PR/CP (2006)150
29 Nov. 2006
RIGA SUMMIT DECLARATION
Issued by the Heads of State and Government
participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council
in Riga on 29 November 2006
1. We, the Heads of
State and Government of the member countries of the NorthAtlantic
Alliance, reaffirm today in Riga our resolve to meet the security
challenges of the 21stcentury and defend
our populations and common values, while maintaining a strong collective
defence as the core purpose of our Alliance. Our 26 nations are
united in democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, and faithful
to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
2. The principle of the
indivisibility of Allied security is fundamental, and our solidarity
gives us the strength to meet new challenges together. In todayÂ’s
evolving security environment, we confront complex, sometimes
inter-related threats such as terrorism, increasingly global in scale and
lethal in results, and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
and their means of delivery, as well as challenges from instability due
to failed or failing states. This puts a premium on the vital role
NATO plays as the essential forum for security consultation between North
American and European Allies. It highlights the importance of
common action against those threats, including in UN-mandated crisis
response operations. It also underscores the importance of
continuing transformation of NATOÂ’s capabilities and relationships, which
includes our operations and missions, strong investment in enhanced
capabilities, and closer engagement with our partners, other nations and
organisations. We have today endorsed our Comprehensive Political
Guidance which provides a framework and political direction for NATOÂ’s
continuing transformation, setting out, for the next 10-15 years, the
priorities for all Alliance capability issues, planning disciplines and
intelligence.
3. From Afghanistan to
the Balkans and from the Mediterranean Sea to Darfur, in sixchallenging
missions and operations in three geographic regions, we are advancing
peace and security and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those who
defend our common values of democracy and freedom as embodied in the
Washington Treaty. We are working closely with our partners and
other nations in these endeavours. We pay tribute to the
professionalism and dedication of the more than fifty thousand men and
women from Allied and other nations dedicated to these tasks, and extend
our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the injured and
the fallen.
4. We stand with the
Government of President Karzai and the people of Afghanistan who seek to
build a stable, democratic and prosperous society, free from terrorism,
narcotics and fear, providing for its own security and at peace with its
neighbours. Afghans have accomplished much in the last five
years. Democratically elected institutions are in place, and the
implementation of national reconstruction and development strategies is
improving the lives of millions. We are committed to an enduring
role to support the Afghan authorities, in cooperation with other
international actors.
5. Contributing to
peace and stability in Afghanistan is NATOÂ’s key priority. In
cooperation with Afghan National Security Forces and in coordination with
other international actors, we will continue to support the Afghan
authorities in meeting their responsibilities to provide security,
stability and reconstruction across Afghanistan through the UN-mandated
NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), respecting
international law and making every effort to avoid harm to the civilian
population. We reaffirm the strong solidarity of our Alliance, and
pledge to ensure that ISAF has the forces, resources, and flexibility
needed to ensure the missionÂ’s continued success. Moreover, the
Afghan Government and NATO are working together to develop
democratically-controlled defence institutions. We have agreed
today to increase our support to the training and further development of
the Afghan National Army, and decided to make stronger national
contributions to Afghan National Police training. We welcome the
continued contribution of partners and other nations to the ISAF mission
and encourage all members of the international community to contribute to
this essential effort.
6. There can be no
security in Afghanistan without development, and nodevelopment without
security. The Afghan people have set out their security,
governance, and development goals in the Afghanistan Compact, concluded
with the international community at the beginning of the year.
Provincial Reconstruction Teams are increasingly at the leading edge of
NATOÂ’s effort, supported by military forces capable of providing the
security and stability needed to foster civilian activity. Guided
by the principle of local ownership, our nations will support the Afghan
GovernmentÂ’s National Development Strategy and its efforts to build
civilian capacity and develop its institutions. We encourage other
nations and international organisations, notably the UN and the World
Bank, to do the same. NATO will play its full role, but cannot
assume the entire burden. We welcome efforts by donor nations, the
European Union (EU), and other international organisations to increase
their support. We also welcome the steps already taken by the
international community to improve the coordination of civilian and
military activities, including dialogue between capitals and
international organisations, and are convinced of the need to take this
further. We encourage the UN to take a leading role in this regard
in support of the Afghan Government.
7. We support the
Government of AfghanistanÂ’s work to demonstrate decisive leadership,
including reaching out to the provinces, strengthening the rule of law,
tackling corruption and taking resolute measures against illegal
narcotics. We further recognise the need to disrupt the networks
that finance, supply and equip terrorists who threaten the government and
people of Afghanistan. We recognise the linkage between narcotics
and insurgents in Afghanistan and will continue to support the Afghan
GovernmentÂ’s counter-narcotics efforts, within ISAFÂ’s mandate.
