A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE “The North Atlantic Alliance was founded witho twpurposes: the defence of the territory of its members, and the safeguarding and promotion of the values they share. In a still uncertain world, the need for defence remains. But in a world where the values which we uphold are shared ever more widely, we gladly seize the opportunity to adapt our defences accordingly; to cooperate and consult with our new partners; to help consolidate a now undivided continent of Europe; and to make our Alliance’s contribution to a new age of confidence, stability and peace.”

Extract from the Rome Declaration on Peace and Cooperation issued by the Heads o f State and Government participating in the meeting o f the in Rome on 7-8 November 1991. The London and Rome Summits

At the 1990 London Summit Meeting NATO interests, including proliferation of weapons of Alliance has embarked. The inaugural meeting of published a far-reaching Declaration on steps mass destruction, disruption of the flow of vital the North Atlantic Cooperation Council which was taken within the Alliance to adapt its policies and resources, terrorism and sabotage. proposed in the Rome Declaration, took place on objectives in the light of the changes which have 20 December 1991 with the participation of the taken place in Europe. The Alliance’s Strategic Concept outlines a Foreign Ministers or representatives of NATO broad approach to security based on dialogue, countries and of six Central and Eastern European Sixteen months later, in November 1991, the cooperation and the maintenance of a collective countries as well as the three Baltic states. The role Heads of State and Government of NATO defence capability. It integrates political and of the Cooperation Council is to facilitate countries gathered inR ome to open a new chapter military elements of NATO’s security policy into a cooperation on security and related issues between in the history of the Alliance. They issued an coherent whole, establishing cooperation with new the participating countries at all levels and to historic Declaration on Peace and Cooperation partners in Central and Eastern Europe as an oversee the process of developing closer and, in accordance with the decisions taken in integral part of the Alliance’s strategy. It also institutional ties as well as informal links between London, published a new Strategic Concept provides for major changes in NATO’s integrated them. The eleven States on the territory of the designed to bring NATO’s overall strategy into military forces, in order to take account of the former which now constitute the line with future needs. Six weeks later history was changed strategic environment, including Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) again made with the creation of a North Atlantic substantial reductions in their size and readiness, became participants in this process in March 1992. Cooperation Council bringing together Foreign improvements in their mobility and adaptability to Georgia and Albania joined the process in April Ministers and representatives of the sixteen different contingencies, greater use of and June 1992. NATO is also playing a role in the member countries of the Alliance and nine new multinational formations and much reduced coordination of humanitarian aid to these new cooperation partners in a forum created to dependence on nuclear forces. Measures are also states and is making available its unique expertise establish an institutional basis for an entirely new being taken to streamline NATO’s military and capabilities for this purpose. In addition, security relationship between them. command structure and to adapt the Alliance’s NATO Defence Ministers participating in the defence planning arrangements and procedures in activities of the Defence Planning Committee have The Rome Declaration defines the future tasks and the light of the changed circumstances concerning examined ways of making NATO’s expertise and policies of NATO in relation to the overall security in Europe as a whole. experience in defence-related issues available to all institutional framework for Europe’s future cooperation partners and contacts are being security and in relation to the evolving partnershipThe purpose of this booklet is to describe the developed between Ministries of Defence and at and newly established cooperation with the significance of the Rome Declaration on Peace and the military level for this purpose. NATO Defence countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It Cooperation and the challenges it represents in the Ministers met with cooperation partners on 1 April reaffirms the Alliance’s commitment to transformation of the Alliance to meet the new 1992 and the Military Committee held its first strengthening the role of the Conference on circumstances of the 1990s. Mention is also made meeting in Cooperation Session on 10 April 1992. Security and Cooperation in Europe and makes of the guiding principles of the new Strategic specific suggestions for achieving this. In addition, Concept. Since the publication of the Rome The North Atlantic Alliance is thus playing its full it examines the progress achieved and Declaration, additional measures have been taken part in the transformation of Europe and will opportunities available in the field of arms controlat Ministerial Meetings of Foreign and Defence continue to have a unique role as the cornerstone and underlines the Alliance’s adherence to a global Ministers held in December 1991 and at of the transatlantic partnership on which Europe’s view of security. This takes into account broader subsequent meetings, to further the process of stability and security have been built. challenges which can affect Alliance security adaptation and transformation on which the The Future Role of the Alliance

