Press Release M-EAPC (2000)62 9 June 2000

Chairman's Summary of the meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Defence Ministers Sessions, Brussels, 9 June 2000 The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) met today at Defence Ministers level in Brussels. Ministers welcomed Croatia as the newest and 46th member of the EAPC. General Ralston, and the commanders of SFOR and KFOR, Lieutenant-General Adams and Lieutenant-General Ortuno, briefed Ministers on the current situation in the NATO-led operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Ministers welcomed the successful completion of the SFOR restructuring. They expressed support for the efforts of the High Representative to facilitate civil implementation and for the results of the recent PIC Ministerial. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to help restore peace in a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo. They discussed continuing concerns over the security situation in Kosovo, including in Mitrovica, and in the Presevo Valley, and condemned the continuing level of violence, in particular the recent spate of killings of ethnic Serbs. They emphasised the importance of supporting UNMIK in rebuilding a multi-ethnic society, civil institutions and the need to return refugees and displaced persons. They urged nations to provide the necessary resources - police, judges, prosecutors and funding - to build a more effective judicial system. Ministers welcomed the close co-operation between KFOR and UNMIK and the need for full implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The briefings by COMSFOR and COMKFOR underscored the important contributions that Partners are making to operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Sixteen Partner nations are contributing forces to these operations, and Partner nations in the region are providing essential facilities and transit and overflight rights in support. Ministers welcomed developments to make PfP a more operational partnership so as to be better able to support such peace support operations. They noted, in particular, the progress on PfP's Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC), which will enhance our overall capability to mount and sustain multinational operations. Ministers stressed the need to make further progress on the OCC's assessment and feedback programme, with initial assessments and a first exercise in 2001. Ministers also noted the importance of the Political-Military Framework for NATO-led PfP Operations and welcomed the start of the initial review of its implementation. They noted positive steps already taken to increase Partner involvement in political consultations and decision-making, in operational planning and in command arrangements. These include more frequent and timely consultations on Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina in EAPC Ambassadorial meetings and in the Military Committee, greater involvement of Partners in the Policy Co-ordination Group, new mechanisms at SHAPE to increase consultation and information exchange with contributors to SFOR/KFOR, and actions in theatre to involve Partners more closely in operational planning. Ministers also received reports on overall developments in PfP since the Washington Summit. Ministers welcomed the completion of work on the Training and Education Enhancement Programme and urged its speedy implementation. Ministers also noted a report on the Alliance's South-East Europe Initiative (SEEI) and emphasised the importance they attach to the further development of this initiative, in particular the regionally led initiatives such as the South-East Europe Security Co-operation Steering Group, and focused training, education and simulation programmes making use of the regional PfP Training Centres. Ministers welcomed the development of the first full set of Partnership Goals, and received a Summary Report describing the main trends and issues in the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP). These Partnership Goals aim inter alia at further developing and enhancing effective and interoperable forces and capabilities for the full range of NATO-led PfP operations, and they also reflect key areas for improvement identified in the Defence Capabilities Initiative. Ministers will meet again in December 2000 in Brussels.