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En. / Fr. / Rus.
Press
Release
(2002)127
21 Nov. 2002 |
Prague
Summit Declaration
Issued by the Heads of
State and Government
participating in the meeting
of the North Atlantic Council in Prague
on 21 November 2002
- We, the Heads of State and Government of the member countries
of the North Atlantic Alliance, met today to enlarge our Alliance
and further strengthen NATO to meet the grave new threats
and profound security challenges of the 21st century. Bound
by our common vision embodied in the Washington Treaty, we
commit ourselves to transforming NATO with new members, new
capabilities and new relationships with our partners. We are
steadfast in our commitment to the transatlantic link; to
NATO’s fundamental security tasks including collective
defence; to our shared democratic values; and to the United
Nations Charter.
- Today, we have decided to invite Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to begin accession
talks to join our Alliance. We congratulate them on this historic
occasion, which so fittingly takes place in Prague. The accession
of these new members will strengthen security for all in the
Euro-Atlantic area, and help achieve our common goal of a
Europe whole and free, united in peace and by common values.
NATO’s door will remain open to European democracies
willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations
of membership, in accordance with Article 10 of the Washington
Treaty.
- Recalling the tragic events of 11 September 2001 and our
subsequent decision to invoke Article 5 of the Washington
Treaty, we have approved a comprehensive package of measures,
based on NATO’s Strategic Concept, to strengthen our
ability to meet the challenges to the security of our forces,
populations and territory, from wherever they may come. Today's
decisions will provide for balanced and effective capabilities
within the Alliance so that NATO can better carry out the
full range of its missions and respond collectively to those
challenges, including the threat posed by terrorism and by
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their
means of delivery.
- We underscore that our efforts to transform and adapt NATO
should not be perceived as a threat by any country or organisation,
but rather as a demonstration of our determination to protect
our populations, territory and forces from any armed attack,
including terrorist attack, directed from abroad. We are determined
to deter, disrupt, defend and protect against any attacks
on us, in accordance with the Washington Treaty and the Charter
of the United Nations. In order to carry out the full range
of its missions, NATO must be able to field forces that can
move quickly to wherever they are needed, upon decision by
the North Atlantic Council, to sustain operations over distance
and time, including in an environment where they might be
faced with nuclear, biological and chemical threats, and to
achieve their objectives. Effective military forces, an essential
part of our overall political strategy, are vital to safeguard
the freedom and security of our populations and to contribute
to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region. We have
therefore decided to:
- Create a NATO Response Force (NRF) consisting of a
technologically advanced, flexible, deployable, interoperable
and sustainable force including land, sea, and air elements
ready to move quickly to wherever needed, as decided by
the Council. The NRF will also be a catalyst for focusing
and promoting improvements in the Alliance’s military
capabilities. We gave directions for the development of
a comprehensive concept for such a force, which will have
its initial operational capability as soon as possible,
but not later than October 2004 and its full operational
capability not later than October 2006, and for a report
to Defence Ministers in Spring 2003. The NRF and the related
work of the EU Headline Goal should be mutually reinforcing
while respecting the autonomy of both organisations.
- Streamline NATO’s military command arrangements.
We have approved the Defence Ministers’ report providing
the outline of a leaner, more efficient, effective and
deployable command structure, with a view to meeting the
operational requirements for the full range of Alliance
missions. It is based on the agreed Minimum Military Requirements
document for the Alliance’s command arrangements.
The structure will enhance the transatlantic link, result
in a significant reduction in headquarters and Combined
Air Operations Centres, and promote the transformation
of our military capabilities. There will be two strategic
commands, one operational, and one functional. The strategic
command for Operations, headquartered in Europe (Belgium),
will be supported by two Joint Force Commands able to
generate a land-based Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF)
headquarters and a robust but more limited standing joint
headquarters from which a sea-based CJTF headquarters
capability can be drawn. There will also be land, sea
and air components. The strategic command for Transformation,
headquartered in the United States, and with a presence
in Europe, will be responsible for the continuing transformation
of military capabilities and for the promotion of interoperability
of Alliance forces, in cooperation with the Allied Command
Operations as appropriate. We have instructed the Council
and Defence Planning Committee, taking into account the
work of the NATO Military Authorities and objective military
criteria, to finalise the details of the structure, including
geographic locations of command structure headquarters
and other elements, so that final decisions are taken
by Defence Ministers in June 2003.
