Event 7-30 Oct. 2007 Exercise Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2007

NATO announced today that it will conduct two exercises in the framework of the Partnership for Peace programme called Cooperative Longbow 07 and Cooperative Lancer 07 (CO LW / CO LR 07) in Albania, during the period 07 to 30 October 2007.

Approximately 1,100 military personnel from the following nations will participate in the exercise:

• Seven NATO member nations:  Canada, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
• Twelve Partner nations:  Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ¹ , Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Switzerland and Ukraine.
• One Mediterranean Dialogue country: Israel.
• Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will send observers.

Based on a fictitious United Nations mandated, NATO-led crisis response operation, the aim of these exercises is to promote interoperability between NATO and Partner forces when conducting a complex and dynamic operation. CO LW / CO LR 07 will provide a good balance between NATO’s training requirements and Partner training needs, incorporating real-world operational experience.

Lieutenant General Roland Kather, Commander, Allied Component Command – Land HQ Heidelberg will command CO LW / CO LR 07.

Note for the editor:

A coalition Press Information Centre (CPIC) will be established in Tirana, Albania, from 07 to 30 October 2007.

Requests for information prior to the establishment of the CPIC should be made to Lieutenant Colonel Hans-Joachim Gemballa
Allied Land Component Command HQ
Heidelberg, Germany  
tel +49-6221-3985216
e-mail:  hans.gemballa@lahd.nato.int

Updated information is also available on the internet web site: (www.nato.int/lahd/).

Journalists applying for CO LW 07/ CO LR 07 press cards are required to have the following items:

• Valid passport or ID card
• Two passports size photographs
• A valid press ID card
• Letter of introduction from their media organisation.

1. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.