PRESS RELEASE M-NACC-2(95)122          
For immediate release
6th December 1995


      MEETING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COOPERATION COUNCIL
                 NATO HEADQUARTERS, BRUSSELS

                      6th December 1995

   PROGRESS REPORT TO MINISTERS BY THE POLITICAL-MILITARY
      STEERING COMMITTEE/AD HOC GROUP ON COOPERATION IN PEACEKEEPING


     1.   The Political-Military Steering Committee/Ad
Hoc Group on Cooperation in Peacekeeping (PMSC/AHG) was
established to serve as the main NACC/PfP body for
consultations on the political and conceptual aspects of
peacekeeping, for the exchange of peacekeeping
experience, and for the consideration of practical
measures for cooperation in peacekeeping.  During 1995,
the Group continued efforts aimed at developing, within
the NACC/PfP framework and beyond, a common understanding
of key conceptual aspects of peacekeeping; the Group also
sponsored work in several areas, such as training,
communications, and command and control, to improve
practical cooperation in peacekeeping.

I.   Conceptual Approaches

     2.   The Group continued its thorough review of the
definitions, principles, and criteria set out in the
Report on Cooperation in Peacekeeping endorsed by NACC
Ministers at Athens in June, 1993.  Elements for a
"follow-on" report to the Athens Report, updating aspects
of it in light of experience gained since 1993, were
discussed in detail at Group meetings during the second
half of 1995.  This discussion provided an opportunity
for all Group members to share views and experiences
relating to conceptual aspects of peacekeeping. 
Significant common understanding was reached among Group
members on the characteristics of, and principles and
criteria associated with, what the United Nations
Secretary-General has called "multifunctional
peacekeeping operations".  A copy of the agreed document
is being submitted separately for endorsement by
Ministers with a view to making it public.


     3.   In addition to work on the follow-on to the
Athens Report, the Group also heard and commented on
ideas for improving the United Nations' rapid reaction
capabilities.  These ideas, presented by several Group
members, included:  the creation of a United Nations
rapid reaction capability and rapid deployment brigade;
improved use of existing standby commitments of forces;
and the establishment of a "vanguard concept" permitting
the UN to quickly plan responses to crises and deploy
forces in response.

     4.   A Seminar on "Legal Aspects of Peacekeeping"
took place in Bucharest in July, hosted by Romania.  The
Seminar provided legal experts with an opportunity to
discuss a number of important issues related to
peacekeeping operations, such as peacekeeping mandates,
the legal status of peacekeepers, status of forces
agreements, peacekeeping exercises, and the role in
peacekeeping of international humanitarian law and the UN
Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel.
A Seminar on "Military/Civilian Cooperation in
Peacekeeping Operations" was organised by Denmark and
held in Copenhagen from 15th-17th November.  The Seminar
discussed ways to improve coordination and working
relationships among various groups involved in
peacekeeping operations.  In addition to Group members
and observers, both Seminars were attended by United
Nations and OSCE representatives and by Japan as an
observer.

     5.   For 1996, the Group has established, in the
context of the overall Partnership Work Programme, the
attached work programme, which will continue to focus on
sharing experience and developing a common understanding
of conceptual issues associated with peacekeeping
cooperation.  The Group will work developing concrete
lessons learned from peacekeeping operations, and begin
discussions of the humanitarian aspects of peacekeeping,
drawing on the work of the 1994 Budapest Seminar and
involving representatives of a range of international
humanitarian organisations.

II.  Measures for Practical Cooperation in Peacekeeping

     6.   With regard to activities of practical
cooperation, work continued within the Technical Sub-Group (TSG) of the
PMSC/AHG, based on the programme
endorsed by Ministers in December 1994. 

     7.   Peacekeeping Exercises.  The TSG took stock of
this year's PFP exercise programme. The number of
multinational NATO/PfP exercises increased from three in
1994 to ten in 1995. In addition there were some 40
associated seminars and workshops to prepare the
exercises and to train individual staff officers. PfP
officers thus not only benefited from the exercises
themselves, but also gained useful experience from
participating in the planning process.  The focus of the
exercises was to prepare staff officers for duties in
multinational headquarters and to prepare national forces
for operations within multinational formations. The
exercise objectives were achieved in all cases.  A large
number of bilateral and multilateral exercises were also
conducted in 1995 in the spirit of PfP.

