Public Information Adviser International Military Staff Press Release IMS(99)04 28 May 1999

First major NATO/PFP Exercise in Czech Republic after Accession EUROCORPS exercises first time under NATO command Shortly after the accession of NATO's three new member states, a large scale NATO/PfP Command Post Exercise (CPX) will take place in Vyskov, Czech Republic. From 23 May until 4 June 1999, some 2,000 army, air force, navy and marine personnel from 26 countries will take part in the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercise 'CO-OPERATIVE GUARD 99' (COG '99). The exercise activities will take place in the Military Academy of Vyskov. For the first time, NATO conducts a major exercise in one of the new NATO member states. For the multinational EUROCORPS, it is their first time to exercise under direct NATO command. In line with the political intentions to maximise the Alliance's flexibility in command and control of multinational and multi-national operations, COG '99 focuses on NATO procedures for the planning and conducting of a generic Peace Support Operation. Furthermore, COG '99 aims at promoting Partnership for Peace through the development of a common understanding of Peace Support Operations and enhancing interoperability between Partner nations and NATO. COG '99 will employ the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters (CJTF HQ) concept which is a tangible demonstration of the Alliance's shift to greater flexibility and mobility. The CJTF concept is based on a deployable, multinational multi-service Alliance HQ of variable size, to command and control contingency operations including peace support operations. The exercise is scheduled and conducted by the Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe (CINCENT) in co-ordination with the Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Northwestern Europe (CINCNW). Based on a fictitious, geo-political scenario, COG '99 will practise CJTF HQ doctrine and procedures within a generic UN-mandated and NATO-led peace support operation beyond NATO Area of Operations. HQ AFCENT as the Parent Headquarters will provide the Nucleus Staff, which is the core element for the CJTF HQ. Allied Command Europe (ACE) headquarters and participating nations will augment the CJTF HQ by individuals and modules tailored to the military mission. Within the exercise, the CJTF HQ will be commanded by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe. For the first time in its capacity as a full NATO ally, the Czech Republic will act as the Host Nation for NATO's central exercise in 1999. During COG '99, EUROCORPS will exercise as the Land Component Command. The EUROCORPS is a multinational army corps composed of troops from the five European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain. The Corps can contribute its 50,000 strong multinational force to operations with the Alliance, the Western European Union or the United Nations. The EUROCORPS headquarters is based in Strasbourg (France). Exercise COG '99 is scheduled to include approximately 2,000 service personnel from NATO HQs, multinational and national HQ and 26 participating nations, including twelve Partnership for Peace nations (Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland). Information for the media A special Media Day, including a press conference, will be held on Thursday 3 June 1999 at the Military Academy of Vyskov, Czech Republic. Media/Correspondents may participate in the exercise. A flight from Brussels to the Czech Republic is scheduled for 3 June 1999 (see annex). Please indicate by fax to the above Press Office, your participation for the flight and subsequent reporting about the exercise by the strict deadline of 1000 hours, Tuesday 1 June 1999. Please also include on the fax, information about participants, Media/Agency accordingly. ANNEX Transport Schedule and Programme Journey Out From Brussels by Aeroplane 0700 Assemble Brussels-Melsbroek Airport (Miltary Component) by 0700 at the latest 0730 Take-Off 1000 Arrival at Brno-Turany Airport 1030 Transport to Vyskov by bus Programme Till 1100 Arrival at Vyskov 1100 Registration Distribution of exercise media folder Welcome coffee 1130 Welcome address Media briefing 1215 Non-hosted lunch 1300 Welcome President Vaclav Havel with military honour 1315 Exercise tour (CJTF HQ, Component Commands) 1545 Press Conference with President Havel 1615 End of media programme Transport back To Brussels by Aeroplane 1645 Departure to BRNO Airport 1730 arrival at BRNO Airport 1800 Departure 2030 Arrival at Brussels-Melsbroek Airport :Military Component