EAPC Meeting in Defense Ministers Session 3 Dec. 1999

Speech of Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan Lieutenant-General S.B. Tokpakbayev Honorable Chairman! Honorable colleagues, ladies and gentlemen! First of all, I'd like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to exchange points of view on a scope of issues being discussed at our meeting. Reviewing the activity of the North Atlantic Partnership Council in 1999 we need to underscore three key factors, which have influenced on its activity: Washington Summit (April of 1999) and adaptation of the new NATO Strategic Concept, settlement of Kosovo crisis, and recent Summit of OSCE Heads of States (Istanbul). These factors had and will have in foreseeable future basic influence on processes taking place in and outside Europe. This year has demonstrated that the creation of European security structure is a process inseparably associated and, at the same time, subject to the influence of the tendencies of development of the global security system. The recent events in CIS countries (Caucasus and Central Asia) are the convincing evidence of this. So the thesis of interconsistency of geopolitics processes in all Euro-Asian area is confirmed. At the same time, we believe that EAPC continues to play the role as accelerator of the cooperation among Partners. We are sure that EAPC is being harmoniously transformed into the basic pillar of the general structure of the security system (OSCE and UN). In this regard I'd like to inform that the explicit Kazakhstani stand on vital issues of the development of the international security and the role of OSCE in the modern world has been exposed in a speech of President N.Nazarbayev on Istanbul Summit. In our opinion, the most important principle of security must be indivisibility of this concept which sets forth that security for each is the condition of security for all. This year, we have been witnesses of real strengthening of regional cooperation in the framework of EAPC/NATO. This is one of positive factors that influence security, political and economical stability. Some words about the realization of the Individual Partnership Program. Some gaps in planning (in general, they are of universal character) have become evident in 1999: Necessity to take into account national peculiarities and resource potentialities wholly and realistically. Deviation from excessive politicization of the Program and shifting focus to achievable objectives of compatibility. Preserving the balance between military education and training of troops and the process of improving democratic institutions in armed forces, and so on. I believe that Program 2000 will incorporate the experience and lessons of past years. It is based on clear reference points of active participation of our country in international security structure in new millenium. We plan to take more active part in the activities of the NATO's Committee challenges for modern society, particularly in such areas as ecology and environmental protection as well as humanitarian aspects of peacekeeping. The Concept of CENTRASBAT-2000 exercise and its development as a regional security structure provides for not only performance improving but also for establishing an efficient form of joint peacekeeping efforts of Central Asian states. The next priority and prospective area of cooperation is defense planning, research and development. The Military Scientific Center of the Ministry of Defense is on such a stage that allows its rather fruitful participation, together with NATO research institutions, in specific projects in the framework of Science for Peace Program. In 1999, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan completed their relocation from Almaty to the new capital Astana. With support of our partner, the USA, a PIMS station in the capital is being established. The basis for the future information center of Partnership for Peace Program is being created, it will provide a framework for free informational exchange in the Central Asian region as a whole. In conclusion, I'd like to notice that sessions of the Council in such format are the efficient instruments for plain and creative interaction and for exchange of points of view in area of Partnership, defense, and security. Having this opportunity I'd like to felicitate all my colleagues and a11 present here with approaching Christmas and New Year 2000. Thank you for your attention.