     8.   Cooperation in Communications and Command and
Control.  The Netherlands-led study on the development of
a peacekeeping communications concept, and an examination
of the feasibility of developing a communications
database, has been completed and has been presented to
the TSG.  Experience gained from the NATO/PfP exercises
in 1995 has highlighted the importance of this subject,
in particular the need for interoperable equipment and
procedures.  Work has continued in the related field of
command and control. 

     9.   Cooperation in Training.  In Spring 1995
Denmark issued a revised version of its Peacekeeping
Course Handbook, with a comprehensive summary of
information provided by nations on national peacekeeping
courses and other related training capabilities.  This
Handbook will be updated and
re-issued in 1996.  Under Danish lead training experts
have also presented a booklet to the TSG aimed at
improving a common understanding of basic and mission-oriented training
requirements in peacekeeping
operations. 

     10.  Many countries hosted a variety of peacekeeping
training and courses in 1995.  One country, Canada,
briefed on the unique courses offered by Canada's Lester
B. Pearson Training Center and on the newly created
"Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres". 

     11.  Cooperation in Logistics.  Cooperation in
logistics aspects of peacekeeping operations in 1995
included the
first-ever meeting of the Senior NATO Logisticians
Conference with Partners, a logistics exercise -
COOPERATIVE SUPPORT 95 - held in Norfolk in the United
States, and the first logistics course for Partners, held
in Germany.  Proposals aimed at improving UN military
logistical procedures were submitted to UN Headquarters
in New York, some of which have already been accepted by
the UN. In 1995, for the first time, Partners were
offered access to NATO's Maintenance and Supply Agency
(NAMSA), for technical assistance.  Several Partners have
already been in contact with NAMSA.

             PMSC/AHG WORK PROGRAMME - 1996

       ANNEX TO 6TH DECEMBER 1995 REPORT TO MINISTERS


I.   Development of A Common Understanding of Concepts
     and Requirements for Peacekeeping

     Actions

     A.   Continue exchanges of views on concepts,
          terminology and national doctrines on
          peacekeeping within the NACC/PfP framework. 
          Specifically:

     -    Discuss and exchange views on humanitarian
          aspects of peacekeeping, including civil-military relations;

     -    Examine concrete lessons learned from
          peacekeeping operations.

     B.   Continue to expand contacts with the United
          Nations and OSCE on peacekeeping issues, and
          encourage exchanges of information on this
          subject with other concerned bodies such as the
          European Commission and the Western European
          Union;

     C.   Public Relations:  a Seminar to be held in
          1996.

II.  Cooperation in Planning for Peacekeeping Activities

     Actions

     A.   Command and Control:  Expert Seminar, plus
          further development of the topic based on
          conceptual developments (under IA above) and
          practical experience.

III. Development of a Common Technical Basis in
     Peacekeeping

     Actions

     A.   Communications:  Further discussion on the
          development of a peacekeeping communications
          concept and the possible implementation of a
          communications database.  Link the work, as
          appropriate, to Command and Control work in
          II.A. above.

IV.  Peacekeeping Training, Education and Exercises

     Actions

     A.   Training Course Handbook:  Update (Danish
          lead); 


     B.   Training Standardisation Pamphlet:  Update
          (Danish lead);

     C.   Exercises:  Consideration of lessons learned,
          based on after-action reports of NATO/PfP
          exercises and on national inputs on bilateral,
          multilateral and NATO/PfP exercises; and
          application in other areas of practical
          cooperation;

     D.   Briefings by nations on national peacekeeping
          training.

V.   Logistics Aspects of Peacekeeping

     Actions

     A.   Update the Compendium of lessons learned, based
          on national inputs;

     B.   Discuss logistic peacekeeping issues in Senior
          NATO Logisticians Conference with Partners;

     C.   Support Exercise COOPERATIVE SUPPORT 1996, a
          logistics peacekeeping exercise/seminar, and
          the NATO Logistics Course.