13 May 2005

NATO's highest military authorities meet at NATO HQ News 12/04/05 - IMS NATO's highest military authorities meet at NATO HQ Multimedia 12/05/2005 - NATO Audio file of the press point by General Harald Kujat (MP3/13510kb) Chiefs of Staff from NATO countries met in Brussels on 11 and 12 May to review the status and way ahead for NATO's operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Mediterranean. This was the first in 2005 of two meetings NATO’s Military Committee holds every year at the level of Chiefs of Defence Staff. In addition to a meeting of NATO Chiefs of Staff, the Military Committee also met with Chiefs of Staff from partner countries, Ukraine, Russia and - for the second time - with the Chiefs of Defence from NATO's seven Mediterranean Dialogue partners. Expanding cooperation From now on, this latter session will become a regular feature, providing a forum for discussion on strengthening military cooperation between NATO and Mediterranean Dialogue nations. In its meetings, the Committee reviewed key issues, including military aspects of combating terrorism, the expansion of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the contribution of partner countries to the NATO's naval counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean, Active Endeavour. Progress was made in a number of areas, including military cooperation with Ukraine, as well as co-operation with Russia in the field of missile defence. NATO’s Military Committee assists and gives military advice to NATO's top decision-making civilian bodies and provides guidance to NATO's two strategic commands.