Defence Ministers of
the member countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)
met in Brussels today. This meeting provided an opportunity for the
EAPC Defence Ministers to come together and exchange opinions in the
run-up to NATO’s Riga Summit to be held in November 2006.
Taking into account the valuable contribution of the Partners
to NATO-led operations, Ministers concentrated on operational cooperation
between NATO and Partners. They took stock of Partner contributions
to NATO-led operations and discussed ways of further improving the
range and quality of troops and capabilities. In this regard, they
concentrated on the full use of the various Partnership tools which
have been put in place for this purpose.
Ministers reiterated the important role the Planning and Review
Process, the Operational Capabilities Concept, the Training and Education
Enhancement Programme, and the Military Training and Exercise Programme
play in the preparation of Partners’ forces for NATO-led operations
and expressed their determination to exploit these Partnership tools
to the full. They also expressed their full support for the process
laid out in the Political-Military Framework for NATO-led PfP operations
regarding consultations in preparation for, and during the execution
of, operations.
Partner Ministers were informed about key issues on NATO’s own
agenda in the run-up to the Riga summit. Ministers exchanged views
on how prospective developments in the field of NATO’s work on transformation
might affect the operational relationship between NATO and Partners.
They also exchanged views on how the Partnership could be further enhanced.
Ministers reaffirmed their determination to continue their fight
against terrorism and also discussed related operational issues.
In this context, NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour has been open for
Partner and other non-NATO contributions since the Istanbul Summit.
The Alliance is working together closely with partner countries who
have shown interest in cooperating within the Operation.
