Statement
by Hans
Haekkerup,
Minister of Defence of Denmark
at the Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Defence Ministers
Session
I like to welcome Croatia in the Partnership for Peace and Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council, which opens for new possibilities and new challenges
with respect to regional co-operation and promoting peace and stability.
NATO together with Partners has made a valuable contribution to establishing
security, stability and to peace and democracy in Bosnia and Kosovo. Partners'
professional and devoted participation is highly appreciated.
The "first six month review" of the Political-Military Framework
for NATO-led PfP Operations represents and important opportunity to look
at modalities and enhancing the possibilities for early partner involvement
both in the military and political aspects of ongoing and future NATO-led
PfP operations. We encourage active participation by partners in this
review.
The PfP programme is developing into a more and more operational and
practical framework of co-operation. The enhanced training and educational
will provide better trained and prepared Partner forces available for
future NATO-led PfP Operations.
I look forward to seeing the results of the further implementation of
the Operational Capabilities Concept, including implementation of Assessment
and Feedback Mechanisms as a matter of priority and the further development
of Peacetime Working Relations. The decision to include the OCC database
as a part of NATO's Tool for Operational Planning, Force Activation and
Simulation (TOPFAS) is an excellent example of how NATO and Partner activities
melt together in a sensible and cost-effective a manner.
The South East Europe Initiative is also of central importance. The Danish/Romanian
Defence Management Seminar in Bucharest in May was experienced as a positive
example of Partner/Allied co-operation. Its ultimate success, however,
will depend upon regional initiatives taking root.
We must maintain momentum in taking the EAPC and the PfP programme forward,
strengthening their effectiveness in conflict prevention and crisis management.
To do so, we need to focus existing tools and mechanisms and to make full
use of the Political-Military Framework for NATO-led PfP Operations. The
process needs to be Partner driven addressing their needs and their expectations.
EAPC and PfP remain important means both in NATO's open door policy and
in promoting peace and stability in Europe.
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