- Approve the Prague Capabilities Commitment (PCC) as
part of the continuing Alliance effort to improve and
develop new military capabilities for modern warfare in
a high threat environment. Individual Allies have made
firm and specific political commitments to improve their
capabilities in the areas of chemical, biological, radiological,
and nuclear defence; intelligence, surveillance, and target
acquisition; air-to-ground surveillance; command, control
and communications; combat effectiveness, including precision
guided munitions and suppression of enemy air defences;
strategic air and sea lift; air-to-air refuelling; and
deployable combat support and combat service support units.
Our efforts to improve capabilities through the PCC and
those of the European Union to enhance European capabilities
through the European Capabilities Action Plan should be
mutually reinforcing, while respecting the autonomy of
both organisations, and in a spirit of openness.
We will implement all aspects of our Prague Capabilities
Commitment as quickly as possible. We will take the necessary
steps to improve capabilities in the identified areas
of continuing capability shortfalls. Such steps could
include multinational efforts, role specialisation and
reprioritisation, noting that in many cases additional
financial resources will be required, subject as appropriate
to parliamentary approval. We are committed to pursuing
vigorously capability improvements. We have directed the
Council in Permanent Session to report on implementation
to Defence Ministers.
- Endorse the agreed military concept for defence against
terrorism. The concept is part of a package of measures
to strengthen NATO’s capabilities in this area,
which also includes improved intelligence sharing and
crisis response arrangements.
Terrorism, which we categorically reject and condemn
in all its forms and manifestations, poses a grave and
growing threat to Alliance populations, forces and territory,
as well as to international security. We are determined
to combat this scourge for as long as necessary. To combat
terrorism effectively, our response must be multi-faceted
and comprehensive.
We are committed, in cooperation with our partners, to
fully implement the Civil Emergency Planning (CEP) Action
Plan for the improvement of civil preparedness against
possible attacks against the civilian population with
chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) agents. We
will enhance our ability to provide support, when requested,
to help national authorities to deal with the consequences
of terrorist attacks, including attacks with CBRN against
critical infrastructure, as foreseen in the CEP Action
Plan.
- Endorse the implementation of five nuclear, biological
and chemical weapons defence initiatives, which will enhance
the Alliance's defence capabilities against weapons of
mass destruction: a Prototype Deployable NBC Analytical
Laboratory; a Prototype NBC Event Response team; a virtual
Centre of Excellence for NBC Weapons Defence; a NATO Biological
and Chemical Defence Stockpile; and a Disease Surveillance
system. We reaffirm our commitment to augment and improve
expeditiously our NBC defence capabilities.
- Strengthen our capabilities to defend against cyber
attacks.
- Examine options for addressing the increasing missile
threat to Alliance territory, forces and population centres
in an effective and efficient way through an appropriate
mix of political and defence efforts, along with deterrence.
Today we initiated a new NATO Missile Defence feasibility
study to examine options for protecting Alliance territory,
forces and population centres against the full range of
missile threats, which we will continue to assess. Our
efforts in this regard will be consistent with the indivisibility
of Allied security. We support the enhancement of the
role of the WMD Centre within the International Staff
to assist the work of the Alliance in tackling this threat.
We reaffirm that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation
make an essential contribution to preventing the spread and
use of WMD and their means of delivery. We stress the importance
of abiding by and strengthening existing multilateral non-proliferation
and export control regimes and international arms control
and disarmament accords.
- Admitting Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,
Slovakia and Slovenia as new members will enhance NATO’s
ability to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. They
have demonstrated their commitment to the basic principles
and values set out in the Washington Treaty, the ability to
contribute to the Alliance’s full range of missions
including collective defence, and a firm commitment to contribute
to stability and security, especially in regions of crisis
and conflict. We will begin accession talks immediately with
the aim of signing Accession Protocols by the end of March
2003 and completing the ratification process in time for these
countries to join the Alliance at the latest at our Summit
in May 2004. During the period leading up to accession, the
Alliance will involve the invited countries in Alliance activities
to the greatest extent possible. We pledge our continued support
and assistance, including through the Membership Action Plan
(MAP). We look forward to receiving the invitees’ timetables
for reforms, upon which further progress will be expected
before and after accession in order to enhance their contribution
to the Alliance.