8. We call on all
AfghanistanÂ’s neighbours to act resolutely in support of the Afghan
governmentÂ’s efforts to build a stable and democratic country within
secure borders. We particularly encourage close cooperation between
Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO, including through the Tri-Partite
Commission.
9. In Kosovo, a robust
UN-mandated KFOR presence has been crucial in helping to maintain
security and promoting the political process. NATO will remain
ready to respond quickly to any threats to the safe and secure
environment. We will play our part in the implementation of the
security provisions of a settlement, and cooperate closely with the
population of Kosovo, the EU and other international actors to promote
stability and to assist in building a Kosovo security system that is
democratically controlled and ethnically representative, and that enjoys
legitimacy throughout Kosovo. We attach great importance to
standards implementation especially regarding the safeguarding of
minority and community rights and the protection of historical and
religious sites, and to combating crime and corruption. We fully
support UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari in his efforts to conclude the
process and we call on all parties to work together with the UN Special
Envoy in a constructive manner, show flexibility in the process, meet the
internationally endorsed standards and participate in local civic
institutions. This should result in a settlement that improves
stability in Southeast Europe, enhances the entire regionÂ’s prospects for
integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions and is acceptable to the
people of Kosovo. As in Afghanistan, success in Kosovo will depend
on a concerted effort. Accordingly, NATO activity to provide a
secure environment will continue to be coordinated with the activities of
the UN, the EU and the OSCE to build governance and support
reform.
10. Experience
in Afghanistan and Kosovo demonstrates that todayÂ’s challenges require a
comprehensive approach by the international community involving a wide
spectrum of civil and military instruments, while fully respecting
mandates and autonomy of decisions of all actors, and provides precedents
for this approach. To that end, while recognising that NATO has no
requirement to develop capabilities strictly for civilian purposes, we
have tasked today the Council in Permanent Session to develop pragmatic
proposals in time for the meeting of Foreign Ministers in April 2007 and
Defence Ministers in June 2007 to improve coherent application of NATOÂ’s
own crisis management instruments as well as practical cooperation at all
levels with partners, the UN and other relevant international
organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and local actors in the
planning and conduct of ongoing and future operations wherever
appropriate. These proposals should take into account emerging
lessons learned and consider flexible options for the adjustment of NATO
military and political planning procedures with a view to enhancing
civil-military interface.
11. NATOÂ’s policy of
partnerships, dialogue, and cooperation is essential to the AllianceÂ’s
purpose and its tasks. It has fostered strong relationships with
countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), the
Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative
(ICI), as well as with Contact Countries. NATO's partnerships have
an enduring value, contributing to stability and security across the
Euro-Atlantic area and beyond. NATO's missions and operations have also
demonstrated the political and operational value of these relationships:
eighteen nations outside the Alliance contribute forces and provide
support to our operations and missions, and others have expressed
interest in working more closely with NATO.
12. With this in mind, we
task the Council in Permanent Session to further develop this policy, in
particular to:
- · fully
develop the political and practical potential of NATOÂ’s existing
cooperation programmes: EAPC/Partnership for Peace (PfP), MD and
ICI, and its relations with Contact Countries, in accordance with the
decisions of our Istanbul Summit;
- · increase
the operational relevance of relations with non-NATO countries, including
interested Contact Countries; and in particular to strengthen NATOÂ’s
ability to work with those current and potential contributors to NATO
operations and mission, who share our interests and values;
- · increase
NATOÂ’s ability to provide practical advice on, and assistance in, the
defence and security-related aspects of reform in countries and regions
where NATO is engaged.
13. Together, we will
pursue these objectives, subject to North Atlantic Council (NAC)
decisions, by:
- · making
consultations with PfP Partners more focused and reflective of
priorities, including by adapting the EAPC process and by making full use
of the different formats of NATOÂ’s interaction with Partners, as provided
for in the EAPC Basic Document and agreed at our Prague and Istanbul
Summits;
- · enabling
the Alliance to call ad-hoc meetings as events arise with those countries
who contribute to or support our operations and missions politically,
militarily and in other ways and those who are potential contributors,
considering their interest in specific regions where NATO is engaged.
