NATO HQ Brussels 9 June 2000

Speech by Mr. Pertti Nykanen, Permanent Secretary for Defence of Finland, at the Meeting of the EAPC in Defence Ministers' Session Mr. Chairman, Over the last few years, the Partnership for Peace has evolved into a culture of dialogue and a programme of practical cooperation. A robust operational relationship between NATO and the Partners is beginning to emerge. In this context, for us Partners the Political-Military Framework (PMF) plays a crucial role. We value the work NATO is doing to speed up the implementation of the PMF, but we see it as a continuous process whereby the Partners are drawn ever closer to NATO decision-making on operations through genuine decision-shaping with us, the Partners. We are pleased that KFOR has established a strong and determined presence in Kosovo. It is critically important that we are able to create the right conditions to stabilise the situation for the rebuilding phase. The situation on the ground continues to be highly demanding, and we must make every effort to meet any challenges that might arise in the area in the months to come. This year marks an essential enhancement of the Partnership. I am, of course, referring to the initiation of the first ever Partnership Goals. NATO's own force planning and the Planning and Review Process are becoming more alike. This will not only benefit the Partner nations in terms of general interoperability, but it will in particular facilitate our common efforts to provide an immediately available capacity to react in crisis situations. The interface between the Defence Capabilities Initiative and the Partnership Goals further reinforces this connection. Together with the Partnership Goals the Operational Capabilities Concept and the Training and Education Enhancement Programme will be a useful set of tools to help us progress towards full interoperability. To conclude, Mr. Chairman, Finland maintains one resource pool, interoperable for military crisis management task. Therefore, we have often underlined how important it is that the force planning system, as it already exists in NATO, will be used, suitably adapted, for the planning of interoperable forces for all operations, be they UN, NATO or, in the future, EU led. Thank you, Mr. Chairman