Press
Release
(2003)065
12 June 2003 |
Final
communiqué
Meeting of the North Atlantic
Council
in Defence Ministers session
held in Brussels on Thursday, 12 June 2003
- Today, the North Atlantic Council met in Defence Ministers
Session in Brussels to advance the Prague Summit vision of
a transformed Alliance with the capabilities to conduct the
full range of Alliance missions. We remain committed to continue
the speedy implementation of all the decisions taken in Prague.
NATO is the basis for our collective defence and the essential
transatlantic forum for security and consultation among the
Allies. We were very pleased that our colleagues from the
seven countries invited to join the Alliance took part in
all our
discussions.
- The Alliance’s ability to conduct operations is crucial
to the common security of all Allies. NATO continues to deploy
substantial forces to support peace and stability in the Balkans.
NATO naval forces continue to carry out anti-terrorist activity
in the Mediterranean Sea. The Alliance has just ended the deployment
of forces and capabilities to defend Turkey against any possible
attack by Iraq. From August 2003, NATO will take the leading
role in the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul,
under its existing UN mandate, by assuming strategic coordination,
command and control, strongly contributing in this way to the
international community’s commitment to building a peaceful
and democratic Afghanistan. NATO has also agreed to Poland’s
request for support to the role it is taking on this summer
in the stabilisation of Iraq.
- NATO will continue to play an essential role in regional
security through its ongoing operations, PfP programmes,
and by working with the EU. NATO’s continuing missions
in the strategically important region of the Balkans are
evolving,
as improvements in stability and security continue. NATO-led
forces in the Balkans are being and will be further restructured
and reduced in numbers as progress allows. NATO and the EU
are developing a framework for an enhanced dialogue and a
concerted approach on supporting security and stability in
the Western
Balkans. We welcomed the first concrete implementation of
the Berlin Plus arrangements in support of the EU’s
Operation Concordia in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(1), following
on from NATO’s successful Operation Allied Harmony.
The developing relationship with the EU presents us with
an opportunity
to reaffirm our commitment to a strategic partnership as
agreed between our two organisations. The development of
this partnership
between NATO and the EU is important for the further stabilisation
of the Balkans, and future planning should take this into
account. We look forward to the NATO-EU joint crisis management
exercise
which will take place in November 2003.
- We express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to
all those who have served, or continue to serve, in NATO-led
operations,
particularly those who have suffered injuries. We once
again extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those
who
have lost their lives. We are grateful to NATO’s
Partners and other nations for the substantial contributions
they have
made and are making to our common effort.
- Our forces must be able to conduct or support operations
wherever the Alliance decides, to ensure our common security
and collective defence. Success in doing so depends fundamentally
on the effectiveness of the Alliance’s capabilities.
We have issued a separate statement on the discussions
we have held and the decisions we have taken in this regard.
We also
reviewed with the Invitees, and acknowledged, the progress
they are making in the defence and military reforms required
and in preparing more generally for the defence aspects
of Alliance membership.
- Responding to terrorism is a critical challenge for
which our military forces must be prepared. Recent events
have again
shown that terrorism remains a grave threat to our citizens,
forces and territory, as well as to international security,
and we reiterate our determination to combat it as long as
necessary. We welcome the progress that has been made to
strengthen NATO’s capabilities in this regard. As Defence Ministers,
we particularly commend the work that has been done to implement
NATO’s military concept for defence against terrorism.
A concept for operations has been developed which provides
the basis for more detailed plans, procedures, and measures
in this area. We realise, however, that much more needs to
be done, including the intensification of our efforts with
our Partners.
- NATO’s partnerships make a direct and irreplaceable
contribution to Euro-Atlantic peace and stability. We continue
to attach great importance to the Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council and the Partnership for Peace, as well as to our special
partnerships with the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the
countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue, and remain fully committed
to the speedy implementation of the relevant Prague decisions
aimed at strengthening and further developing them. The various
work programmes and implementation plans will be robust, forward-looking
and responsive to the requirements of Partners seeking closer
cooperation with the Alliance. We also commit ourselves to
the implementation of the military and defence-related aspects
of the NATO-Russia Council Work Programme and to assist Ukraine
in the implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan and Ukraine’s
Annual Target Plan.
- We fully agree with the statements made on these and
other matters by our Foreign Minister colleagues earlier
this month.
- Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional
name.
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