This will be done using flexible formats for consultation meetings of
Allies with one or more interested partners (members the EAPC, MD or the
ICI) and/or interested Contact Countries, based on the principles of
inclusiveness, transparency and self-differentiation;
- · strengthening
NATOÂ’s ability to work effectively with individual countries by opening
up for consideration those partnership tools currently available to EAPC
countries to our partners in the MD and the ICI, as well as interested
Contact Countries, on a case-by-case basis.
14. We will continue to
follow closely how all Partners fulfil their commitments to the values
and principles they have adhered to under the EAPC and the PfP. We
reiterate the right of any Partner to seek consultations with the
Alliance. We welcome the progress made by Individual Partnership
Action Plan countries and encourage further reform efforts. We
commend the initiatives to strengthen cooperation, security and stability
in the Black Sea region and will continue to support the regional efforts
to this end.
15. We welcome the progress
achieved in implementing the more ambitious and expanded framework for
the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) agreed at our Istanbul Summit, and we
remain committed to it, including through the decisions we have taken
today.
16. We also look forward to
using the new pragmatic approach we have adopted today to enhance our
relationship with MD and ICI countries as well as interested
ContactCountries.
17. Since our Istanbul
Summit, NATOÂ’s expertise in training has developed further while our
partnership with the nations in the broader Middle East region has
matured and grown in importance to NATO operations and missions. In
this light, we have today launched the NATO Training Cooperation
Initiative in the modernisation of defence structures and the training of
security forces. The Alliance stands ready, in the spirit of joint
ownership, and taking into account available resources, to share its
training expertise with our MD and ICI partners from the broader region
of the Middle East. Through an evolutionary and phased approach
building on existing structures and programmes, we will set up to the
benefit of our partners and NATO nations an expanding network of
NATOtraining activities. An initial phase will include expanding
the participation of these partners in relevant existing NATO training
and education programmes, partnershipactivities, and Allied training
facilities to meet AlliesÂ’ and partnersÂ’ needs, as well as the
establishment of a Middle East faculty at the NATO Defense College.
As a second phase, NATO could consider supporting the establishment of a
Security Cooperation Centre in the region, to be owned by the MD and ICI
countries, with regional funding and NATO assistance. A decision on
contributing to the establishment of such a NATO supported centre would
be based on overall political considerations, appropriate preparatory
work by the Alliance and with partners, and experience gained in all
aspects of the initial phase. Various sources of funding, including
voluntary funding, for example trustfunds, will be considered. We
look forward to the timely implementation of this initiative, in close
consultation with our partners.
18. All Allies continue to
contribute to the NATO mission in Iraq, consistent with UnitedNations
Security Council Resolution 1546, to support the Iraqi security forces
through training, in or out of the country, equipping, or contributing to
trust funds. Our training mission is a demonstration of our support
for the Iraqi people and their government, and for the stability,
democratic development, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic
of Iraq, in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council
resolutions. In response to a request from the Prime Minister of
Iraq, we have asked the NATO Military Authorities to develop additional
niche training options to support Iraqi security forces where military
expertise is required, within the mandate of the NATOTraining
Mission-Iraq. This demonstrates our continued commitment to help
Iraq build effective and sustainable multi-ethnic security
forces.
19. We
are deeply concerned by the continued fighting in Darfur as well as the
worsening humanitarian situation and call on all parties to abide by the
ceasefire. We are concerned about the regional implications of the
conflict. We welcome the conclusions of the 16 November 2006
meeting in Addis Ababa for an African Union (AU) / UN hybrid peacekeeping
mission and urge the Government of Sudan to implement them. NATO
continues to support the ongoing AU mission and is ready, following
consultation with and the agreement of the AU, to broaden that
support. The Alliance is committed to continued coordination with
all actors involved, in particular the AU, the UN and the EU, including
with respect to possible support for a follow-on mission with airlift and
training.
20. We strongly condemn
terrorism, whatever its motivations or manifestations, and will fight it
together as long as necessary, in accordance with international law and
UNprinciples. The Alliance continues to provide an essential
transatlantic dimension to the response against terrorism.
Operation Active Endeavour, our maritime operation in the Mediterranean,
continues to make an important contribution to the fight against
terrorism and we welcome the support of partner countries which has
further enhanced its effectiveness. We remain committed to our
dialogue and cooperation with our partners and other international
organisations to fight terrorism, and reiterate our determination to
protect our populations, territories, infrastructure and forces against
the consequences of terrorist attacks. We commend NATOÂ’s Defence
Against Terrorism initiatives, including development of cutting-edge
technologies to counter terrorist threats, such as defending Allied
forces in Afghanistan from Improvised Explosive Devices. We call
upon Allies to continue to develop and fully implement their national
capabilities in this important area, and to strengthen the AllianceÂ’s
ability to share information and intelligence on terrorism, especially in
support of NATO operations.
