NATO and Partner Chiefs of Defence to meet at NATO Headquarters

News 1 Nov. 2007 - IMS Military Committee Executive Brief - Election of the Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC)

Top military officers of the Alliance’s member and Partner nations will convene at NATO HQ, Brussels, from 13-14 November 2007, for the third of three annual meetings at Chiefs of Staff level.

The meetings convene in five different sessions:  NATO member nations; NATO with Partnership for Peace nations; NATO with the 7 Mediterranean Dialogue countries; NATO with Ukraine, and NATO with Russia, in that order.

During the various sessions, the following issues will be discussed:

• Operations, to include taking stock of all current NATO-led operations and missions and in particular the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and the KFOR mission in Kosovo.

• Transformation, to include progress reports on priority issues, particularly those stemming from the recent Noordwijk Ministerial meetings.

• Overview with Partners, of NATO-led operations with special emphasis on Partner participation;  exchange of views on military aspects of Partnership.  

• Ukraine, for a final assessment of the 2007 NATO-Ukraine Work plan, and to exchange views among Chiefs of Defence on military-to-military cooperation.

• Russia, to review progress made on operational matters, to assess and discuss progress of the 2007 Work Plan, and to approve the Work Plan for 2008 and Beyond.

In addition, at midday on 14 November, the 26 NATO Chiefs of Defense will elect the next Chairman of the Military Committee, succeeding Canadian Gen. Ray Henault, expected in June 2008. The three candidates are the Italian, Polish and Spanish Chiefs of Defense.

Note for the Media:

Media opportunities (photo/film only)

The media is invited to take photo coverage of the opening of the MC/CS session on Tuesday, 13 November.  Mrs. Dehaes will meet the media pool at the press counter at 0815hrs for an 0830hrs-0845hrs opportunity.  This will be the only facility open to media.  The Military Committee spokesperson will be available for a media opportunity at the weekly NATO press briefing.

Photos and video of all opening sessions will be available on-line at www.nato.int. shortly after each session.

Journalists wishing to cover this photo opportunity will be allowed into NATO HQ on presentation of a NATO accreditation pass or a valid press pass.

Point of contact for the Military Committee meetings:
Col. Brett Boudreau or Lt.- Col. Tony White
Tel:  +32 2 707 5983 / 5752

General press arrangements:         

Mrs. Karen Dehaes
Public Affairs Officer, IMS.
Tel:  +32 2 707 5423

TV-Radio:

Mr. George De Brouwer
Tel: +32 2 707 5049