- We commend Albania for its significant reform progress,
its constructive role in promoting regional stability, and
strong support for the Alliance. We commend the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia 1 for
the significant progress it has achieved in its reform process
and for its strong support for Alliance operations, as well
as for the important steps it has made in overcoming its internal
challenges and advancing democracy, stability and ethnic reconciliation.
We will continue to help both countries, including through
the MAP, to achieve stability, security and prosperity, so
that they can meet the obligations of membership. In this
context, we have also agreed to improve our capacity to contribute
to Albania’s continued reform, and to further assist
defence and security sector reform in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia through the NATO presence. We encourage
both countries to redouble their reform efforts. They remain
under consideration for future membership.
Croatia, which has made encouraging progress on reform,
will also be under consideration for future membership. Progress
in this regard will depend upon Croatia’s further reform
efforts and compliance with all of its international obligations,
including to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY).
The Membership Action Plan will remain the vehicle to keep
aspirants’ progress under review. Today’s invitees
will not be the last.
- The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and the Partnership
for Peace (PfP) have greatly enhanced security and stability
throughout the Euro-Atlantic area. We have today decided to
upgrade our cooperation with the EAPC/PfP countries. Our political
dialogue will be strengthened, and Allies, in consultation
with Partners, will, to the maximum extent possible, increase
involvement of Partners, as appropriate, in the planning,
conduct, and oversight of those activities and projects in
which they participate and to which they contribute. We have
introduced new practical mechanisms, such as Individual Partnership
Action Plans, which will ensure a comprehensive, tailored
and differentiated approach to the Partnership, and which
allow for support to the reform efforts of Partners. We encourage
Partners, including the countries of the strategically important
regions of the Caucasus and Central Asia, to take advantage
of these mechanisms. We welcome the resolve of Partners to
undertake all efforts to combat terrorism, including through
the Partnership Action Plan against Terrorism. We will also
continue to further enhance interoperability and defence-related
activities, which constitute the core of our partnership.
Participation in the PfP and the EAPC could be broadened in
the future to include the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and
Bosnia and Herzegovina once necessary progress is achieved,
including full cooperation with the ICTY.
- We welcome the significant achievements of the NATO-Russia
Council since the historic NATO-Russia Summit meeting in Rome.
We have deepened our relationship to the benefit of all the
peoples in the Euro-Atlantic area. NATO member states and
Russia are working together in the NATO-Russia Council as
equal partners, making progress in areas such as peacekeeping,
defence reform, WMD proliferation, search and rescue, civil
emergency planning, theatre missile defence and the struggle
against terrorism, towards our shared goal of a stable, peaceful
and undivided Europe. In accordance with the Founding Act
and the Rome Declaration, we are determined to intensify and
broaden our cooperation with Russia.
- We remain committed to strong NATO-Ukraine relations under
the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership. We note Ukraine’s
determination to pursue full Euro-Atlantic integration, and
encourage Ukraine to implement all the reforms necessary,
including as regards enforcement of export controls, to achieve
this objective. The new Action Plan that we are adopting with
Ukraine is an important step forward; it identifies political,
economic, military and other reform areas where Ukraine is
committed to make further progress and where NATO will continue
to assist. Continued progress in deepening and enhancing our
relationship requires an unequivocal Ukrainian commitment
to the values of the Euro-Atlantic community.
- We reaffirm that security in Europe is closely linked to
security and stability in the Mediterranean. We therefore
decide to upgrade substantially the political and practical
dimensions of our Mediterranean Dialogue as an integral part
of the Alliance’s cooperative approach to security.
In this respect, we encourage intensified practical cooperation
and effective interaction on security matters of common concern,
including terrorism-related issues, as appropriate, where
NATO can provide added value. We reiterate that the Mediterranean
Dialogue and other international efforts, including the EU
Barcelona process, are complementary and mutually reinforcing.
- NATO and the European Union share common strategic interests.