21. We support the promotion
of common values, reform, and dialogue, among different peoples and
cultures. In this regard, we acknowledge the initiative on an
“Alliance of Civilisations” launched by the UN Secretary General, and the
G8“Forum for the Future” initiative.
22. Continuing defence
transformation is essential to ensure that the Alliance remains able to
perform its full range of missions, including collective defence and
crisis response operations. Our operations in Afghanistan and the
Balkans confirm that NATO needs modern, highly capable forces
forces that can move quickly to wherever they are needed upon decision by
the NAC. Building on our decisions at the Summits in Prague and
Istanbul, much has already been done to make Alliance forces more capable
and usable. We will strengthen capabilities further in accordance
with the direction and priorities of the Comprehensive Political
Guidance.
23. The establishment of the
NATO Response Force (NRF) which today is at full operational capability
has been a key development. It plays a vital part in the AllianceÂ’s
response to a rapidly emerging crisis. It also serves as a catalyst
for transformation and interoperability and will enhance the overall
quality of our armed forces, not only for NATO, but also for EU, UN or
national purposes. We support the improved implementation of the
agreed NRF concept through mechanisms to enhance long term force
generation, and steps to allow for a more sustainable and transparent
approach to maintain the capability of the force in the future.
24. The adaptation of our
forces must continue. We have endorsed a set of initiatives to increase
the capacity of our forces to address contemporary threats and
challenges.
These include:
· improving
our ability to conduct and support multinational joint expeditionary
operations far from home territory with little or no host nation support
and to sustain them for extended periods. This requires forces that are
fully deployable, sustainable and interoperable and the means to deploy
them;
· commitments
to increase strategic airlift, crucial to the rapid deployment of forces,
to address identified persistent shortages. Multinational
initiatives by NATO members and Partners include the already operational
Strategic Airlift Interim Solution; the intent of a consortium to pool
C-17 airlift assets, and offers to coordinate support structures for
A-400M strategic airlift. Nationally, Allies have or plan to
acquire a large number of C-17 and A-400M aircraft. There have also been
significant developments in the collective provision of sealift since the
PragueSummit;
· the
launch of a special operations forces transformation initiative aimed at
increasing their ability to train and operate together, including through
improving equipment capabilities;
· ensuring
the ability to bring military support to stabilisation operations and
reconstruction efforts in all phases of a crisis, as required and as set
out in the Comprehensive Political Guidance, drawing on lessons learned
and emerging from current operations on the added value of such military
support;
· work
to develop a NATO Network Enabled Capability to share information, data
and intelligence reliably, securely and without delay in Alliance
operations, while improving protection of our key information systems
against cyber attack;
· the
activation of an Intelligence Fusion Centre to improve information and
intelligence sharing for Alliance operations;
· continuing
progress in the Alliance Ground Surveillance programme, with a view to
achieving real capabilities to support Alliance forces;
· continuing
efforts to develop capabilities to counter chemical, biological,
radiological and nuclear threats;
· transforming
the AllianceÂ’s approach to logistics, in part through greater reliance on
multinational solutions;
· efforts
to ensure that the command structure is lean, efficient and more
effective; and
· the
signature of the first major contract for a NATO Active Layered Theatre
Ballistic Missile Defence system which is a major step towards improving
the protection of deployed NATO forces.
25. At Prague we initiated a
Missile Defence Feasibility Study in response to the increasing missile
threat. We welcome its recent completion. It concludes that
missile defence is technically feasible within the limitations and
assumptions of the study. We tasked continued work on the political
and military implications of missile defence for the Alliance including
an update on missile threat developments.
26. We are committed to
continuing to provide, individually and collectively, the resources that
are necessary to allow our Alliance to perform the tasks that we demand
from it. Therefore, we encourage nations whose defence spending is
declining to halt that decline and to aim to increase defence spending in
real terms. As set out in the Comprehensive Political Guidance, the
development of capabilities will not be possible without the commitment
of sufficient resources. Those resources should be used efficiently and
focused on the priorities identified in the Comprehensive Political
Guidance.
27. We endorse the drive for
greater efficiency and effectiveness in NATOHeadquarters and its funding
practices.
