On 10th anniversary, NATO partnerships
are now a weapon against terrorism
By Gregory Piatt,
Belgium bureau
BRUSSELS, Belgium — NATO celebrated the 10th anniversary cooperation with its
partner countries from Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucases and Central Asia on
Friday.
But what started out as a political forum after the fall of communism to bring together
alliance members and former countries of the Warsaw Pact is now developing a valued
relationship to combat terrorism.
"Our partners have been helpful in the Balkans and with the coalition against
terrorism," said Italian Adm. Guido Venturoni, chairman of NATO’s Military
Committee, the highest military body in the alliance. "It offers width, especially in
central Asia which is strategically important [in the war on terrorism]."
Venturoni said the partners help with sharing intelligence, providing airspace, bases
and specialized assets. And improving the relationship with partners is necessary,
Venturoni said.
Considerable progress has been achieved in the last decade between the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization and partner countries in the political forum, the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council, and the military forum, the Partnership for Peace, said Kadir
Gulamov, Defense Minister of Uzbekistan, where there are 1,000 U.S. troops using bases in
the fight against terrorism.
"At this time, I believe that this conference also coincides with the time when
the process of cooperation and partnership should be given new impulses and visions,"
Gulamov said in a statement given to the journalists attending the conference celebrating
the anniversary.
NATO has worked to integrate the 27 partners nations in the council with alliance
members’ militaries in areas of peacekeeping, civil emergency planning, science and
economics. But the relationship has move along at a varied pace depending on what issues
were pressing with NATO.
There have been advances in the partnership with peacekeeping in the Balkans and
helping some countries, which aspire to join NATO, to prepare for membership. About
one-third of the 27 partners want to join the alliance.
But everything changed with the NATO-partner relationship on Sept. 11, said Franklin
Kramer, former U.S. assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton Administration.
"Geographically, the partnership encompasses the Caucuses and central Asian
countries," said Kramer, one of the architects of the NATO partner programs.
"Those countries have long faced immediate problems terrorism and insurgency. Now,
several of those countries are active participants in support of the actions in
Afghanistan."
Kramer said that the alliance needs to further work closely with its partner countries
and countries participating in NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue program, which includes
nations from the Middle East and North Africa.
Kramer outlined four challenges for the alliance and its partners:
- Seriously deal with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction
- Focus on the security problems of Central Asia and the Caucuses
- Extend the Partnership for Peace program into the Middle East
- Develop a strong relationship with Russia
"The goal of partnership is to deal with real problems," Kramer said. "A
more effective partnership is one way to increase security …"
Here are some of the military, intelligence and security steps that a few North
Atlantic Treaty Organization partner countries in Eastern Europe have taken to help the
United States in its war on terrorism:
<CF100>n </CF>[BOLDFACE]Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania:[/BOLDFACE] Provided
data from the Baltic Air Surveillance Network to NATO’s air defense system. All three
countries are providing authorization of their air space to U.S. aircraft and use of
national airfields if needed to carry out the anti-terrorist campaign.
<CF100>n </CF>[BOLDFACE]Bulgaria:[/BOLDFACE] Established a direct
communication line between the U.S. State Department and the government to share
information. Opened its air space for U.S. airplanes and is working on an agreement for
transit of non-NATO foreign military units through Bulgarian territory. Bulgaria already
has an agreement with NATO to allow the transit of troops. Tightened its arms exports.
<CF100>n </CF>[BOLDFACE]Romania:[/BOLDFACE] Parliament voted to authorize
the United States use of all air, territorial and maritime facilities. The Supreme Council
for National Defense adopted special measures to protect foreign embassies and the
premises of the international organizations. The council also established a task force to
coordinate future decisions against terrorism.
<CF100>n </CF>[BOLDFACE]Slovakia:[/BOLDFACE] Offered intelligence help.
Committed to explore the possibility of blocking suspicious bank accounts which could
belong to terrorist organizations. Opened overflight, landing and refueling rights in
Slovakia to support U.S. and NATO operations.
<CF100>n </CF>[BOLDFACE]Slovenia:[/BOLDFACE] Armed forces have established
a security zone around the U.S. Army logistics facility in the port of Koper. Tightened
security for foreign embassies and other possible Western facilities that may be targets
of terrorism.
[RECIPETAG]<HRBLACKRULE,0,0.3,-2,100>Sources: The Associated Press and Stars and
Stripes
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