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Istanbul Cooperation Initiative
1.With a transformed Alliance determined to respond to new
challenges, NATO is ready to undertake a new initiative in the broader
Middle East region to further contribute to long-term global and regional
security and stability while complementing other international efforts.
2. In this context, progress towards a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should remain a priority for the
countries of the region and the international community as a whole, and
for the success of the security and stability objectives of this initiative.
Full and speedy implementation of the Quartet Road Map is a key element
in international efforts to promote a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict in which Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and
security. The roadmap is a vital element of international efforts to
promote a comprehensive peace on all tracks, including the Syrian-Israeli
and Lebanese-Israeli tracks.
3. NATO’s initiative, based on a series of mutually beneficial
bilateral relationships aimed at fostering security and regional stability,
should take into account the following principles:
- the importance of taking into account ideas and proposals
originating from the countries of the region or regional organisations;
- the need to stress that the NATO initiative is a cooperative initiative,
based on joint ownership and the mutual interests of NATO
and the countries of the region, taking into account their diversity
and specific needs;
- the need to recognise that this process is distinct
yet takes into account and complements other initiatives including
by the
G-8 and international organisations such as the EU and the OSCE as
appropriate. The NATO initiative should also be complementary to the
Alliance’s Mediterranean
Dialogue and could use instruments developed in this framework, while
respecting its specificity. Furthermore, the new initiative could apply
lessons learned and, as appropriate, mechanisms and tools derived from
other NATO initiatives such as the Partnership for Peace (PfP);
- the
need to focus on practical cooperation in areas where NATO can add
value, particularly in the security field. Participation
of countries in the region in the initiative as well as the pace and
extent of their cooperation with NATO will depend in large measure
on their individual response and level of interest;
- the need to avoid
misunderstandings about the scope of the initiative, which is not
meant to either lead to NATO/EAPC/PfP membership,
provide security guarantees, or be used to create a political debate
over issues more appropriately handled in other fora.
4. Taking into account other international efforts for reforms
in the democracy and civil society fields in the countries of the region,
NATO’s offer to those countries of dialogue and cooperation will contribute
to those efforts where it can have an added value: in particular, NATO
could make a notable contribution in the security field as a result of
its particular strengths and the experience gained with the PfP and the
Mediterranean Dialogue.
Aim of the initiative
5. The aim of the initiative would be to enhance security
and regional stability through a new transatlantic engagement with the
region. This could be achieved by actively promoting NATO’s cooperation
with interested countries in the field of security, particularly through
practical activities where NATO can add value to develop the ability
of countries’ forces to operate with those of the Alliance including
by contributing to NATO-led operations, fight against terrorism, stem
the flow of WMD materials and illegal trafficking in arms, and improve
countries’ capabilities to address common challenges and threats with
NATO.
6. Countries of the region might see benefit in cooperation
with the Alliance through practical support against terrorist threats,
access to training, defence reform expertise and opportunities for military
cooperation, as well as through political dialogue on issues of common
concern.
Content of the initiative including priority areas
7. The initiative’s aim would be essentially achieved through
practical cooperation and assistance in the following priority areas,
and illustrative menu of specific activities:
- providing tailored advice on defence reform, defence
budgeting, defence planning and civil-military relations.
- promoting
military-to-military cooperation to contribute to interoperability1
through participation in selected military exercises
and related education and training activities that could improve the
ability of participating countries’ forces to operate with those of
the Alliance in contributing to NATO-led operations consistent with
the UN
Charter:
- invite interested countries to observe and/or
participate in selected NATO/PfP exercise activities as appropriate
and provided that the necessary
arrangements are in place;
- encourage additional participation
by interested countries in NATO-led peace-support operations
on a case-by-case basis;
- fighting against terrorism including through information
sharing and maritime cooperation:
- invite interested countries, in accordance
with the procedures set out by the Council for contributory
support from non-NATO nations,
to join Operation Active Endeavour (OAE) in order to enhance
the ability to help deter, defend, disrupt and protect against
terrorism
through
maritime operations in the OAE Area of Operations;
- explore other forms of cooperation against terrorism including
through intelligence exchange and assessments as appropriate.
- contributing to the work of the Alliance on threats posed
by weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery:
- promoting cooperation as appropriate and where NATO can add value in
the field of border security, particularly in connection
with terrorism, small arms & light weapons, and the fight against illegal trafficking:
- offer NATO-sponsored border security expertise
and facilitate follow-up training in this respect;
- access to
appropriate PfP programmes and training centres.
- promoting cooperation in the areas of civil emergency planning:
- offer
NATO training courses on civil emergency planning, civil-military
coordination, and crisis response to maritime, aviation,
and surface threats;
- invitations to join or observe relevant
NATO/PfP exercises as appropriate and provision of information
on possible
disaster assistance.
Geographical scope of the initiative
8. Based on the principle of inclusiveness, the initiative
could be opened to all interested countries in the region who subscribe
to the aim and content of this initiative, including the fight against
terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as described
above. Each interested country would be considered by the North Atlantic
Council on a case-by-case basis and on its own merit. This initiative
would complement NATO’s specific relationship with the partner countries
of the Mediterranean Dialogue 2.
Implementing the new initiative
9. This initiative would carry NATO into a new set of relationships
with countries that may have a limited understanding of the Alliance
as it has been transformed. Since an underlying requirement of success
for the initiative is the development of ownership by countries of the
region, it will be necessary to update governments’ and opinion-formers’
understanding of NATO and the initiative and, in the light of the reactions
of the countries concerned, consider a joint public diplomacy effort.
Furthermore, in developing and implementing the initiative, the views
of interested countries in the region will have to be taken into account
through a process of regular consultation.
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10. This initiative will be launched at the Istanbul Summit. Subsequently,
in consultation with interested countries, NATO would offer a menu of
practical activities within the above-mentioned priority areas for possible
development with interested countries of the region. The Alliance would
engage these countries, on a 26+1 basis, to develop and execute agreed
work plans. While doing so, the new initiative could apply lessons learned
and, as appropriate and on a case-by-case basis, mechanisms and tools
derived from other NATO initiatives such as the Partnership for Peace
(PfP). Appropriate legal, security and liaison arrangements should be
put in place.
- Interoperability requirements constitute firm prerequisites for contributing
nations such as the need to communicate with each other, to operate together,
to support each other, and to train together.
- Specificity in this respect refers in particular to the composition of this initiative
and the Mediterranean Dialogue, as well as the multilateral dimension
of the Mediterranean Dialogue.
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