NATO HQ 2 Dec. 2003

Statement by Minister of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. K. Gulomov at EAPC Meeting in Defence Ministers' Session Uzbekistan is pursuing active transformations in the military sphere aimed at establishing compact, mobile, well equipped and trained Armed Forces, interoperable with NATO forces, able to effectively participate in international peacekeeping. In this connection, the Partnership activities in the realm of military reforms can significantly contribute to our success. We believe that the scope of our cooperation within the PfP/EAPC framework will be determined depending on how the Partnership, at the present stage of its development, is able to organize effective cooperation on the issues of military transformation based on specific needs of the partner nations. We have to admit, that owing to a range of reasons, the current Partnership procedures are not allowing for full utilization of its capacity to meet this challenge. In our opinion, the following accents and initiatives could help to bring the effectiveness of Partnership on par with the modern requirements: 1. It is important, through the Individual Partnership Action Plan, to work out within the shortest possible timeframe the concept and specific tools allowing practical assistance to partner nations in reforming their Armed Forces. 2. We should adapt the current programs and mechanisms of the Partnership, which have a direct bearing on defense reforms. First of all, it is necessary to review the organization of military education, training and on-job familiarization programs through reduction of the number of short seminars, conferences and working meetings, while simultaneously increasing the number of medium and long-duration educational courses, as well to simplify their organizational procedures. 3. Review and analyze the PARP, OCC and other activities that are tasked to foster the achievement of interoperability. Some of the formal procedures of these programs should be simplified whereas their effectiveness in providing practical assistance to interested partner nations should be improved. 4. Stir up exchange of experience in the spheres of military development, defense reforms, introduction of the NATO standards and so forth. Using the potential of Partnership's "staff element", it may be advisable to organize at the headquarters of leading NATO nations short and long-duration familiarization courses on defense planning, interoperability, implementation of standards and procedures and others. 5. Study viability of establishing a special PfP working group on defense reforms, which would regularly deal at expert level with coordination, analysis and working out of recommendations on how to improve cooperation in this sphere. 6. Considering the importance of military education in implementing defense reforms in partner nations, establishment of special working groups within the PfP Consortium may contribute to military transformation in these countries. IPAP should play leading role in assisting with defense reforms. In this regard, we express our determination to present to NATO in January of 2004 our IPAP Presentation Document and call for Allies to begin active cooperation in the framework of this program. I would like to point out that NATO's initiative on establishing PfP Cells in partner nations promotes cooperation in the field of military transformation, fosters on site expert evaluation and assistance, facilitates the Partnership's adaptation to the needs of its members. Thereupon, we once again call on the NATO nations to take active measures in establishing these Cells in interested partner nations, including one in Uzbekistan. Finally, setting up the PfP Training Center in Uzbekistan would further promote the personnel training in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan. This would also promote effective cooperation with NATO, assist in adopting its procedures and standards, which at the end will enable us to carry out our interactions on the wide spectrum of mutually significant issues. Recent events have been showing that NATO Is a unique organization, possessing political, military and humanitarian capabilities to effectively address these challenges. We should use this capacity in full to build together a new and safe world.