NATO HQ
Brussels
4 October 2001
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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.
Additional
information:
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