INTERNATIONAL
MILITARY STAFF
MEDIA
ADVISORY
08 May
2008
NATO AND PARTNER
CHIEFS OF DEFENCE TO MEET AT NATO
HEADQUARTERS
Top
military officers of the Alliance’s member and Partner nations will
convene at NATO HQ, Brussels, from 14-15 May 2008, for their
Spring meeting. For the first time,
Chiefs of Defence from non-NATO countries contributing to NATO operations in
Afghanistan and Kosovo will participate in the
discussions. This is the first of three meetings per year for the NATO Chiefs of
Defence.
More
than 60 Chiefs of Defence from NATO members, the non-NATO contributing nations,
Partnership-for-Peace nations, the Mediterranean Dialogue countries,
Ukraine and
Russia, could be in attendance, making it
the largest gathering of high-level
military expertise in NATO’s history.
In addition, there will be a signing ceremony with
seven nations of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the establishment of
the NATO-accredited Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, in
Estonia.
There will be
several different sessions, including with just the NATO Chiefs of Defence,
dealing mainly with operations (taking stock of all NATO-led operations
and missions, ISAF and KFOR in particular), and taking forward the
military-related decisions of the Bucharest Summit.
Additional meetings will be held in Euro Atlantic Partnership Council
format (sharing experiences from participating in NATO-led operations, and
discussing the way ahead for military Partnership post-Bucharest Summit); with
countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue (discussions on furthering
military-to-military cooperation); with Ukraine (update on the transformation of
the Ukrainian armed forces and a bi-annual assessment of the 2008 NATO-Ukraine
Work plan); and with Russia (exchange of views on operational matters and to
review progress of the 2008 Work Plan).
This
will be the final Chiefs of Defense meetings chaired by Gen. Ray Henault, who
will retire at the end of June 2008.
Note for the
Editor:
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Wednesday,
14 May 08
- Photo coverage of the opening of the MC/CS session on
Wednesday, 14 May. Mrs. Dehaes will meet the media pool at
the press counter no later than 0750hrs for an 0815hrs-0830hrs
opportunity.
- media opportunity with Gen. Ray Henault, Chairman of the Military
Committee. 1320 in the NATO HQ
front foyer.
- Signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding
regarding the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, followed by
a media availability with General James Mattis (Supreme Allied Commander,
Transformation), Maj.-Gen. Ants Laaneots (Estonian Chief of Defense), and
Lt.-Col. Ilmar Tamm (director of the Centre). 1330hrs in
the Brosio Room.
- the weekly NATO media briefing with the NATO Spokesman
is tentatively scheduled at 1430hrs
in the Brosio Room at NATO HQ.
The Military Committee Spokesman, Col. Brett Boudreau, will be
available to update journalists on the Chiefs of Defence meetings to that
point.
Photos and video of all opening sessions will be available
on-line at www.nato.int. shortly after
each meeting. A news release
summarising the discussions will be issued at the conclusion of the 15 May
sessions.
Accreditation
Journalists wishing to cover these opportunities will be able
to access NATO HQ on presentation of a NATO accreditation pass or a valid press
pass.
Enquiries
Point
of contact for the Military Committee
meetings:
Col. Brett
Boudreau or Lt.- Col. Tony White
Tel: +32 2 707 5983 /
5752
General press arrangements:
Mrs. Karen
Dehaes
Public
Affairs Officer, IMS.
Tel: +32 2 707 5423
TV-Radio:
Mr. George De Brouwer
Tel: +32
2 707 5049