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| Updated: 30-Oct-2006 | NATO Speeches |
NATO HQ, 11 Jan. 2006 |
Interview with John Colston {Subtitle}
High-level informal consultations on defence reform and defence policy involving ministers from Ukraine and NATO countries, as well as key defence and security experts, took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 23 and 24 October. Such meetings are organised once a year by the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence Reform (JWGDR). Since its establishment in 1998, the JWGDR has been the primary focus for cooperation between Ukraine and NATO in defence and security sector reform. John Colston, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, steers the work of the JWGDR from NATO’s side. Here, he offers an insight into the recent consultations at Vilnius and an assessment of NATO-Ukraine cooperation in defence and security sector reform. Novyny NATO (NN): What is the significance of the Vilnius meeting? What key issues were discussed there? John Colston (JC): The annual high-level NATO-Ukraine consultations are one of the most important events in the NATO-Ukraine calendar. Chaired by the NATO Secretary General, they serve in practice as annual informal meetings of NATO-Ukraine defence ministers, allowing for an open exchange of views. Before Vilnius, meetings were held in Berlin, Washington D.C. and Warsaw. The consultations aim to address the most topical issues on the NATO-Ukraine defence and security agenda. Among the issues discussed in Vilnius were the implementation of Ukraine's defence reform plans; defence-related aspects of the Intensified Dialogue; and wider security sector reforms including the preparations for a national security sector review in Ukraine which should address all the structures and policies related to the security of the state. Discussions at the meeting were very frank, demonstrating the current dynamics of NATO-Ukraine relations. It was also important that NATO member states were prepared to announce various forms of assistance to Ukraine. As an example, in the margins of the meeting, 15 Allies and Ukraine signed a letter of intent confirming their support for a programme for the professional development of civilian personnel employed in the Ukrainian security institutions. In view of the importance of the human factor for the ability of every government to introduce systemic changes, the launch of this programme is one of the most important actions initiated by the Allies and Ukraine in 2005. NN: In parallel with the launch of the Intensified Dialogue on Ukraine’s membership aspirations and related reforms in April 2005, a package of short-term actions was announced, which seeks to focus practical cooperation in support of urgent reform goals in five key areas. Among the priorities identified was defence and security sector reform. Why is it so important for cooperation in this area to be intensified? JC: There are two major reasons for intensifying NATO-Ukraine cooperation in implementing defence and security sector reforms. Achieving reforms in these sectors is important both for Ukraine itself and to support Ukraine’s ambitions to join the Alliance. These ideas are complex. I will try to explain them and will start by addressing the long-term impact of our cooperation on the Euro-Atlantic integration plans of Ukraine . NATO is a political, security and defence Alliance which Ukraine has set itself the goal of joining. Being an Alliance member requires nations to share common values and apply similar standards, especially in the area of security sector governance. Our cooperation in implementing defence and security sector reforms brings Ukraine closer to these values. What are these standards? In any country which aspires to NATO membership, security sector reform should aim to transform the security sector into But security sector reform is not just about adapting the legislative framework in which the security sector operates. Nor is the transformation of a security sector solely about exerting organisational and policy control over the armed forces, paramilitary formations and intelligence services. The “Euro-Atlantic security culture” is about philosophies, values and everyday ways of working. These values include strengthening the role of civil society in providing effective oversight of internal and external security activities. The transformation of Ukraine’s security sector is vital to the further development of Ukrainian democracy and its future prospects. The way in which a security sector is governed reflects the philosophy behind the state and the quality of its democratic system, be it in Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or Poland. Therefore, security sector reform in and by a democratic state must provide a link between security sector governance and democratic principles. The Allies attach great importance to this aspect of the reform process. It is therefore no coincidence that defence and security sector reform has been on the NATO-Ukraine agenda for a long time – the Allies are determined to assist Ukraine in strengthening the democratic credentials of its security sector. Nor is it a surprise that NATO and Ukraine foreign ministers put a particular emphasis on this area of reform when they launched the package of short-term actions in support of Ukraine 's reform priorities. In brief, defence and security sector reform is about democracy. NN: Cooperation with Ukraine in the area of