Europe’s security has substantially improved. The Each of these elements is designed to ensure that smaller and more flexible. Conventional forces are threat of massive military confrontation no longer crises affecting European security can be preventedbeing substantially reduced and in many cases so is hangs over it. Nevertheless potential risks to or resolved peacefully. their level of readiness. They are also being made security from instability or tension still exist. more mobile, to enable them to react to a wider Against this background, NATO’s new Strategic The military dimension of the Alliance remains an range of contingencies; and they are being Concept reaffirms the core functions of the essential factor if these goals are to be achieved. It reorganised to ensure that they have the flexibility Alliance including the maintenance of the will continue to reflect a number of fundamental to contribute to crisis management and to enable transatlantic link and of an overall strategic principles : them to be built up if necessary for the purposes of balance in Europe. The Strategic Concept reflects - The Alliance is purely defensive in purpose. defence. Multinational forces will in future play a a broad approach to stability and security. It greater role within NATO’s integrated military recognises that security is based on political, - Security is indivisible. An attack on one member structure. economic, social and environmental considerationsof the Alliance is an attack upon all. The as well as defence. It reflects the unprecedented presence of North American forces in and Nuclear forces will also be greatly reduced. The opportunity which now exists to achieve the committed to Europe remains vital to the security current NATO stockpile of sub-strategic nuclear Alliance’s long-standing objectives by political of Europe, which is inseparably linked to that of weapons will in fact be cut by approximately 80%. means, in keeping with the undertakings made in North America. Further far-reaching reciprocal cuts in the strategic Articles 2 and 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. - NATO’s security policy is based on collective nuclear forces of the United States and those in the Accordingly, the future security policy of the defence, including an integrated military former Soviet Union were proposed by President Alliance can be based on three mutually structure as well as cooperation and coordinationBush in his State of the Union Address at the end reinforcing elements: agreements between Allies. of January 1992 and in June 1992 President Bush and President Yeltsin announced agreement on dialogue - The maintenance of an appropriate mix of nuclear and conventional forces based in Europefurther significantly reduced levels. The will be required for the foreseeable future. fundamental purpose of the remaining nuclear cooperation forces maintained by member countries of the Alliance will continue to be political: to preserve maintenance of a collective In the changed circumstances affecting Europe’s security, NATO forces are being adapted to the peace and prevent war or any kind of coercion. defence capability new strategic environment and are becoming The European Security Identity and Defence Role

Meetings of the Defence Planning Committee and and to maintain fully the strategic unity and the development of a European identity in foreign and of the North Atlantic Council took place in indivisibility of their security. security policy and defence are adequately Brussels in December 1991, shortly after the involved in decisions which may affect their meeting of European Community leaders in The Alliance is the essential forum for security. The new Strategic Concept, which is the Maastricht on political and monetary union. consultation amongst its members and is the venue agreed conceptual basis for the military forces of Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers welcomed for agreement on policies with a bearing on their all the members of the Alliance, facilitates the agreement reached by the Council of security and defence commitments under the complementarity between the Alliance and the the European Community on a common foreign North Atlantic Treaty. However as the two emerging defence component of the European and security policy of the European Union and itsprocesses advance - namely the European security political unification process. In short the Alliance member states, including the eventual framing of a and defence identity as it emerges in the European member countries intend to preserve their existing common defence policy which might in time lead Community and the Western European Union onoperational coherence since, ultimately, their to a common defence. the one hand, and the transformation of the security depends on it. However, they welcome the Alliance on the other - the member countries will prospect of a gradual reinforcement of the role of The Rome Declaration issued by NATO Heads of develop practical arrangements to ensure the the Western European Union, both as the defence State and Government made it clear that the necessary transparency and complementarity component of the process of European unification Alliance sees the enhancement of the role and between them. and as a means of strengthening the European responsibility of its European members as an pillar of the Alliance. important basis for the transformation of NATO. NATO members of the European Community and The development of a European security identity of the Western European Union keep the other There has thus been a gradual convergence of and defence role, reflected in the strengthening of members of the Alliance informed about the views in discussions concerning the development of the European pillar within the Alliance, will progress of their discussions on the development the European security identity and defence role in reinforce the integrity and effectiveness of the of the European security and defence identity as a way which is compatible with the common Atlantic Alliance as a whole. Moreover these two well as about other issues such as their efforts to defence policy of the Alliance. This will contribute positive processes are mutually reinforcing. In promote a peaceful resolution of the Yugoslav to a strong new transatlantic partnership by parallel with them, member countries of the crisis. Appropriate links and consultation strengthening the European component in the Alliance have agreed to enhance the essential procedures are being developed to ensure that transformed Alliance. transatlantic link which the Alliance guarantees NATO countries not currently participating in the Relations with Cooperation Partners

