PRESS INFO 4 July 1997

The Enhanced Partnership For Peace Programme (PfP) Overview Partnership for Peace (PfP) is a major initiative introduced by NATO at the January 1994 Brussels Summit. The aim of the Partnership is to enhance stability and security throughout Europe. It is focused on defence-related cooperation, is addressed to all OSCE states able and willing to contribute to this programme, and goes beyond dialogue and cooperation to forge a real partnership, constituting a permanent feature of the European security architecture. The Partnership serves as the means to expand and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build strengthened relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to democratic principles that underpin the Alliance. NATO will consult with any active Partner if that Partner perceives a direct threat to its territorial integrity, political independence, or security. In January 1994, the states participating in the then North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) and other member countries of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) able and willing to contribute, were invited to join the NATO member states in this Partnership. Twenty-seven states have since accepted this invitation and in most cases, detailed Individual Partnership Programmes have been agreed and are being implemented. At their Spring 1997 Ministerial Meeting, Alliance Foreign and Defence Ministers agreed on a set of new initiatives to further strengthen PfP as an enduring element of the European Security Architecture and as a vehicle for developing ever closer security relations between NATO and Partner nations. The Enhanced PfP programme will have a more operational role, stronger political consultations, and increased opportunities for Partners to participate in decision-making and planning of PfP activities. Partnership for Peace constitutes a clearly identifiable element within the flexible framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and maintains its own basic elements and procedures. PfP is founded on the basis of a bilateral relationship between NATO and each one of the 27 countries that have joined PfP. All members of PfP are also members of the EAPC.

The Enhanced PfP Programme The Partnership for Peace initiative has been uniquely successful in influencing stability and security in Europe and fostering improvements in good-neighbourly relations. It has become a permanent and dynamic feature of the European security architecture. In mid 1997 the Alliance therefore decided to further enhance the role of the Partnership, building on its momentum and success. In Spring 1997 Allied Foreign and Defence Ministers launched a wide range of enhancement measures which have added a new quality to PfP and have substantively strengthened PfP in the political, security, military and institutional fields. The enhancement of PfP is one of the basic elements of the external adaptation of the Alliance which, together with the special relationship that has been developed with Russia and Ukraine, sets the stage for new enhanced security arrangements for Europe and emphasises the key role of the Alliance in these arrangements. Aims of Enhanced PfP The overarching objectives of PfP enhancement are: strengthening the political consultation element in PfP, taking into account EAPC and related outreach activities; developing a more operational role for PfP; providing for greater involvement of Partners in PfP decision making and planning. To meet each one of these objectives a series of enhancements has been agreed which aims not only to build on the existing programme but to add a new quality to the Partnership. Strengthened Political Consultations and Decision Making The consultation element in PfP is being enhanced through the establishment of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), a new cooperative mechanism replacing the former North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC). The EAPC meets in different configurations and at different levels, enabling consultations to take place on a wide range of subjects (see separate information sheet on the EAPC). Other enhancements in this respect include: Increased involvement of Partners in the political guidance and oversight of future NATO-led PfP operations in which they wish to participate; The development of a new political-military framework for PfP operations . Enhancement of the role of Partners Countries in PfP decision making. Decisions made in this context offer a spectrum of opportunities for Partners to associate themselves with the PfP decision making process in the Political Military Steering Committee on Partnership for Peace and other relevant bodies, ranging from simple exchanges of views to full involvement in the consensus process leading to decisions. Enhancing the Operational Role of PfP Numerous enhancements have also been agreed in order to make PfP more operational. The most significant of these are: Participation of Partner nations that so wish, together with NATO Allies, in future PfP operations to be agreed by the North Atlantic Council. An expanded scope of NATO/PfP exercises to address the full range of the Alliance's new missions, including Peace Support Operations. The involvement of Partners in the planning and conduct of PfP activities, including NATO/PfP exercises and other PfP operations, through the establishment of