defence and security sector reform is more extensive than with any other of NATO’s Partner countries. What have been the key achievements of cooperation in this area under the JWGDR? JC: I believe that the biggest achievement of the JWGDR has been its success as a forum for working-level interaction between experts from NATO member states and Ukraine, where issues relevant to implementing defence and security sector reforms can be discussed. In turn, this helps develop a specific working culture through which NATO and Ukraine can jointly address concrete problems and come up with joint solutions. This aspect of “joint work and consultation” is of great importance. The JWGDR also allows Ukraine to draw on an Allied expertise, and serves as a channel through which NATO countries can provide and coordinate concrete support to Ukraine . Moreover, the JWGDR is a mutually beneficial endeavour – it helps the Allies better understand the complexity of the situation in Ukraine and the region. What does this mean in practice? When the JWDGR was established back in 1998, its activities focused initially on information exchange between national experts on topics such as democratic control over armed forces, professionalisation, and reservist concepts and defence budgeting. As the group evolved, it expanded the scope of its activities to include wider security sector reforms in Ukraine. Today, the JWGDR is implementing several activities including support to the implementation of Ukraine’s defence policy review; preparations for a comprehensive national security sector review; specific activities aimed at supporting Ukraine in strengthening civil control over security and defence structures, including the intelligence agencies; assisting Ukraine in demilitarising its security sector, including in the framework of our cooperation with the troops of the Ministry of the Interior and with the Ministry of Emergencies; and managing the consequences of defence reform. NN: What key challenges remain and where should Ukraine’s current priorities lie? JC: Let me first stress that defence and security sector reform should not be regarded as a one-off problem. Any country’s defence and security posture must continue to transform to meet the requirements of the evolving security environment. Today’s policies and ideas may need to be further adapted to meet tomorrow’s security landscape. Flexibility in the way we shape our security postures is therefore critical to the success of security sector reform. The need for effective defence and security sector reforms is not exclusive to Ukraine . All NATO member states and several Partner countries face the challenge of transformation. The uniqueness of the situation in Ukraine is the magnitude of the problem. We tend to forget that when Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, it inherited a significant part of the Soviet Union ’s armed forces. At that time, Ukraine was faced not with the task of merely transforming its security forces – it had to establish its national security sector almost from scratch. Since then Ukraine has achieved much and we should not underestimate the extent of this progress. As an example, Ukraine’s ability to contribute to NATO-led operations and missions, in the Balkans and elsewhere, testifies to how professional the Ukrainian security forces are. Turning to the priorities for the future, I think that t he major challenge faced by Ukraine is the need for a comprehensive transformation of its security sector to align it more closely with the Euro-Atlantic and European standards. In other words, for Ukraine’s security sector reform efforts to be successful, they should cover not only the Ministry of Defence and the Ukrainian armed forces but also all other security forces or law-enforcement institutions including the internal security forces. At the moment, we observe a degree of fragmentation of reform efforts, with some of the components of Ukraine’s security sector appearing to be more advanced in pursuing the reform agenda than others. In my view, there are two major factors which will be critical to the ultimate success of security sector reform in Ukraine: first, the ability of the Ukraine’s government to formulate a comprehensive national security sector reform policy, which would ensure high-level policy guidance for the reforming elements in Ukraine’s security sector; and second, the determination of the Ukrainian authorities to sustain and adequately resource the reforms, once they have been launched. The national security sector review which Ukraine is preparing for should address both factors. Needless to say, NATO and individual Allies remain ready to assist Ukraine in these difficult endeavours, including through the JWGDR. Ukraine will not be left alone to face the challenges of defence and security sector reform and I am fully convinced that we will achieve the results which we all hope for. Finally, let me take this opportunity to say that it is always a pleasure to work with my Ukrainian colleagues and friends, whose determination and hard work have been instrumental in taking forward the NATO-Ukraine defence and security agenda. Ukraine has a great human potential, which is one of the most important aspects of Ukraine’s democratic transformation. This interview was published in the latest issue Novyny NATO, a quarterly newsletter for audiences in Ukraine, which is produced in Ukrainian and Russian versions. |
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