176th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session – NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
Media Advisory
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- French
The Military Committee, NATO’s highest Military Authority, will meet in Chiefs of Defence Session on 17-18 Jan 2017, at the NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the Military Committee, will preside over the meeting. The Chiefs of Defence will discuss the NATO Command Structure Functional Assessment, NATO’s strengthened Defence and Deterrence posture and the implementation of the Projecting Stability Initiative. They will also review the way forward for the RESOLUTE SUPPORT Mission in Afghanistan, meet with their Mediterranean Dialogue and Interoperability Platform counterparts, and partners Georgia and Ukraine. They will also have a broad discussion on Russia.
In their first session, the Chiefs of Defence will discuss and provide advice on the NATO Command Structure Functional Assessment, as well as the implementation of work related to deterrence and defence and projecting stability. During the RESOLUTE SUPPORT session Chiefs of Defence will be briefed on the current status of the Mission and security situation on the ground in order to establish recommendations ahead of the February Defence Ministers’ meeting.
The afternoon sessions will centre on Partnerships. The meeting with Mediterranean Dialogue counterparts will focus on the regional security situation and recommendations for enhanced practical military to military cooperation. During the meeting with the Interoperability Platform Partner Nations, the Chiefs of Defence will deliberate on ways to further increase interoperability and the different tailored work strands required to achieve this.
The following day’s morning meetings will be with partners, Georgia and Ukraine. With Georgia, discussions will focus on continued defence reform progress and achievements and the way ahead for the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package Implementation. The session with Ukraine will provide an opportunity for an update on the security situation in and around Ukraine and assess the progress of the security and defence sector reforms. The last meeting of the day will see the Chiefs of Defence exchange views on Russia and the challenges it poses to the Alliance.
General Petr Pavel will be supported in each session by General Curtis Scaparrotti (Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR) and General Denis Mercier (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, SACT).
The Military Committee meets twice a year at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, at the level of Chiefs of Defence to discuss NATO operations and missions and provide the North Atlantic Council with consensus-based military advice on how the Alliance can best meet global security challenges, and once a year they meet in an Allied member country. On a day-to-day basis, their work is carried out by permanent Military Representatives at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
Media Opportunities
Tuesday 17 Jan 2017
07:35 - 07:50 : Media Pool pick up in the NATO Press Area
08:05 - 08:15 : 176th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session – Public Opening remarks by General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee
Wednesday 18 Jan 2017
13:30 -14:00 : Joint Press Conference in the Luns Theatre with General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), General Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and General Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation (SACT)
Imagery
Photos and video of all opening sessions will be available online at www.nato.int/ims shortly after each meeting. The Joint Press Conference will be made available on the NATO website after the event and by contacting content@natochannel.tv
Accreditation
Media representatives holding a valid 2016 or 2017 NATO Media pass will have access as usual to the NATO HQ. Media representatives not in possession of a NATO Media pass and wishing to attend the media opportunities available are invited to contact the NATO IMS Public Affairs Office via email or fax (ronaynecasimiro.lara@hq.nato.int , fax number + 32 2 707 5713) with a completed accreditation form no later than 1600 on 11 Jan 2017
Media passes will not be mailed to applicants; they must be collected in person upon presentation of an ID card or passport and a valid national press pass (or accreditation letter from a recognized media organization). Media representatives will be given their accreditation at the Main Entrance of NATO Headquarters. Passes must be worn visibly at all times, and security personnel may ask to see another form of ID at any time. Media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site and are advised to arrive with sufficient lead time to clear security checks.
Enquiries
Points of contact for the Chairman of the Military Committee:
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Koster, Deputy Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and NATO International Military Staff
Tel: + 32 2 707 59 83
E-Mail: koster.robert@hq.nato.int
General press arrangements:
Ms. Elizabeth Steenson, Public Affairs Officer
Tel: +32 2 707 54 22
Email: steenson.elizabeth@hq.nato.int
For more background information about the NATO Military Committee click here