PfP Staff Elements at different NATO Headquarters. Partner countries will thus be able to assume international roles in these spheres and, in addition, will fulfill international functions at the Partnership Coordination Cell (PCC). The possible participation of PfP Staff Elements in CJTF (Combined Joint Task Forces) exercise planning, concept and doctrine development, and operations. The possible involvement of national personnel from Partner countries in CJTF headquarters. The enhancement of arrangements for national liaison representatives from Partner Countries at NATO Headquarters as part of the establishment of full diplomatic missions formerly accredited to NATO under the terms of the Brussels Agreement. Expansion of the Planning and Review Process (PARP) modelled on the NATO defence planning system and including the development of Ministerial Guidance and of Partnership Goals, replacing the Interoperability Objectives which form part of the former PfP process. These measures will be combined with increased opportunities to develop transparency among PARP participants. Modalities for extending the scope and orientation of the NATO Security Investment Programme to include Partnership projects. Increased scope for regional cooperation activities in the context of the Partnership, including consultations on both regional security matters and on practical cooperation. The Evolution of PfP As stated in the Framework Document published by the Alliance in January 1994, the fundamental objectives of PfP are: facilitating transparency in national defence planning and budgeting processes; ensuring democratic control of defence forces; maintaining the capability and readiness to contribute to operations under the authority of the UN and/ or the responsibility of the OSCE; developing cooperative military relations with NATO, for the purpose of joint planning, training and exercises in order to strengthen the ability of PfP participants to undertake missions in the field of peacekeeping, search and rescue, humanitarian operations, and others as may subsequently be agreed; developing, over the longer term, forces that are better able to operate with those of the members of the North Atlantic Alliance. Active participation in the Partnership for Peace will play an important role in the evolutionary process of including new members in NATO. Alliance governments have stated that they "expect and would welcome" the addition of new members to the Alliance "as part of an evolutionary process taking into account political and security developments in the whole of Europe". Article 10 of the Washington Treaty provides for the inclusion in NATO of other European states in a position to further the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. PfP Procedures and Operation A country wishing to join Partnership for Peace is first invited to sign a Framework Document which describes the basic principles on which PfP is founded. By virtue of their signature, countries undertake a political commitment to the preservation of democratic societies and maintenance of the principles of international law; to fulfil in good faith the obligations of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights; to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state; to respect existing borders; and to settle disputes by peaceful means. They also reaffirm their commitment to the Helsinki Final Act and all subsequent CSCE/OSCE documents and to the fulfilment of the commitments and obligations they have undertaken in the field of disarmament and arms control. After signing the Framework Document, each Partner submits its Presentation Document to NATO. This document, indicates the aims for the cooperation of the Partner concerned with NATO, the specific areas of cooperation the Partner wishes to pursue jointly with NATO, and the military and other assets the Partner intends to make available for Partnership purposes. Based on the statements made in the Presentation Document, and on additional proposals made by NATO and the Partner, an Individual Partnership Programme (IPP) is developed and agreed jointly covering a three-year period. The IPP contains statements of the political aims of the Partner in PfP, the military and other assets made available by the Partner for PfP purposes, the broad objectives of cooperation between the Partner and the Alliance in various areas of cooperation, and specific cooperation activities to be implemented for each one of the cooperation areas included in the IPP. The selection of specific activities is made by each Partner separately on the basis of its individual requirements and priorities, in the context of the principle of self differentiation, from a list of such activities contained in the Partnership Work Programme (PWP). The PWP contains a broad description of the various possible areas of cooperation and a list of available activities for each one of the areas of cooperation. The PWP, which covers a three-year period and is reviewed every year, is prepared with full involvement of Partners. The basic working body in the field of PfP is the Political-Military Steering Committee on Partnership for Peace (PMSC) which may meet in various configurations either at Alliance level or as the Alliance with Partners. The main responsibilities of the PMSC include: to advise the Council with respect to PfP, being responsible for the overall coordination of the