type of terrorist threats.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) began its 49th Annual Session at
the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC),North Complex with a
presentation by General Richard Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff on
policy-making challenges for the alliance.
General Myers later told reporters the purpose of his study seminar to the
parliamentarians was to stimulate discussion as to whether NATO s
decision-making processes were adequate to today s task of
counter terrorism and threats posed by weapons of mass destruction.
Much of the question and after session which followed the General s
presentation centred on the need for intelligence on potential terrorist
threats to be shared among different member states.
Mr Ian Brzezinski, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for European and
NATO Affairs, also presented a paper to the NATO-PA s Defence and Security
Committee entitled The US Vision of the Future of Iraq . Mr Brzezinski
asserted that despite recent attacks on US forces progress had been made in
moving towards a stable and democratic Iraq.
He also had cautionary words concerning the evolution of Europe s own
security initiative European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
Describing the EU and NATO as two supertankers he said it was important to
reduce the competitive dynamics and ensure they were on the same, not
divergent, vector.
Other than the impact of the Iraq crisis on the US and European members of
the Alliance, issues under discussion throughout the five day session will
include the war against terrorism and the threat from weapons of mass
destruction (WMD), NATO's new role in Afghanistan, and the reform of NATO's
command structure.
A Plenary Session will be held on Tuesday November 11 at which the keynote
speakers will include the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, Mr Marc
Grossman US Under Secretary for Political Affairs and Gen. John Gordon,
Asst. to the President and Homeland Security Advisor - all of whose
presentations will be followed by question and answer periods, Mr Jeb Bush,
Governor of Florida and Mr Doug Bereuter (USA), President of the NATO PA.
Contact Mr Keith Williams at the press service of the NATO PA on the
following numbers: +1 407 685 6158 and +1 407 685 6159. E-mail:
kwilliams@nato-pa.int
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