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- We, NATO Defence Ministers and Representatives of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Defence Ministers and Representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan met today in Brussels for the first time (1). We considered how we could deepen dialogue and promote cooperation between us on issues that fall within the competence of Defence Ministers.
- Much has already been done to develop the partnership
between our countries. The Rome Declaration of the North Atlantic
Alliance and the Work Plan for Dialogue, Partnership and
Cooperation of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council as well as
bilateral contacts and exchanges in the defence field provide an
excellent basis for further progress. Today, in a spirit of
friendship and goodwill, we discussed the contribution which we,
as Defence Ministers, can make to this process in order to
promote our common objectives.
- The positive changes in the security environment of recent
years have major implications for the organisation of our
defences. In this context, we are determined to achieve early
entry into force without renegotiation and full implementation as
soon as possible of the CFE Treaty and expect to see the Treaty
in force by the time of the Helsinki Summit in July. In the
interest of further strengthening security and stability in
Europe, we also support the determination of the participants in
the CFE IA negotiations to reach, in connection with the entry
into force of the CFE Treaty, an agreement to limit the personnel
strength of their conventional armed forces in time for the
Helsinki Summit at the end of the CSCE meeting. We welcome the
Open Skies Treaty and the Vienna CSBM Document 1992 as major new
steps towards greater openness and confidence-building in the
security field. Complementary bilateral and regional efforts
aimed at achieving enhanced confidence and security can also make
a positive contribution.
- We all agree on the importance of the safe, responsible and
reliable control of the residual nuclear arsenals. We took note
of the assurances given in this regard with respect to the
reliability, security and single control of the nuclear weapons
of the former Soviet Union. We equally took note of the intention
of the states concerned to join the Treaty on Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible as non-nuclear weapon
states. We confirm the need to ensure full respect for the Treaty
and to contribute in all possible ways to efforts aimed at
preventing proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of
mass destruction.
- Many of us are faced with major restructuring of defence
efforts and some are addressing basic issues of defence
organisation and planning for the first time. All of us can
benefit from an intensification of contacts and cooperation. It
is therefore with satisfaction that we note the progress which
has already been achieved through an extensive visits programme,
discussions, courses and frequent military contacts at all
levels. But more can and will be done. To this end our Chiefs of
Defence Staff will meet on 10 April 1992 in the framework of the
first Meeting of the Military Committee in Cooperation Session.
It will be the beginning of a regular series of meetings at the
highest military level.
- Furthermore we have agreed that
- a high level seminar on defence policy and management will
be held covering the role and constitutional position of armed
forces in democratic societies, as well as strategic concepts and
their implementation; a key purpose will be to identify specific
issues to be pursued during subsequent cooperation in defence
related matters;
- an initial workshop will address practical aspects of
defence management and the reform and restructuring of armed
forces. This will be followed up by several panel tours to
capitals conducted by small groups of experts as well as by
participation of cooperation partners in relevant NATO training;
- a workshop will be held to provide an opportunity to share
experiences and to identify the most suitable practices and work
methods for the environmental clean-up of defence installations;
- small teams of civilian and military defence experts, drawn
as appropriate from several Alliance countries, could be sent, on
request, to countries desiring advice. These teams will be made
available as quickly as possible to assist in Ministries of
Defence or other areas in the defence establishment and will be
prepared to stay in place as necessary. Detailed arrangements for
meeting the needs of cooperation partners can be pursued in the
Group on Defence Matters;
- further agreed activities of mutual interest in our field of
responsibility will be organised in the framework of the Group on
Defence Matters and reported to us or our representatives on a
regular basis. The Group on Defence Matters could also act as a
clearing house for proposals for cooperation in the defence
field, including bilateral or multilateral activities not
necessarily involving all of us.
The aim is not only to increase mutual understanding and
confidence among us, but also to provide practical assistance on
defence related matters at a time of profound transformation and
transition. NATO members have promised to make available for this
purpose the considerable expertise and experience they have
developed in defence related issues. The list at annex, which is
not intended to be exhaustive, provides an initial basis for
discussion of areas for cooperation in defence related matters.
- We have entered a new era of partnership amongst our states.
The resulting improved understanding and transparency will help
develop patterns of co-operation and create conditions that
encourage peaceful solutions to political problems. We are
determined to grasp this opportunity to deepen our relationships,
enhance security and contribute to the evolving process of a
Europe whole and free. In our capacity as Defence Ministers we
shall therefore play a full part in dialogue, partnership and
cooperation. We shall meet to review the progress of work in the
defence field annually or more frequently should circumstances
warrant it.
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