Intervention
by Mr Sven-Olof
Petersson
Director-General for Political Affairs of Sweden
Mr Secretary General, Ministers and Colleagues,
First of all I would like to thank Mr Hombach for the interesting
update on the work within the Stability pact. Sweden is actively
engaged in this process, not least in the capacity as chairman
of the working table for security issues. In the context of
this meeting, we would also like to express our appreciation
of the supportive contributions made by NATO, through the South
East Europe Initiative.
Furthermore, activities within the EAPC to promote regional
cooperation in South-Eastern Europe provide an important tool
for confidence building within the region as well as between
the region and other NATO and Partner countries. Today, it is
therefore a pleasure to welcome Croatia as a new participant
in the PfP cooperation and a member of the EAPC.
The development in the Balkans during the last decade is also
a reminder of the necessity to create and maintain effective
tools for conflict prevention and crisis management. This has
also become a main concern for the European Union. We are presently
developing structures and mechanisms for a common European Security
and Defence Policy. Talks are about to take place on the EU-NATO
relation. An evident point of departure should be the participation
of all EU member states on the same basis, also with respect
to the use of and participation in NATO structures.
In the elaboration and maintenance of the EU Headline Goal,
the NATO defence planning process and PARP should be the essential
tools. The planning process has to be transparent and based
on the same information provided to all member countries. If
not, our crisis management operations will not be professional!
The cooperation within PfP and the EAPC already proved to have
a vital function in this respect. Among the most obvious examples
of PfP cooperation in crisis management are the NATO-led peace
support operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, where military
units from NATO and Partner countries cooperate successfully
in the task of upholding peace and stability. Correspondingly,
the important coordination between military, police and other
civil endeavours in connection to the operations is developing.
Another important aspect of the PfP cooperation and the work within the
EAPC is the security and confidence building in all regions of the Euro-Atlantic
area; the Baltic as well as the Balkans, the Caucasus as well as Central
Asia.
However, for a more effective use of the PfP and the EAPC for conflict
prevention and crisis management, some components still remain to be developed
and improved upon.
The political-military framework, which regulates Partner involvement
in NATO-led PfP operations, was agreed upon in Washington last year. Although
the document itself is satisfactory from a Partner point of view, the
first application in connection to the NATO-led PfP operation in Kosovo
shows a need to review the procedures.
One important aspect is the need for regular consultations between NATO
and troop contributing Partners. In this context, the recent Ambassadors'
meeting in KFOR/SFOR format was a positive step. Troops from NATO and
Partner countries share the responsibility for a successful operation
and their personnel faces the same risks. Accordingly, even though we
do not question NATO's decision-making authority, Partners need to be
consulted on matters relevant for the conduct of an effective operation
and for the security of the troops.
Sweden is looking forward to a discussion between NATO and Partner countries
on how to improve the implementation of the political-military framework.
We expect this issue to be a priority within the EAPC in order to bring
forward a report on substantial progress to the autumn ministerials. And
we are happy to see that the recent NATO paper shows positive ambitions
in this respect.
It is vital that NATO and Partner countries are given the opportunity
to consider and comment on reports to be endorsed at the EAPC ministerials.
Sweden therefore regrets that the follow-up on the Enhanced and More Operational
Partnership today is presented as a Chairman's report, without considering
any views from NATO or Partner countries. We are looking forward to a
consolidated report on this important initiative in time for the autumn
ministerials and are eager to give our contribution.
Today, we agree upon the Training and Education Enhancement Programme
and a progress report on the Operational Capabilities Concept. These two
initiatives are important to strengthen the PfP and the EAPC as tools
for practical security cooperation, conflict prevention and crisis management.
They will help increasing the effectiveness of training and education
within the PfP cooperation as well as in setting up future PfP operations.
From a Swedish point of view, we especially hope to contribute through
the PfP Training Centre and its gaming facility for distributed learning
and exercises.
Thank you for your attention!
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