Press Release M-EAPC-1 (2002)61 15 May 2002

Chairman's Summary of the meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Foreign Ministers Session The Foreign Ministers and Representatives of the member countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) met in Reykjavik today. The Secretary General of NATO informed the EAPC about the main results of the North Atlantic Council meeting on 14 May. Today's meeting represented an important milestone toward the Prague Summit which will mark a decisive step forward in the ongoing transformation of the Alliance and its Partnerships. Ministers agreed that since its inception in 1991, NATO's policy of Partnership and Co-operation has contributed to building stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic area, by promoting the commonality of values and developing genuine consultation and co-operation. They underscored that the success of the EAPC and Partnership for Peace so far provided a solid basis on which to build in order to adapt them to the changing international environment. This adaptation should be an integral and important part of the decisions of the Prague Summit. Ministers agreed that after Prague, both EAPC and the Partnership for Peace must continue to develop to the benefit of Allies and Partners alike, and that, for this purpose, they should address effectively and flexibly the different needs and particular circumstances of all Partners, including those in Central Asia and the Caucasus. At the same time, Ministers underscored the need to continue fostering the unity and solidarity of the Euro-Atlantic community through enriched mechanisms of inclusive consultation and co-operation. They noted the continuing relevance of the EAPC Basic Document and the PfP Framework Document in both regards, and exchanged views on how to make the fullest possible use of instruments for consultation and co-operation they provide. Ministers recalled the 12 September 2001 EAPC Statement following the terrorist attacks on the U.S. and reiterated their resolve to make the Euro-Atlantic Partnership play its full role in the fight against terrorism. They exchanged views on how to further develop the Partnership's ability to respond effectively to terrorism-related security concerns of Allies and Partners and to support NATO's own efforts in this regard. Ministers agreed that the requirements of the fight against terrorism should be taken fully into consideration in the review and adaptation of EAPC and PfP. Ministers received a number of reports on the development and use of the existing Partnership mechanisms. In the context of discussion on the review and adaptation of the EAPC and PfP, they considered Chairman's Progress Report on the Review of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership and Chairman's Report on the Role of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership in the Response to Terrorism. They welcomed progress of work done to date. They stressed the need to continue work vigorously in order to present to the Heads of State and Government at Prague a coherent and harmonised package of proposals for further developing the EAPC and Partnership for Peace to better serve Allies and Partners in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.