16 Nov. 2003

NATO and partner countries exercise joint operations News 17/11/2003 - IMS NATO and Partner Nations conduct a Partnership for Peace Command Post exercise in Bulgaria Cooperative Associate, a NATO-led exercise being held in Sofia, 16-26 November, will test NATO and partner countries' ability to command joint peace support operations. The exercise is part of a series, which aims to improve the ability of NATO and partner countries to conduct joint peace support missions. During the exercise, commanders and staff from five NATO and twelve partner countries will establish a joint multinational brigade headquarters to command a multinational operation. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner’s Office for Refugees and International Civilian Police will also participate. The participating NATO countries are: Hungary, Spain, Turkey and the United States, as well as five invites: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and seven partner nations: Austria, Azerbaijan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1, Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.