|
During the Washington Summit (23-25 April 1999), NATO members commemorated
the Alliance's 50th anniversary and made a number of important statements
on the Alliance's current and future agenda for the 21st Century.
These are summarised below.
Kosovo
NATO Heads of State and Government reiterated their determination
to put an end to repressive actions against the local population
by President Milosevic's regime, in the province of Kosovo. The
Alliance is stepping up pressure on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(FRY) through intensified military actions. Allied governments are
also putting in place additional measures to tighten the constraints
on the FRY, including economic sanctions and an embargo on petroleum
products. The Summit statement on Kosovo reaffirmed that NATO will
intensify air operations against the Yugoslav war machine until
President Milosevic meets the legitimate demands on the international
community.
In addition, on Sunday 25 April, NATO Heads of State and Government
met with representatives of the neighbouring countries (Albania,
Bulgaria, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia(1),
Romania, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia). They discussed
the crisis in Kosovo, its impact on the region and longer-term strategies
for future security, prosperity and stability in Southeastern Europe.
1. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional
name
Adoption of a Membership Action Plan
The Washington Summit declaration and the adoption of the Membership
Action Plan (MAP) underscore the Alliance's strong commitment to
continuing the enlargement process. The MAP is specifically designed
to provide concrete advice and assistance to aspiring members with
their own preparations for possible future membership. NATO Foreign
Ministers will keep the enlargement process, including implementation
of the MAP, under continual review. NATO Heads of State and Government
will review the process at their next Summit meeting which will
be held no later than 2002.
A revised Strategic Concept
The Alliance has revised and updated its Strategic Concept which
provides political and military guidance for NATO's future development.
In particular, it is confirmed that as an Alliance of nations committed
to the Washington Treaty and the UN Charter, it performs the following
fundamental security tasks:
- Security: To provide one of the indispensable foundations for
a stable Euro-Atlantic security environment;
- Consultation: To serve as an essential transatlantic forum for
Allied consultations on any issues that affect their vital interests
(Article 4 of the Washington Treaty);
- Deterrence and Defence: To deter and defend against any threat
of aggression against any NATO member state (Articles 5 and 6
of the Washington Treaty);
And in order to enhance the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic
area:
- Crisis Management: To stand ready, case-by-case and by consensus,
to contribute to effective conflict prevention and to engage actively
in crisis management, including crisis response operations (Article
7 of the Washington Treaty);
- Partnership: To promote wide-ranging partnership, cooperation,
and dialogue with other countries in the Euro-Atlantic area, with
the aim of increasing transparency, mutual confidence and the
capacity for joint action with the Alliance.
Enhancement of the ESDI within NATO
The Alliance welcomed the results of the work undertaken in close
cooperation with the Western European Union (WEU) to build the European
Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) within NATO based on the decisions
taken in Brussels in 1994 and Berlin in 1996. The key elements of
a strong European security pillar within the Alliance are now in
place, thus permitting the European Allies to carry out their own,
WEU-led operations drawing on NATO's assets and capabilities. This
will strengthen the transatlantic link and Alliance solidarity as
a whole.
NATO also welcomed the new impetus given to the strengthening of
a common European security and defence policy by the Amsterdam Treaty
and the reflections launched since then in the WEU and, following
the St Malo Declaration, in the European Union (EU). On this basis,
Heads of State and Government set out a number of principles to
guide further work in the Alliance and identified areas of future
work.
Launching of the Defence Capabilities
Initiative (DCI)
In view of today's changing security environment, NATO has decided
to improve its defence capabilities to ensure the effectiveness
of future multinational operations across the full spectrum of Alliance
missions. The focus is on improving interoperability in areas such
as the deployability and mobility of Alliance forces, their sustainability
and logistics, their survivability and effective engagement capability,
and command, control and information systems.
Strengthening of PfP and the EAPC
Two major documents were endorsed : the « Political-Military
Framework for NATO-led PfP Operations » and « Towards
a Partnership for the 21st Century - The Enhanced and more Operational
Partnership ». These documents provide the basis for the continued
evolution of the Partnership with a particular focus on a more operational
PfP. In addition, they will support some of the Alliance's other
initiatives which were also launched or endorsed at the Summit (revised
Strategic Concept, DCI and MAP) by strengthening Alliance-Partner
cooperation and enhancing the ability of Partners to contribute
to future NATO-led PfP operations.
Enhancement of the Mediterranean Dialogue
At the Washington Summit, NATO Heads of State and Government reiterated
their commitment to the progressive strengthening, through enhanced
political and practical co-operation, of NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue
with Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
Action against the proliferation of WMD
The Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Initiative launched at the
Washington Summit seeks to expand understanding of proliferation
issues and to focus appropriate attention on WMD risks. The WMD
initiative will integrate political and military aspects of Alliance
work, including through improved intelligence and information-sharing,
enhanced public information and the creation of a WMD centre at
NATO HQ. The WMD initiative will complement existing international
regimes and arms control efforts under way to respond to the proliferation
of WMD and their delivery means.
Additional information:
|