28. In the Western Balkans,
Euro-Atlantic integration, based on solidarity and democratic values,
remains necessary for long-term stability. This requires
cooperation in the region, good-neighbourly relations, and working
towards mutually acceptable solutions to outstanding issues.
29. NATOÂ’s ongoing
enlargement process has been an historic success in advancing stability,
peace and cooperation in Europe and the vision of a Europe whole, free,
and at peace. In keeping with our pledge to maintain an open door
to the admission of additional Alliance members in the future, we
reaffirm that NATO remains open to new Europeanmembers under Article 10
of the North Atlantic Treaty. The Membership Action Plan (MAP) is a
crucial stage in preparing countries for possible NATO membership.
All European democratic countries may be considered for MAP or admission,
subject to decisions by the NAC at each stage, based on the performance
of these countries towards meeting the objectives of the North Atlantic
Treaty. We direct that NATO Foreign Ministers keep that process
under continual review and report to us.
30. We welcome the efforts of
Albania, Croatia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to
prepare themselves for the responsibilities and obligations of
membership. We commend their increasing contributions to
international peacekeeping and security operations as well as their
common efforts to advance regional cooperation. At our next summit
in 2008, the Alliance intends to extend further invitations to those
countries who meet NATOÂ’s performance based standards and are able to
contribute to Euro-Atlantic security and stability.
31. We welcome the improved
conduct of Parliamentary elections in Albania in July2005.
Sustained efforts to combat corruption and organised crime are of
critical importance. We encourage continued progress, particularly
on the rule of law and defence reforms.
32. We
welcome CroatiaÂ’s full cooperation with International Criminal Tribunal
for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and its significant progress in
furthering political, economic, rule of law and defence reform, which
must be sustained, and encourage further efforts to ensure that its
membership aspirations are backed by stronger popular support.
33. We welcome the former
Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaÂ’s successful conduct of Parliamentary
elections in 2006, and the strong efforts to deepen political, economic,
defence, rule of law and judicial reform, which must be
sustained.
34. We firmly believe that
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia can offer valuable
contributions to regional stability and security. We strongly
support the ongoing reform processes and want to encourage further
positive developments in the region on its path towards Euro-Atlantic
integration.
35. NATO will further enhance
cooperation on defence reform with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, and
will offer advice and assistance as Montenegro builds its defence
capabilities.
36. Taking into account the
importance of long term stability in the Western Balkans and
acknowledging the progress made so far by Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Montenegro and Serbia, we have today invited these three countries to
join Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council. In taking this step, we reaffirm the importance we attach
to the values and principles set out in the EAPC and PfP basic documents,
and notably expect Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to cooperate fully
with the ICTY. We will closely monitor their respective efforts in
this regard.
37. We reaffirm that the
Alliance will continue with Georgia and Ukraine its Intensified Dialogues
which cover the full range of political, military, financial, and
security issues relating to those countriesÂ’ aspirations to membership,
without prejudice to any eventual Alliance decision.
38. We reaffirm the
importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership, which has its
10th anniversary next year and welcome the
progress that has been made in the framework of our Intensified
Dialogue. We appreciate UkraineÂ’s substantial contributions to our
common security, including through participation in NATO-led operations
and efforts to promote regional cooperation. We encourage Ukraine
to continue to contribute to regional security. We are determined
to continue to assist, through practical cooperation, in the
implementation of far-reaching reform efforts, notably in the fields of
national security, defence, reform of the defence-industrial sector and
fighting corruption.
39. We welcome the
commencement of an Intensified Dialogue with Georgia as well as GeorgiaÂ’s
contribution to international peacekeeping and security operations.
We will continue to engage actively with Georgia in support of its reform
process. We encourage Georgia to continue progress on political,
economic and military reforms, including strengthening judicial reform,
as well as the peaceful resolution of outstanding conflicts on its
territory. We reaffirm that it is of great importance that all
parties in the region should engage constructively to promote regional
peace and stability.
40. The NATO-Russia
partnership remains a strategic element in fostering security in the
Euro-Atlantic area. As we look towards the
10th anniversary of the signing of the
Founding Act and the 5th anniversary of
the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in May 2007, we welcome progress made in
intensifying political dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO
and Russia, and believe that the cooperative agenda set forth in the
May2002 Rome Declaration has not yet achieved its full potential.
