Intervention
by Swedish
Defence Minister Björn von Sydow
EAPC Defence Ministers' Session
Mr. Secretary General, and colleagues,
I have listened with great interest to the briefings by the NATO commanders
on the situation in Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina. Today, most nations
around this table deploy forces in the complex NATO-led Peace Support
Operations in the Balkans. This is proof of the responsibility we all
share for Euro-Atlantic security. Our common task to develop and sustain
our effort to build stability and security represents a formidable challenge
to us all. These are very important issues to discuss, and I welcome the
efforts made to further develop the format of these meetings.
During a visit to Kosovo earlier this week, I was impressed by what we
have achieved with regard to practical interoperability. We have indeed
taken many important steps to enhance the efficiency and depth of our
cooperation. However, much remains to be done, not least to ensure that
steps taken within different frameworks and organisations go hand in hand.
Inclusiveness and transparency must be guiding principles in our efforts
in the field, as well as here in Brussels. The Political-Military Framework
is of great importance in this regard.
The development of our common crisis management capabilities is conducted
within several institutional frameworks. The EAPC/PfP format is unique
by its versatility, inclusiveness and wide participation. It provides
for interoperability and substantial Partner contributions to all forms
of multinational Peace Support Operations. Bearing this in mind, I welcome
Croatia as a new participant in the PfP cooperation and a member of the
EAPC. I am also delighted to see that Russia is with us in this forum
of cooperation and consultation.
Mr. Chairman,
The PARP process has proved to be a very useful tool in developing Partners'
capabilities to participate in multinational Peace Support Operations.
Sweden welcomes the enhancement of the PARP process and the qualitative
new steps taken this year. Implementing the Partnership Goals is also
an essential step forward in developing a European crisis management capability.
Sweden sees PARP as the central mechanism for developing our crisis management
capability.
Noting the substantial links between the Defence Capabilities Initiative
(DCI), the Partnership Goals and the EU-efforts to enhance European Capabilities,
in my view Nato and Partners would benefit from an enhanced dialogue concerning
the aspects of the DCI relevant to Partners.
Mr. Chairman,
Today, we endorse the Training and Education Enhancement Programme and
a progress report on the Operational Capabilities Concept. These initiatives
are substantial contributions to the Partnership, and will increase the
effectiveness of training and education within the PfP cooperation, as
well as in setting up future PfP operations. The establishment of the
common OCC database for Allied and Partner resources will represent a
significant step in that direction.
Sweden continues to give priority to the further development of our PfP
Training Centre, and its PSO Gaming Facility for distributed learning
and exercises. We intend to enhance our capability within the field of
computer assisted simulation as a means for preparation for Peace Support
Operations. The basis for these efforts is the PfP Simulation Network,
which we develop in close cooperation with the United States.
Computer assisted simulation has the potential of being a valuable instrument
in the process of assessing what Partner contributions would be suitable
for a given Peace Support Operation. It could also be useful in the processes
of deployment, contingency planning and force rotation. The result would
ideally be faster and more secure staff and force deployment in a mission
area.
We hope that this instrument will be a practical contribution to the
implementation of the CJTF and the Operational Capabilities Concepts.
When it comes to the future development of the PfP Simulation Network,
we encourage a broadened participation of EAPC members.
Mr. Chairman,
During the last years, the EAPC has increasingly assumed responsibility
for the environmental aspects of military activities. The continuation
in this process will be a workshop in Sweden towards the end of August
this year, hosted by the Swedish Armed Forces and the U.S. DoD.
Invitations have been sent to the members of the EAPC earlier this year,
and it is now my privilege to invite representatives from EAPC nations
to this event, and, in my view, very important area of cooperation.
Thank you for your attention.
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