Statement
by
Herbert Scheibner, Federal Minister of Defence of the Republic of Austria
at the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
in Defence Ministers session
Due to its comprehensive nature, the US-led campaign against terrorism
has been swift and successful. It is to be hoped that the military success
will not only lead to a longterm reduction of the capabilitíes
of the Al Quaida terrorist network, but also serve as an unmistakable
deterrent to those that expect to draw advantages from harbouring and
supporting terrorist organisations.
Irrespective of that, many questions remain open and EAPC in particular
could serve as a valuable forum in the search for answers. In this context,
the EAPC agenda for 2002-2004 must be commended.
It is obvious that asymmetrical conflicts like the one at hand do not
only call for new strategies, but also for a novel assessment of the political
and legal implications - be it the definition of war, or terrorist attacks
as a reason to invoke the right for self-defence. As credibility is one
of the paramount strengths of the democratic international community,
efforts to clarify the concept of terrorism ought to be made by all of
us.
In this connection, I think that an intensification of the dialogue with
countries in the strategic proximity of Europe is urgently needed to prevent
the misuse of terms and any misunderstandings which themselves might cause
a destabilisation.
Another question is the role of armed forces in the fight against terrorism
in general. The wide range of measures, from the protection of our strategic
infrastructure up to and including high-intensity warfare, makes us Europeans
aware of shortcomings in our capabilities and calls for a two-pronged
approach: to expand cooperation in a European context and to maintain
a lasting partnership with the US. Efforts in both directions ought to
be reflected in the further development of ESDP.
For Austria, ESDP and PfP are closely linked. The cooperation within
the framework of the EAPC and PfP shall keep their important role, also
after the Prague Summit. Interoperability of units, which the Austrian
Armed Forces contribute to multinational operations, remains our highest
priority.
In parallel, the same degree of interoperability is needed within the
frame of the EU Headline Goal. Therefore the PARP is the substantial link
between the PfP cooperation and our commitment to ESDP.
The PARP defines essential elements for a well-prepared contribution
to ESDP and NATO-PfP and helps avoid duplication of planning efforts.
Against this background, the development of PfP simultaneously with the
NATO enlargement process will be an essential focus of the years to come.
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