NATO HQ EAPC Foreign Ministers Meetings 16 Dec. 1999

Intervention by Mr Anders Bjurner Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Mr Chairman, I would first of all like to thank the OSCE Chairman in Office, Minister Vollebaek, for his report on the situation in Northern Caucasus. Developments in Chechnya gives cause to serious concern and Sweden stands firmly behind the endeavours of the Chairman in Office - both in the humanitarian efforts and in the search for a political solution. As we meet here today, we can look back at a year of new and important challenges for Euro-Atlantic security co-operation. The Kosovo conflict is in many respects without parallel in post-Cold war Europe: in the magnitude of crime committed, but also in the determined actions undertaken by the international community. It has therefore been of outmost importance for our discussion to hear the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo, speak on the current situation. Sweden holds as important a central and sustained role for the UNMIK on all political issues. Important lessons must be drawn, both from the recent past and the present. We must learn first of all to prevent conflicts, using all instruments at our disposal, including if need be military means. In doing so we must combine the efforts of NATO's partnership and the European Union, with the principles, experiences and action of the United Nations and the OSCE. In this context, it is essential to coordinate the military, police and other civil endeavours. We must also apply a regional perspective, and insist on the fundamental values that uphold our own societies: democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law. We must strengthen Euro-Atlantic and European security co-operation. NATO's central role in European military crisis management has been reinforced by the co-operation within PfP and by our practical and successful action in Bosnia and now, in Kosovo. European security benefits from the active involvement of all European states in Euro-Atlantic co-operation. We encourage Russia to resume co-operation in the EAPC/PfP. Sweden sees no contradiction between strengthening the European Security and Defence Policy and further developing Euro-Atlantic co-operation. The European Council underlined in Helsinki its determination to develop an autonomous capacity to take decision and, where NATO as a whole is not engaged, to launch and conduct EU-led military operations, in response to international crises. The development of European military crisis management capabilities should make full use of existing defence planning procedures, including the PARP. The use of existing tools is essential not only to avoid duplication. It is essential in order to safeguard the possibilities of all countries concerned to effectively work together to meet common challenges. The UN-mandated Nato-led operation in Kosovo has provided a first opportunity to test the implementation of the political-military framework. This document has a strong potential for developing partners' involvement in all stages of an operation. Information, consultation and participation in decision shaping related to KFOR in the 19+n format has gradually come about. A constructive dialogue between Allies and troop contributing Partners has started to open up, both at the political and the military level. Particular attention has to be given to the identification of Partner countries as potential contributors and to Partner officer's participation in the operation's head quarters. The complex and difficult situation we face in Kosovo affirms the importance of the political- military framework in shaping a safe operational environment for our troops. I am convinced that substantial Partner participation in the command structures of KFOR could soon be established without detriment to military efficiency. Finally, I would like to welcome the Summary Consolidated Progress Report on the Development of the South Eastern Europe Initiative. Nato has, through its missions in Bosnia and Kosovo, together with Partner countries played a fundamental role in the stabilisation process. The Progress Report highlights the ambition to go beyond peacekeeping and into areas like defence planning and budgeting , force restructuring, global humanitarian mine action and small arms. On behalf of (Jan Eliasson, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden and) the Chairman of the Working Table for Security Issues in the Stability Pact, I would like to express our appreciation of the constructive and long-term perspective in the Initiative, which is fully in line with the Pact's objective of integrating the countries of South East Europe into the Euro-Atlantic structures. Thank you!