Statement
Meeting
of the NATO-Ukraine Commission
in Defence Ministers' Session
The NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) met today in Defence Ministerial
Session at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
While reviewing the evolving security situation in the Euro-Atlantic
area, Ministers paid tribute to the strategic importance of
the Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine, and underlined
their common desire to develop their relationship to a qualitatively
new level.
Defence Ministers noted the decision of Foreign Ministers meeting
in Reykjavik to build on the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership
and to deepen and broaden the NATO-Ukraine relationship. Defence
Ministers agreed that such a reinforced relationship should
build on the substantive and successful NATO-Ukraine cooperation
in defence and security matters. In this context, Ministers
noted Ukraine's aspiration for Euro-Atlantic integration.
Allied Ministers commended Ukraine's practical contribution
to Allied efforts in the international fight against terrorism,
including active involvement of Ukraine's military transport
aviation for deployment of Allied troops in Afghanistan, and
the opening of its air space to Allied aircraft participating
in the anti-terrorist campaign. Ministers expressed special
appreciation of KFOR's efforts in bringing stability to Kosovo
and noted the contribution of the Polish-Ukrainian Battalion.
Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress made in the
area of defence reform and approved the Interim Report of the
Joint Working Group on Defence Reform (JWGDR). NATO Ministers
welcomed the additional proposals made by the Ukrainian Minister
of Defence as a further demonstration of Ukraine's commitment
to full implementation of activities under the JWGDR. While
noting that defence reform is a national responsibility, Allied
Ministers reaffirmed support for Ukraine's efforts and agreed
to continue strengthening the link between bilateral cooperation
and NATO-Ukraine initiatives such as the development of a civilian
cadre for the Ukrainian MOD; implementation of National Defence
Reform Objectives including the development of a Rapid Reaction
Force, and safe destruction of surplus munitions and small arms
and light weapons. Ministers noted that full implementation
of the NATO-Ukraine Security Agreement would be an important
step forward to deepening cooperation in these and other areas.
Ministers also welcomed that discussions are underway to develop
a Host Nation Support Agreement and an agreement on strategic
airlift.
Ministers noted with appreciation the work of the NATO and
Ukraine civilian and military authorities in support of NATO-Ukraine
PfP cooperation and, in particular, activities related to defence
and security sector reform. In this context, Ministers also
noted the contribution of the NATO Liaison Office and the NATO
Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine.
Ministers noted that the next meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission
in ambassadorial session will take place in Kyiv on 9 July 2002
to mark the 5th Anniversary of the NATO-Ukraine Charter and
that the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of Heads of State
and Government would meet in Prague in November 2002.
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