Havingc onsistently encouraged the development develop this partnership. As a result of high level Foreign Ministers or representatives of the sixteen of democracy in the countries of Central and visits, exchanges of views on security and other NATO countries and six Central and Eastern Eastern Europe and in the states which were issues, intensified military contacts and exchanges European countries, as well as the three Baltic formerly part of the Soviet Union, the Alliance has of expertise in many fields, a new relationship has States, took place on 20 December 1991. In March welcomed their commitment to political and been built. 1992 all members of the Commonwealth of economic reform following the rejection of Independent States, and later Georgia and Albania, totalitarian communist rule by their peoples. When they met in Rome in November 1991, became participants in this process. At the Oslo Equally, it welcomed the newly recovered NATO Heads of State and Government decided meeting of the NACC in June 1992 Finland also independence of the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia that the time had come to broaden and intensify attended as an observer. and Lithuania. It continues to support steps this dynamic process. In reaching this decision towards reform taken by the emerging democracies they were influenced by the growth of democratic Future consultations and cooperation will focus on and is ready to give practical assistance to them to institutions throughout Central and Eastern security and related issues where Alliance member help them through the difficult transition they are Europe, by the encouraging experience of countries can offer experience and expertise, such undergoing. Such support reflects the fact that the cooperation acquired thus far and by the desire as defence planning, democratic concepts of security of the members of the Alliance is shown by those countries for closer ties. civilian-military relations, scientific and inseparably linked to that of all other states in environmental affairs, civil/military coordination Europe. As a next step they therefore decided to develop a of air traffic management and the conversion of more institutional basis for consultation and defence production to civilian purposes. This There are a number of ways in which the Alliance cooperation on political and security issues. The initiative will also enhance participation by all can clearly help to foster a sense of security and Foreign Ministers of the Central and Eastern these countries in NATO’s scientific and confidence in the above countries which will European governments were invited to attend a environmental programmes. Likewise it will strengthen their ability to fulfil their commitments meeting with their NATO counterparts to issue a facilitate the widest possible dissemination of under the CSCE process and make democratic joint political declaration, to launch the new era ofinformation about NATO in the countries change inevocable. At the July 1990 London partnership and to work out how the process concerned, through diplomatic liaison channels Summit Meeting the Alliance extended to them its should be pursued. Concrete proposals for and embassies and by other means. NATO hand of friendship and established regular periodic meetings and contacts with the North governments undertook to provide appropriate diplomatic liaison with them. In Paris, in Atlantic Council, the NATO Military Committee resources to support these activities. A workplan November 1990, Alliance member countries and and other NATO committees were put forward. has been drawn up for putting these decisions into their new partners signed a Joint Declaration The first meeting of a “North Atlantic immediate effect. which stated that they were no longer adversaries. Cooperation Council” or “NACC” , attended by In June 1991 when Alliance Foreign Ministers met in Copenhagen, further steps were taken to The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe

The Alliance remains deeply committed to The Alliance thus actively supports the cases of violations of CSCE commitments; strengthening the CSCE process, which has a vital development of the CSCE with a view to transformation of the Office for Free Elections role to play in promoting stability and democracy enhancing its capacity as the organ for into a broader Office of Democratic Institutions; \ in Europe in a period of historic change. It is consultation and cooperation among all continued monitoring and promotion of progress 1/ intensifying its efforts to enhance the CSCE’s role, participating states, capable of effective action in on human dimension matters; and the scope for h in the first instance by working with the other line with its new and increased responsibilities. giving further political impetus to economic, ' CSCE states to ensure that the Helsinki Follow-Up This applies in particular to the role of the CSCE scientific and environmental cooperation. Meeting in 1992 will be another major step with regard to questions of human rights and towards building a new Europe. Consultations security including arms control and disarmament, These ideas were taken several steps further in within the Alliance continue to be a source of and to its contribution to effective crisis December 1991 when NATO Foreign Ministers set initiatives for strengthening the CSCE, which has management and peaceful settlement of disputes, out broad policy objectives for the preparation of the outstanding advantage of being the only forumconsistent with international law and CSCE the Helsinki Meeting. These included the that brings together all the countries of Europe as principles. establishment of a European security forum, well as Canada and the United States under a preserving the autonomy and distinct character of common code of human rights, fundamental A number of specific proposals were made at the the various elements involved in the process but freedoms, democracy, rule of law, security, and NATO Summit Meeting in Rome to translate these also ensuring coherence between them; and the economic liberty. The new CSCE institutions and objectives into practical realities. These addressed institution of a permanent security dialogue in structures, proposed at the NATO Summit in the continuing role of the CSCE Council ; which legitimate security concerns can be London in July 1990, were created at the Paris intensification of the role of the Committee of addressed. When NATO Foreign Ministers met CSCE Summit in November 1990. They must now Senior Officials ; improvement of CSCE again in Oslo in June 1992, they announced that in be consolidated and further developed so as to conflict prevention and crisis management accordance with its own procedures and on a case provide CSCE with the means to ensure full capabilities ; the creation of ad hoc groups to deal by case basis, the Alliance was prepared to support implementation of the Helsinki Final Act, the with specific tasks; decisions to be taken at the peace-keeping activities under the responsibility of Charter of Paris, and other relevant CSCE 1992 Helsinki Follow-Up Meeting to ensure the CSCE, including making available Alliance documents. This will permit the CSCE to meet the complementarity among CSCE activities ; the resources and expertise; and that the North new challenges which Europe will have to face. possibility of measures to develop further the Atlantic Council in Permanent Session would CSCE role in relation to the safeguarding of address the practical options and modalities for human rights, democracy and the rule of law in doing so. Arms Control

