Press
Release
(2002)128
22 Nov. 2002
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Chairman’s
Summary
of the Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council at Summit Level
- The Heads of State and Government, or their representatives,
of the 46 member states of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
(EAPC), met today in Prague to discuss the security challenges
of the 21st century. They underlined their joint commitment
to strengthen and extend peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic
area, on the basis of the shared values and principles that
underlie their cooperation.
- The EAPC Heads of State and Government recognised that
Allied and Partner countries face many of the same new threats
to security and expressed their determination to work together
in meeting these new challenges. They reaffirmed the resolve
of their states to fight the scourge of terrorism, as expressed
in the EAPC statement of 12 September 2001. They stressed
the importance of initiatives aimed at increasing the EAPC’s
contribution to the fight against terrorism. They welcomed
the Partnership Action Plan against Terrorism, developed by
Allies and Partners, as a concrete expression of their desire
to join forces against the terrorist menace, consistent with
their national policies and capabilities.
- EAPC Heads of State and Government also reaffirmed their
commitment to Euro-Atlantic Partnership and their determination
to build on the success of the EAPC and Partnership for Peace
(PfP) across all areas of consultation and cooperation. As
NATO evolves, so should the substance and process of its cooperation
with Partners. With this in view, EAPC Heads of State and
Government discussed enhancing political and security-related
consultations, adopting a broader approach to security in
EAPC and PfP work, increasing the association of Partners
with NATO’s decision making process in relevant areas,
and intensifying the day-to-day interaction between the Alliance
and Partners at all appropriate levels and structures.
- The EAPC Heads of State and Government received a report
on the “Comprehensive Review of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council and Partnership for Peace,” undertaken by Allies
and Partners following the Spring 2002 meetings of NATO and
EAPC Ministers, and fully supported the set of proposed measures.
They emphasised the continued importance of the Partnership
initiatives launched at the Washington Summit and reaffirmed
their support for the further vigorous implementation of these
initiatives. They stressed that interoperability remained
a core element of PfP cooperation and should be further enhanced.
- EAPC Heads of State and Government stressed the value of
work in flexible formats, engaging those Allies and Partners
most willing and able to contribute to specific projects.
They noted the Partnership Action Plan mechanism proposed
in the Report, which will be instrumental in this regard.
They underlined that both substance and process of co-operation
in the framework of EAPC and PfP should take full account
of the particular and diverse needs and circumstances of individual
Partners, including those in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
To this end, relations between the Alliance and interested
Partners needed to be more individualised and – in such
context – more comprehensive. They therefore welcomed
the new mechanism of Individual Partnership Action Plans,
which would be available to interested Partners and instrumental
in promoting more focused cooperation and in supporting democratic
reform.
- EAPC Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the commitment
of the Euro-Atlantic community to peace, security and stability
in the Balkans. They welcomed initiatives to further strengthen
EAPC’s contribution to security and stability at the
sub-regional level, including in South-Eastern Europe.
- EAPC Heads of State and Government remained determined
in their commitment to a vibrant and dynamic Euro-Atlantic
Partnership and to vigorous implementation of all the initiatives
aiming at adapting it fully to the challenges of the 21st
century.
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