The CFE Treaty
Since the CFE Treaty’s entry into force in 1992, the destruction of over 60,000 pieces of treaty-limited equipment (tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery, attack helicopters and combat aircraft) has been verified and almost 6,000 on-site inspections have been conducted, thereby reaching its objective of creating balance and mitigating the possibility of surprise conventional attacks within its area of application.
At the first CFE Review Conference in 1996, negotiations began to adapt the CFE Treaty to reflect the realities of the post-Cold War era. This process was completed in conjunction with the OSCE Summit in Istanbul in 1999. States Parties also agreed to additional commitments, called the Istanbul Commitments. Although the Adapted CFE Treaty (ACFE) went far in adjusting the Treaty to a new security environment it was not ratified by Allied countries because of the failure of Russia to fully meet commitments regarding withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, on which Allies’ agreement to the adapted Treaty was based.
At NATO summits and ministerial meetings since 2010, the Allies have reiterated their commitment to the CFE Treaty and have reaffirmed their readiness and commitment to ratify the Adapted Treaty. However, during the third CFE Review Conference, in June 2006, Russia expressed its concerns regarding ratification of the adapted CFE Treaty and claimed that even the ACFE was outdated.
After the June 2007 Extraordinary Conference of the States Parties to the CFE Treaty, the Russian President signed legislation on 14 July 2007 to unilaterally “suspend” its legal obligations under the CFE Treaty as of 12 December 2007. In response to these events, NATO offered a set of constructive and forward-looking actions on key issues, including steps by NATO Allies to ratify the Adapted CFE Treaty. These actions were called the parallel actions package.
In 2008 and 2009 consultations were held between the United States on behalf of the Alliance and Russia on the basis of the parallel actions package, but with limited development. During the spring of 2010 a new approach was developed, and the Alliance put forward its proposal for a 21st century framework to strengthen arms control and disarmament and transparency in Europe.
The aim is to agree on the framework in 2011 and then negotiate revisions of the CFE and ACFE treaty.. The framework is currently subject to bilateral consultations and consultations at 36 between all CFE states parties and NATO member states not parties to the CFE Treaty.
The Vienna Document
Similarly, under the Vienna Document, thousands of inspections and evaluation visits have been conducted as well as visits to military bases and facilities; armament and equipment demonstrations are kept under observation; and exchanges of military information take place annually. As this document was last updated in 1999, there have been calls for its update to correspond with the contemporary security policy environment. Such a process started at the OSCE in Vienna in 2010 with the aim of completing it in 2011.
The Open Skies Treaty
Under the Open Skies Treaty, more than 500 observation missions have been conducted since the treaty’s entry into force in January 2002. Aerial photography and other material from observation missions provide transparency and support verification activities carried out on the ground under other treaties. This treaty provides for extensive cooperation regarding the use of aircraft and their sensors, thereby adding to openness and confidence. Following long lasting negotiations and the 2010 review conference, digital sensors are now approved for use. This decision secures the future relevance of the treaty, adds to its efficiency and reduces implementation costs.
The UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in All Its Aspects
The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council’s (EAPC) Ad Hoc Working Group on SALW and Mine Action contributes to international efforts to address the illicit trade in SALW and encourages international efforts to fully implement the UN Programme of Action. It also encourages mine action efforts.
The UN Programme of Action (UN PoA) was adopted in July 2001 by nearly 150 countries, including all NATO member countries. It includes measures at the national, regional and global levels, in the areas of legislation, destruction of weapons that were confiscated, seized, or collected, as well as international cooperation and assistance to strengthen the ability of states in identifying and tracing illicit arms and light weapons. Every two years, the UN hold the Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action (BMS). The International Staff have participated in the BMS on behalf of the EAPC since 2003.
Mine Action
The EAPC Working Group on SALW and Mine Action has supported mine action efforts through its guest speaker program by inviting numerous mine action experts to share their expertise with the Group. These speakers have hailed from national mine action centers, NGOs and international organizations and have included high profile experts, such as Nobel Laureate Ms. Jody Williams, Director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. The Working Group intensified its focus on mine action, also incorporating issues related to explosive remnants of war and cluster munitions onto its agenda, during the second half of 2010, wherein all regular Working Group meetings were dedicated to this subject.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. Separate articles in the Convention concern assistance to victims, clearance of contaminated areas and destruction of stockpiles. It became a legally binding international instrument when it entered into force on 1 August 2010.
The Arms Trade Treaty
From 12-23 July 2010, UN member countries gathered in New York for the first Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty. This Treaty would aim to establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. NATO stands ready to support the Arms Trade Treaty process as appropriate.
NATO/PfP Trust Fund projects
The NATO/Partnership for Peace Trust Fund mechanism was established in 2000 to assist partner countries with the safe destruction of stocks of anti-personnel land mines. It was later extended to include the destruction of surplus munitions, unexploded ordnance and SALW, and assisting partner countries in managing the consequences of defence reform. So far, 4.1 million landmines, 145,000 tonnes of explosive stockpile and munitions, and 1.5 million SALW have been destroyed.
Trust Fund projects are initiated by a NATO member or partner country, and funded by voluntary contributions from individual allies, partners, contact countries, and organizations.