President Bush’s initiativeof 27 September 1991, Central and Eastern European countries as well as arms control, the proliferation of weapons of mass which opened new prospects for nuclear arms the newly independent states in the former Soviet destruction and of their means of delivery is a reduction, was strongly supported by the Alliance Union with territory within the CFE area of matter of serious concern to Alliance governments and President Gorbachev’s response was likewise application are actively participating in the work since it undermines international security. NATO welcomed. This applied in particular to the of this informal group. In February 1992 Foreign Ministers made clear their preoccupations decision of both sides to eliminate their nuclear agreement was reached on a phased approach for on this subject in their meeting on 19 December warheads for ground-launched short-range weapon bringing the CFE Treaty into force. 1991, indicating that firm measures are called for systems. The Allies concerned, through their to ensure the safe, responsible and reliable control consultations, played a central role in President The Allies also attach importance to the CFE 1A of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass Bush’s decision which fulfilled the arms control negotiations and to the negotiations on Confidencedestruction in the states of the former Soviet objectives for Short-range Nuclear Forces (SNF) and Security-Building Measures (CSBMs) and have Union. They have stated their willingness to expressed in the London Declaration of July0. 199 urged their partners to work with them in order to respond to requests for practical assistance in Close consultations on the process of eliminationachieve substantial agreements. Important new achieving these objectives. Equally they stressed of ground-based SNF warheads are continuing. The elements introducing greater openness and the need for measures to prevent the unauthorised Alliance’s objective is to achieve security at the confidence-building in the military field include export of nuclear or other destabilising equipment minimum levels of nuclear arms sufficient to agreements, achieved in March 1992, on new and technology. The same concerns about preserve peace and stability. The early ratification confidence and security-building measures and on proliferation were voiced by all the members of the of the START agreement signed on 31 July 1991 is an “ Open Skies” regime permitting overflights of North Atlantic Cooperation Council in their an important aspect of this. In January 1992 the national territory on a reciprocal basis. statement of 02 December 1991 which underlined United States President again took the initiative in the importance attached to efforts in this field. his State of the Union Address, proposing further The 1992 Helsinki Meeting is seen as a turning reciprocal cuts in strategic nuclear forces. The point in the arms control and disarmament Transfers of conventional armaments which initial reactions of the Russian leadership were process in Europe in which all CSCE States now exceed legitimate defensive needs, to other regions extremely positive and included additional participate. It offers a unique opportunity to movewhere tensions exist, make the peaceful settlement proposals. In June 1992 President Bush and the process forward. By shaping a new cooperative of disputes less likely. The Alliance supports the President Yeltsin agreed on further significant order, the goal is to make it unnecessary for any establishment by the United Nations of a universal reductions. country to fear for its security. This can be non-discriminatory register of conventional arms achieved by strengthening security and stability at transfers as well as steps undertaken to address There have also been recent achievements in the lower levels of armed forces as far as this can be other aspects of proliferation and further field of conventional arms control and done in a way which is commensurate with initiatives designed to build confidence and disarmament. The members of the Alliance attach legitimate individual security needs; conducting an underpin international security. One essential aim paramount importance to the Treaty on intensified security dialogue within a permanent is the completion of a global, comprehensive and Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) and have framework; fostering a new sense of transparency effectively verifiable ban on chemical weapons in called upon all the countries concerned to move and cooperation about armed forces and defence 1992. In a related field the results achieved by the forward promptly with its ratification and policies; and promoting effective mechanisms and Third Review Conference of the Biological and implementation. A High Level Working Group instruments for conflict prevention. Toxin Weapons Convention, and the decision (HLWG) has been established with a view to taken to explore the feasibility of verification in facilitating early entry into force of the Treaty. All Despite many positive developments in the field ofthis area, have been positive developments. Broader Challenges

The Strategic Concept published in Rome in November 1991 underlines the fact that Alliance security has to be seen in a global context. It points out the risks of a wider nature, including proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, disruption of the flow of vital resources, and terrorism and sabotage, which can affect Alliance security interests. Considerable importance is therefore attached to Alliance arrangements under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides for consultations whenever any one of the member countries feels that its integrity, political independence or security is threatened. Equally, Alliance member countries attach importance to the coordination of their efforts, including their responses to such risks wherever appropriate. Consultations on broader challenges to security will therefore continue, both in the Alliance and in other multilateral forums where the widest possible cooperation can be achieved. A New Security Architecture

“ The world haschanged dramatically. The Alliance has made an essential contribution. The peoples of North America and the whole of Europe can now join in a community of shared values based on freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. As an agent of change, a source of stability and the indispensable guarantor of its members’ security, our Alliance will continue to play a key role in building a new, lasting order of peace in Europe: a Europe of cooperation and prosperity.”

“The challenges we will face in this new Europe cannot be comprehensively addressed by one institution alone, but only in a framework of interlocking institutions tying together the countries of Europe and North America. Consequently, we are working toward a new European security architecture in which NATO, the CSCE, the European Community, the WEU and the Council of Europe complement each other. Regional frameworks of cooperation will also be important. This interaction will be of the greatest significance in preventing instability and divisions that could result from various causes, such as economic disparities and violent nationalism.”

