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 Brussels today.
-
Discussions focused on two major themes
– the Balkans, and the Caucasus and Central Asia.
- Ministers discussed the challenges for
the International Community in the Balkans in 2005
and beyond. They reaffirmed their commitment to the region's
peaceful and democratic long-term development. Following
the recent elections in Kosovo, they expressed support
for the efforts by Mr Jessen-Petersen (UN SRSG) in
improving
the political climate and fostering dialogue after
the parliamentary elections, and expressed the hope that
the new coalition government in Kosovo will from the outset
focus firmly on the implementation of the standards
for Kosovo. As concerns Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia
and
Montenegro, they expressed their hope that these countries
would work to meet the established NATO conditions
to
enable them to join the Partnership for Peace.
- Ministers welcomed NATO's efforts to
place a special focus on relations with the states
of the Caucasus and Central Asia. They reaffirmed their
commitment to building a Partnership which would be tailored
to
the
different needs of individual Partners, and pledged
to help assist the countries of the region to meet their
cooperation
and reform objectives. They welcomed the major steps
made by several states of the two regions within the Individual
Partnership Action Plan process, and encouraged robust
implementation of their major objectives. They stressed
the importance of the Partnership Action Plan on
Defence Institution Building. The EAPC reaffirmed that effective
and efficient state defence institutions under civilian
and democratic control are fundamental to stability
in
the Euro-Atlantic area, and essential for international
security cooperation.
-
Ministers reiterated the resolve of their
states to fight the scourge of terrorism. They
took stock of initiatives aimed at increasing the EAPC’s
contribution
to the fight against terrorism and broadly endorsed
the further implementation of the Partnership Action Plan
against
Terrorism, developed by Allies and Partners.
- They reaffirmed their support for the
current priorities of Partnership - efforts to
promote democratic values and foster democratic transformation
across the Euro-Atlantic area, preparing interested
Partners
for participation in NATO-led operations and
political dialogue and practical cooperation, in particular
on combating terrorism.
- Ministers expressed appreciation for
the progress in implementing NATO policy on
combating the trafficking in human beings which would apply
to all
personnel
taking part in NATO-led operations.
- Finally, Ministers looked forward to
the EAPC Security Forum to be hosted by Sweden
in May 2005. This inaugural event will provide an opportunity
for Ministers,
other government officials and representatives
of the public to consult on major security issues in an
informal setting.
|