Press Communiqu M-DM/CP- 1(96)91 Meeting of the NATO Defence Ministers with Defence Ministers of Co-operation Partner Nations Brussels, 14 June 1996

Chairman's Summary Defence Ministers and representatives of NATO Allies and Co-operation Partner nations met in Brussels today for wide-ranging discussions on European security issues and to take stock of defence-related co-operation under the Partnership for Peace. Twenty-six Partner nations were represented. Ministers exchanged views on developments in the former Yugoslavia. They paid tribute to the achievements of IFOR and commended the participating forces of Allies and Partners for the courage and dedication with which they are carrying out their duties. They noted that the participation of twelve Partner countries in Operation JOINT ENDEAVOUR was practical evidence of the co-operation between Allies and Partners. Ministers reviewed reports on the implementation and development of the Partnership for Peace. They noted the expanding scope of the Partnership, particularly in defence-related co-operation, including such significant developments as: a new dialogue on defence policy and strategy which will begin this autumn, and the ongoing dialogue on civil-military relations, and democratic control of the armed forces; work in NATO's technical communities to assist Partners in achieving interoperability objectives; the continued development of military co-operation and exercises; and the preparation of new Individual Partnership Programmes for 1996-1998 and the first annual assessment of implementation of PfP activities. Building on the Berlin Ministerial discussions, Ministers exchanged views on the evolution of NACC/PfP as a permanent element of the European security architecture. They discussed the scope for the further enhancement of PfP. Ministers noted a report on the development of the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP) and reviewed progress in implementing interoperability objectives during the first PARP cycle. Fifteen Partners now participate in the PARP, a biennial process which establishes agreed specific interoperability objectives with each Partner. Ministers discussed the further strengthening and deepening of the PARP, including in particular the need to take account of the experience gained from IFOR when developing future interoperability objectives.