Foreign Ministers from NATO member and partner countries
gathered at the Budapest Convention Centre, 29-30 May,
for their traditional Spring meetings. Introducing the
main items of discussion in an opening statement, NATO
Secretary General Lord Robertson stated that the "Alliance
[…] has played a crucial role in ending Europe's
division, and is now playing an equally pivotal role bringing
the continent closer together". The busy two-day
schedule of meetings was dominated by the current tensions
in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1)
and overall developments in the Balkans, NATO-EU cooperation
and the new challenges confronting the Alliance, such
as missile defence and the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction. The meetings also focused on strengthening
NATO's partnerships and its relations with Russia and
Ukraine.
North
Atlantic Council meeting - On the first
morning, NATO Foreign Ministers discussed the main items
on the Alliance's current agenda. In summary, they reaffirmed
the Alliance's commitment to security in South-East
Europe and the need for continued cooperation between
international organisations in the region. They welcomed
progress made in all facets of NATO-EU relations, emphasising
that the European pillar would be strengthened within
the Alliance.
Foreign Ministers also discussed the enlargement process,
the development of partnerships with non-NATO member countries
and arms control issues, including the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction.
NATO-Russia
PJC meeting - The meeting of the North
Atlantic Council - NATO's top decision making body-
at Foreign Minister level was followed, in the afternoon,
by a meeting of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council.
Ministers discussed, at length, the situation in the
Balkans and took stock of cooperation activities set
out in the PJC Work Programme for 2001.
Challenges
in South East Europe - The day's events
closed with a ceremony marking the adoption of the "SEECAP
document". The Southeast Europe Common Assessment
Paper on Regional Security Challenges and Opportunities,
or SEECAP, aims to develop security policies and reform
security establishments in South East European countries.
The document sets out the expectations and agendas of
participating countries and identifies regional security
challenges and the tools required to address these challenges.
It was developed by Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1),
Romania, Slovenia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
and a number of NATO member countries.
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NATO-EU
Ministerial meeting - On the second day,
the first formal NATO-EU meeting was held at Ministerial
level. The Alliance's North Atlantic Council and the
EU's General Affairs Committee (GAC) met to discuss
the contribution of both organisations to stability
in the Balkans and review progress made so far in NATO-EU
relations, including the question of EU access to NATO's
planning capabilities and military assets. This was
a historic meeting, which marked a step toward reinforced
cooperation between NATO and the EU, leading to initiatives
such as joint statements and possible future joint activities
such as military exercises.
Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council (EAPC) meeting -
The Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
Goran Svilanovic, participated in discussions on developments
in South East Europe, held by the 46 NATO and partner
countries which are members of the EAPC. EAPC members
then continued their meeting, discussing a multitude
of current partnership activities and ways of strengthening
cooperation in the field of security in the Euro-Atlantic
area.
NATO-Ukraine
Commission meeting - The two-day event
closed with a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.
Ministers mainly focused on progress made in the implementation
of the Charter signed between NATO and Ukraine in 1997.
They also exchanged views on key European security issues,
such as the situation in the Balkans.
