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| Updated: 18-Nov-2004 | IMS Press Advisory |
| 16-17 Nov. 2004 |
NATOs highest military authorities meet at NATO HQ, Brussels
NATOs Military Committee met at NATO Headquarters on 16 and 17 November 2004 in their biannual format of Chiefs of Staff Sessions. On Tuesday, 16 November four Sessions took place: with NATOs Partners, with Russia, with Ukraine, and with NATO member countries. On Wednesday, 17 November 04, NATOs Chiefs of Staff met for the first time formally with Chiefs of Defence, or their representatives, of the Seven Mediterranean Dialogue Countries, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
This meeting follows on from the Istanbul Summit, and NATOs desire to deepen the Mediterranean Dialogue initiative. Throughout 2003 and 2004 several military co-operation activities were conducted in Egypt, Israel and Jordan, including port visits, Mobile training Teams and a visit by NATO AWACS radar aircraft. Concrete decisions were taken to expand this work programme. Discussions also focussed on the necessity for efficient counter-terrorist intelligence sharing. It was decided to initiate meetings between Intelligence experts to look at ways of broadening cooperation. Operation Active Endeavour continues to be a successful tool in countering terrorism in the Mediterranean area, and NATO is now working on measures to enable participation by non-NATO nations including Mediterranean Dialogue countries. Certainly all these initiatives are a step forward in combating terrorism. This first meeting was considered a sound success, and an invitation was extended to the Mediterranean Dialogue countries to attend the next Chiefs of Defence meetings in May 2005.
NATOs two Strategic Commanders, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, provided status updates on all ongoing NATO operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and now, our latest training mission in Iraq: The handing over of the tasks of the NATO-led SFOR peacekeeping force to the EU on 2 December will mark the fruition of 9 years successful work by NATO to stabilize the region. NATO will continue with a small HQ in Sarajevo which will interface with the EU HQ. KFOR continues to be a high priority mission for NATO. The area is now relatively calm, however, underlying tensions will continue to pose a challenge, especially with the ongoing talks on Kosovos future status. The recent successful election process in Afghanistan is not only a positive step for the Afghan population, but also a measure of ISAFs success and NATOs commitment. Stage 1 expansion to the North is now complete and we are looking towards expansion to the West under Stage 2. Discussions with partners also focussed on the narcotics problem in Afghanistan. The problem of the proliferation of drug production and smuggling affects all nations and knows no boundaries. Partner countries bordering Afghanistan can play an important role in this fight against narcotics smuggling. The training mission in and outside of Iraq is now under way, and briefings were given by the Joint Warfare Centre, Stavanger on the type of course they can offer Iraqi military and security personnel. One of the more important aspects of NATO training, however, will be the role of mentoring inside Iraq, providing follow-on support to those officers and staff who have benefited from courses and workshops outside Iraq. Although the mission is in its early stage, there will be a steady progression with a widening participation, and in accordance with the requests of the Iraqi Interim Government. Combating Trafficking in Human Beings One of the many issues discussed was the combating of trafficking in human beings. This is an ongoing and urgent concern, which our peacekeeping forces are constantly faced with in theatre. It was generally agreed that trafficking in human beings is not only an abuse of human rights, but provides a financial cornerstone for organised criminal activities that contribute to instability. Like the narcotics problem, this is not restricted to our peacekeeping missions, but is a matter of concern affecting all our nations. Earlier this year NATOs Council approved a policy to combat trafficking in human beings. This policy has led to an Implementation Plan that will in future assist NATO Commanders to put in place the necessary mechanisms to help combat this odious practice and to enhance civil-military cooperation with local authorities and international organisations. The Chairman congratulated Partner nation, Switzerland for sponsoring a workshop on this issue through the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. The workshop provided a platform for discussion and exchange of information between NATO officials and subject matter experts from other international organisations and Partner nations. Work will now continue to develop training modules for our forces that are deployed to peacekeeping operations. The Chairman welcomed Russias new Chief of Defence, Colonel General Baluyevskiy and Ukraines new Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Kyrychenko. The primary focus in the meeting with Russia was on the Russia-NATO Co-operation Plan for 2005 and the need to press forward into a more practical co-operation, bringing troops together in exercises and concentrating on interoperability. The meeting with Ukraine focussed on their Defence Reform, an assessment of the 2004 Work Plan, and the way forward for the 2005 Work Plan. Election of the new Chairman of the Military Committee Finally, the Chiefs of Defence proceeded with the election of a new Chairman, the successor to General Harald Kujat. Canada received the majority vote and the Canadian Chief of Defence, General Raymond Henault, will take over the position from mid 2005. The precise handover date will be decided between the outgoing and incoming Chairmen. 
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