At the EAPC Meeting in Defence Ministers Session 18 Dec. 1998

Statement by Lt. Gen. David Tevzadze Minister of Defence of Georgia Mr. Chairman, Dear Colleagues, A year and a half has past since the launch of the EAPC and it is natural to look back at this time to assess what has been done so far. Much has been accomplished - IFOR/SFOR, enhanced PARP, introduction of Partnership Staff Elements, Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre - the list already speaks for itself. We are witnessing NATO's gradual transformation from an exclusive alliance into an inclusive, wider, but still allied, Euro-Atlantic security mechanism with Partners for their part determining their own interface. This process as a litmus test shows the relevance of the chosen path of partnership. But partnership with NATO is not an end in itself but a medium. Thus we should concentrate on strengthening it and making it more functional, not be afraid to venture new ideas and to apply the partnership to the new challenges that we face. Dear Colleagues, all our cooperative efforts are aimed at improving collective capabilities to address existing and future security challenges. The biggest of these challenges, without a doubt, are regional conflicts. The situation in Kosovo is a clear example of such. The same applies to Abkhazia, Georgia because this conflict like the others serves as a breeding ground for such challenges as proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery, illicit arms and drug trafficking, international terrorism, humanitarian crises (refugee and migration issues) and devastated economies. These transnational threats can only be addressed through joint efforts. This is why we think that NATO/EAPC should further focus their attention on all existing conflicts in the Euro-Atlantic space - there are no first and second class conflicts. Consultations on regional issues should also be reinforced. We follow the discussions on the Alliance's new strategic concept with great interest. We share the view that the enhancement of NATO's role in the 21st century is a positive step in terms of deepening partnership, institution building and protecting democratic values. We also follow with attention the initiatives advocating an enhanced European profile for NATO. Both approaches will undoubtedly facilitate deepening of the NATO/partner cooperation and coping with security challenges of 21st century. Georgia looks forward to thorough discussions on the elaboration of a Political-Military Framework for NATO-led PfP operations. It is essential to not only have a clear concept but to think in common terms in order to act together. It is not an easy task, indeed, to find a rational mix between shared responsibilities of allies and partner involvement, between different capabilities. Therefore, we should concentrate on practical, smaller but achievable goals at this stage in parallel with working on broader conceptual issues. There are mechanisms we can employ, such as the Enhanced PfP and PARP in order to level the differences over time. Although Georgia has not been able to take part in NATO-led operations, certain forces and assets have been designated under PARP to achieve interoperability with NATO forces for future participation in the operations. By taking part in the formation and training of international peacekeeping unit Georgia demonstrates its will and ability to not only be a consumer but also a provider of international security. In this light, we think that PfP training centres, Defence Consortium and Simulation Network would reduce existing gaps between NATO-member and partner countries to participate in non-article V crisis response operations. We should also think about expanding the scope of the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP). In this respect, Georgia is ready to host NSIP team. All these endeavors fill us with hope that we'll be able to take appropriate steps to promote our common future in the 21st century. Thank you.