Partnership Work Programme ; developing political-military guidelines for use by the NATO Military Authorities for the preparation of their PWP input on military exercises and activities; providing guidance for the preparation of the IPPs and for submitting them to Council for approval ; and developing and coordinating work in relation to the Planning and Review Process (PARP). The military aspects of cooperation in PfP are developed by the NATO Military Authorities on the basis of guidance proposed by the PMSC and agreed by the Council. The PfP working forum on the military side is the Military Cooperation Working Group (MCWG) which acts as a consultative body for the Military Committee. The MCWG meets either at Alliance level or including Partners. The Military Committee also meets with Partners to discuss military aspects of cooperation in PfP. The Partnership Coordination Cell (PCC) is a unique PfP structure, based at Mons (Belgium), which operates under the authority of the North Atlantic Council. The task of the PCC is to coordinate joint military activities within PfP and to carry out military planning necessary to implement the military aspects of the Partnership Work Programme, notably, in the field of military exercises. Detailed operational planning for military exercises is the responsibility of the military commands conducting the exercise. The Cell is headed by a Director and includes staff consisting of NATO personnel and, as of 1998, of Partner personnel as well, having international status. The Cell also includes national liaison personnel representing each Partner nation. At NATO Headquarters, Partners are represented by liaison elements consisting of diplomatic and military personnel. As a result of the Brussels Agreement, however, Partners are invited to establish full diplomatic missions formally accredited to NATO and also high level military representation to the Military Committee. PfP Planning and Review Process In January 1995, a Planning and Review Process (PARP) was introduced within the PfP framework, in order to advance interoperability and increase transparency among Allies and Partners. PARP, which is based on a triennial planning cycle, is modelled on the basis of the defence planning system of the Alliance. Participation of PfP countries in PARP is voluntary. 18 of the 27 PfP members have chosen to participate. The first and the second PARP cycle focused on Interoperability Objectives aimed at facilitating PfP cooperation and potential future PfP operations. In the future the PARP will be further enhanced with the introduction of a Ministerial Guidance process similar to that which forms a key part of defence planning procedures and the development of Partnership Goals of broader scope than the current Interoperability Objectives. The PMSC/AHG on Cooperation in Peacekeeping The Political-Military Steering Committee/ Ad Hoc Group on Cooperation in Peacekeeping (PMSC/AHG), which operates in the framework of the EAPC, serves as the main forum for consultations on political and conceptual issues related to peacekeeping, and for the exchange of experience and the discussion of practical measures for cooperation. The PMSC/AHG reports periodically to meetings of Foreign and Defence Ministers on these matters. All meetings of the PMSC/AHG include Partners. Ireland, as an interested OSCE member state with specific experience in peacekeeping, also participates in the work of the group and actively contributes to it. A representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office regularly attends the meetings of the Group and, occasionally, a representative of the United Nations also participates. Areas of Cooperation PfP cooperation covers a wide spectrum of possibilities both in the military field and in the broader defence-related but not strictly military area. Areas of cooperation, as agreed in the latest version of the Partnership Work Programme, include: Air Defence Related Matters; Airspace Management/Control; Consultation, Command and Control, including Communications and Information Systems, Navigation and Identification Systems, Interoperability Aspects, Procedures and Terminology; Civil Emergency Planning; Crisis Management; Democratic Control of Forces and Defence Structures; Defence Planning and Budgeting; Defence Policy and Strategy; Planning Organisation and Management of National Defence Procurement Programmes and International Cooperation in the Armaments Field; Planning, Organisation and Management of National Defence Research and Technology; (non-military) Exercises and Related Training Activities; Consumer Logistics; Medical Services; Military Infrastructure; Conceptual, Planning and Operational Aspects of Peacekeeping; Operational, Materiel and Administrative Aspects of Standardisation; Language Training; Meteorological Support for NATO/Partner Forces; Military Exercises and Related Training Activities; Military Education, Training and Doctrine; Military Geography and Electronic Warfare. Each one of these areas is supported by numerous activities sponsored either by NATO civilian or military bodies or by NATO or Partner nations. These activities which numbered nearly 1000 in 1997, serve as a "menu" of possibilities for Partners to choose for inclusion in their respective Individual Partnership Programmes. Practically all NATO bodies participate in PfP and conduct joint work with the Alliance's Partner Countries.