Much work remains to be done to this end, and we call on Russia to join
us in enhancing our cooperation on key security issues, including the
fight against terrorism. We look forward to RussiaÂ’s early
ratification of the PfP Status of Forces Agreement, which would
facilitate the further intensification of our practical cooperation, in
particular military-to-military projects. We value RussiaÂ’s
contribution to Operation Active Endeavour, and our practical cooperation
in countering narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan and Central
Asia. We are prepared to strengthen and deepen cooperation within
the NRC by making its existing structures more effective, and to continue
working together as equal partners in areas of common concern and
interest where our cooperation can provide added value, as envisaged by
the Rome Declaration.
41. NATO and the EU share
common values and strategic interests. NATO-EU relations cover a
wide range of issues of common interest relating to security, defence and
crisis management, including the fight against terrorism, the development
of coherent and mutually reinforcing military capabilities, and civil
emergency planning. Our successful cooperation in the Western
Balkans, including through the Berlin Plus arrangements regarding EU
operation Althea, is contributing to peace and security. We will
strive for improvements in the NATO-EU strategic partnership as agreed by
our two organisations, to achieve closer cooperation and greater
efficiency, and avoid unnecessary duplication, in a spirit of
transparency and respecting the autonomy of the two organisations.
A stronger EU will further contribute to our common security.
42. We reaffirm our
commitment to the CFE Treaty as a cornerstone of European security and to
the early entry into force of the Adapted Treaty, which would permit
accession by new States Parties. The 3rd
Review Conference underscored the vital importance we attach to the CFE
Treaty and we are determined to maintain our constructive approach to
conventional arms control. Fulfilment of the remaining Istanbul
commitments on the Republic of Georgia and
the Republic of Moldova will create the conditions for Allies and other
States Parties to move forward on ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty.
We welcome the important agreement signed by Russia and Georgia on
31March 2006 on the withdrawal of Russian forces, and the progress made
since then. We note with regret the continued lack of progress on
withdrawal of Russian military forces from the Republic of Moldova and we
call upon Russia to resume and complete its withdrawal as soon as
possible.
43. We regret the persistence
of regional conflicts in the South Caucasus and the Republic of
Moldova. Our nations support the territorial integrity,
independence, and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the
Republic of Moldova. We support continued efforts to achieve
peaceful settlements to the conflicts involving these
countries.
44. We fully support the
United Nations Security CouncilÂ’s determination that the Democratic
PeopleÂ’s Republic of KoreaÂ’s nuclear test constitutes a clear threat to
international peace and security and the CouncilÂ’s demand that the
Iranian government suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing
activities including research and development to be verified by the
International Atomic Energy Agency. We expect that both governments
comply fully with the demands of relevant United Nations Security Council
resolutions. We express our support to ongoing diplomatic efforts
in this respect. We reiterate that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty remains the cornerstone of non-proliferation and disarmament, and
call for the full compliance with it by all States Parties to the
Treaty. We reaffirm that arms control and non-proliferation will
continue to play a major role in preventing the spread and use of Weapons
of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery. Current
proliferation challenges underline the importance of strengthening
national measures, implementation of United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1540, and existing multilateral non-proliferation and export
control regimes and international arms control and disarmament accords,
including the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the Chemical
Weapons Convention and the Hague Code of Conduct against the
Proliferation of Ballistic Missiles.
45. As underscored in NATOÂ’s
Strategic Concept, Alliance security interests can also be affected by
the disruption of the flow of vital resources. We support a
coordinated, international effort to assess risks to energy
infrastructures and to promote energy infrastructure security. With
this in mind, we direct the Council in Permanent Session to consult on
the most immediate risks in the field of energy security, in order to
define those areas where NATO may add value to safeguard the security
interests of the Allies and, upon request, assist national and
international efforts.
46. We express our deep
appreciation for the gracious hospitality extended to us by our Latvian
hosts. Here in Latvia, a nation whose accession to NATO has
strengthened security for all in the Euro-Atlantic area and brought us
closer to our common goal of a Europe whole and free, united in peace and
by common values, we have reaffirmed the indispensable link between North
America and Europe, and underlined our commitment to the continuing
transformation of our Alliance. The decisions we have taken
together, along with the work we have directed, demonstrate that the
Alliance is adapting to the 21st century
security environment, through its operations, transformed defence
capabilities and deeper engagements with countries in and beyond the
Euro-Atlantic Area, as well as continued internal reform. These
efforts will strengthen our mission in Afghanistan and the AllianceÂ’s
ability to meet further challenges. We will meet next in Spring
2008 in order to assess progress, and give further direction to NATOÂ’s
ongoing transformation, including our enlargement process.
- 1.Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its
constitutional name.