We remain strongly committed to the decisions made at the
Washington Summit and subsequent Ministerial meetings, in
order to enhance NATO-EU cooperation. The success of our cooperation
has been evident in our concerted efforts in the Balkans to
restore peace and create the conditions for prosperous and
democratic societies. Events on and since 11 September 2001
have underlined further the importance of greater transparency
and cooperation between our two organisations on questions
of common interest relating to security, defence, and crisis
management, so that crises can be met with the most appropriate
military response and effective crisis management ensured.
We remain committed to making the progress needed on all the
various aspects of our relationship, noting the need to find
solutions satisfactory to all Allies on the issue of participation
by non-EU European Allies, in order to achieve a genuine strategic
partnership.
- To further promote peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic
Area, NATO will continue to develop its fruitful and close
cooperation with the OSCE, namely in the complementary areas
of conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict
rehabilitation.
- The Alliance has played a vital role in restoring a secure
environment in South-East Europe. We reaffirm our support
for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all the countries
in this strategically important region. We will continue to
work with our partners in SFOR and KFOR, the United Nations,
the European Union, the OSCE and other international organisations,
to help build a peaceful, stable and democratic South-East
Europe, where all countries assume ownership of the process
of reform, and are integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures.
We remain determined to see that goal become reality. We expect
the countries of the region: to continue to build enduring
multi-ethnic democracies, root out organised crime and corruption
and firmly establish the rule of law; to cooperate regionally;
and to comply fully with international obligations, including
by bringing to justice in The Hague all ICTY indictees. The
reform progress that these countries make will determine the
pace of their integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. We
confirm our continued presence in the region and we stand
ready to assist these countries in the region, through individual
programmes of assistance, to continue their progress. In the
light of continuing progress and analysis of the prevailing
security and political environment, we will explore options
for a further rationalisation and force restructuring, taking
into account a regional approach. We welcome the successful
conclusion of Operation Amber Fox in the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia. We have agreed to maintain a NATO presence from
15 December for a limited period to contribute to continuing
stability, which we will review in the light of the evolving
situation. We note the EU’s expressed readiness to take
over the military operation in the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia under appropriate conditions.
- NATO member countries have responded to the call of the
UN Security Council to assist the Afghan government in restoring
security in Kabul and its surroundings. Their forces constitute
the backbone of the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) in Afghanistan. We commend the United Kingdom and Turkey
for their successive contributions as ISAF lead nations, and
welcome the willingness of Germany and the Netherlands jointly
to succeed them. NATO has agreed to provide support in selected
areas for the next ISAF lead nations, showing our continued
commitment. However, the responsibility for providing security
and law and order throughout Afghanistan resides with the
Afghans themselves.
- We remain committed to the CFE Treaty and reaffirm our
attachment to the early entry into force of the Adapted Treaty.
The CFE regime provides a fundamental contribution to a more
secure and integrated Europe. We welcome the approach of those
non-CFE countries, which have stated their intention to request
accession to the Adapted CFE Treaty upon its entry into force.
Their accession would provide an important additional contribution
to European stability and security. We welcome the significant
results of Russia’s effort to reduce forces in the Treaty’s
Article V area to agreed levels. We urge swift fulfilment
of the outstanding Istanbul commitments on Georgia and Moldova,
which will create the conditions for Allies and other States
Parties to move forward on ratification of the Adapted CFE
Treaty.
- As NATO transforms, we have endorsed a package of measures
to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the headquarters
organisation. The NATO+ Initiative on human resources issues
complements this effort. We are committed to continuing to
provide, individually and collectively, the resources that
are necessary to allow our Alliance to perform the tasks that
we demand of it.
- We welcome the role of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in
complementing NATO's efforts to project stability throughout
Europe. We also appreciate the contribution made by the Atlantic
Treaty Association in promoting better understanding of the
Alliance and its objectives among our publics.
- We express our deep appreciation for the gracious hospitality
extended to us by the Government of the Czech Republic.
- Our Summit demonstrates that European and North American
Allies, already united by history and common values, will
remain a community determined and able to defend our territory,
populations and forces against all threats and challenges.
For over fifty years, NATO has defended peace, democracy and
security in the Euro-Atlantic area. The commitments we have
undertaken here in Prague will ensure that the Alliance continues
to play that vital role into the future.
- Turkey
recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional
name.
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