Extracts from the Rome Declaration November 1991. Landmarks

04.04.49 - The North Atlantic Treaty is signed in 30.05.89 - NATO publishes a Summit Declaration on the 01 .07.91 - The Warsaw Treaty Organisation is Washington, in the framework of Article 51 of the role and future functions of the Alliance and a disbanded. United Nations Charter, by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Comprehensive Concept of Arms Control and France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Disarmament. 19.08.91 - Abortive coup in the Soviet Union. Norway, Portugal, theU nited Kingdom and the United States. 09.11.89 - Opening of the Berlin Wall. 08.11.91 - NATO Heads of State and Government issue the Rome Declaration on Peace and Cooperation. 18.02.52 - Greece and Turkey become members of 08.06.90 - NATO Foreign Ministers issue a “ Message NATO. from Turnberry” in which they express their 05.05.55 - The Federal Republic of Germany becomes a determinaton to seize the historic opportunities resulting 08.12.91 - Russia, Belarus and Ukraine announce the member of NATO. from the profound changes in Europe and extend to the formation of a new Commonwealth of Independent Soviet Union and all other European countries the handStates. 13.12.56 - The North Atlantic Council adopts a report of friendship and cooperation. on improving and extending non-military cooperation 20.12.91 - Inaugural meeting of the North Atlantic between member countries. 06.07.90 - In the London Summit Declaration on a Cooperation Council with the participation of Foreign 13.12.67 - The North Atlantic Council approves the Transformed North Atlantic Alliance, NATO Ministers and Representatives from the sixteen NATO Harmel Report on the Future Tasks of the Alliance. governments announce major steps to bring East-West countries, six Central and Eastern European countries confrontation to an end, including further arms controland the three newly independent Baltic States. 01 .08.75 - The signature of the CSCE Helsinki Final Act initiatives and a fundamental review of NATO strategy. by 35 nations marks the beginning of a new process They invite the Soviet Union and Central and Eastern 23.12.91 - Russia succeeds the Soviet Union as a member designed to increase confidence and mutual European countries to establish regular diplomatic of the United Nations Security Council. understanding among European countries and their allies liaison with NATO and to work towards a new and to protect human rights. relationship based on cooperation. 10.03.92 - At the second meeting of the North Atlantic 12.12.79 - NATO announces its “ double-track” decision Cooperation Council all the republics of the on theatre nuclear force modernisation and parallel and 03.10.90 - Unification of Germany. Commonwealth of Independent States become complementary arms control initiatives. participants in the process of dialogue, partnership and 19.11.90 - States participating in the Conference on cooperation initiated in December 1991. 30.05.82 - Spain becomes the sixteenth member of Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) issue a NATO. Charter of Paris for a New Europe and endorse an 01.04.92 - First meeting of NATO Defence Ministers with agreement on a substantial number of new confidence 19.09.86 - Adoption of the “Stockholm Document” on Cooperation Partners identifies further areas for and security-building measures. The signature in Paris of confidence and security - building measures by CSCE defence-related cooperation. member countries. the CFE Treaty introduces major reductions in the conventional forces and military equipment of NATO 08.12.87 - The signature of the Washington Treaty on and countries. A joint declaration on 10.04.92 - First meeting of NATO’s Military Committee in Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces between the USSR peaceful relations is signed. Cooperation Session. and the USA eliminates an entire category of forces on a global basis. 17.01.91 - 28.2.91 - The Gulf Wa r . 04.06.92 - NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Oslo 09.03.89 - Opening of negotiations in Vienna between announce their readiness to support peace-keeping the 23 countries of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation and 06.05.91 - Ethnic and political tensions in Yugoslavia activities under the CSCE on a case by case basis. NATO to reduce conventional forces in Europe from thelead to a state of civil war. Mediation efforts culminate Atlantic to the Urals; and simultaneously, negotiations in recognition of the secessionist republics of Slovenia 05.06.92 - Albania becomes a participant of the North between all 35 CSCE members on a new set of and Croatia by EC countries 15on January 1992, the Atlantic Cooperation Council and Finland as an observer confidence and security-building measures. break-up of the Yugoslav federation and the interventionat the meeting of the NACC in Oslo. of a UN peace-keeping force (March1992). NATO-A NEW CHAPTER

Iceland

------Norway Canada------Denmark United Kingdom _____Germany Netherlands United States ------Belgium Luxembourg France — Turkey Spain ------— Greece Portugal Italy

NATO OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND PRESS 1110 BRUSSELS

PHOTOS: NATO, GAMMA/PHOTONEWS CREA-BAM 02/647.14.74 PRINTED IN BELGIUM.