Istanbul Cooperation Initiative
1.With a transformed Alliance
determined to respond to new challenges, NATO is ready to
undertake a new initiative in the broader Middle East region
to further contribute to long-term global and regional
security and stability while complementing other
international efforts.
2. In this context, progress
towards a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict should remain a priority for
the countries of the region and the international community
as a whole, and for the success of the security and
stability objectives of this initiative. Full and speedy
implementation of the Quartet Road Map is a key element in
international efforts to promote a two state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which Israel and Palestine
live side by side in peace and security. The roadmap is a
vital element of international efforts to promote a
comprehensive peace on all tracks, including the
Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli tracks.
3. NATO’s initiative, based on a
series of mutually beneficial bilateral relationships aimed
at fostering security and regional stability, should take
into account the following principles:
-
the importance of taking into account ideas and
proposals originating from the countries of the region
or regional organisations;
-
the need to stress that the NATO initiative is a
cooperative initiative, based on joint ownership and the
mutual interests of NATO and the countries of the
region, taking into account their diversity and specific
needs;
-
the need to recognise that this process is distinct yet
takes into account and complements other initiatives
including by the G-8 and international organisations
such as the EU and the OSCE as appropriate. The NATO
initiative should also be complementary to the
Alliance’s Mediterranean Dialogue and could use
instruments developed in this framework, while
respecting its specificity. Furthermore, the new
initiative could apply lessons learned and, as
appropriate, mechanisms and tools derived from other
NATO initiatives such as the Partnership for Peace (PfP);
-
the need to focus on practical cooperation in areas
where NATO can add value, particularly in the security
field. Participation of countries in the region in the
initiative as well as the pace and extent of their
cooperation with NATO will depend in large measure on
their individual response and level of interest;
-
the need to avoid misunderstandings about the scope of
the initiative, which is not meant to either lead to
NATO/EAPC/PfP membership, provide security guarantees,
or be used to create a political debate over issues more
appropriately handled in other fora.
4. Taking into account other
international efforts for reforms in the democracy and civil
society fields in the countries of the region, NATO’s offer
to those countries of dialogue and cooperation will
contribute to those efforts where it can have an added
value: in particular, NATO could make a notable contribution
in the security field as a result of its particular
strengths and the experience gained with the PfP and the
Mediterranean Dialogue.
Aim of the initiative
5. The aim of the initiative
would be to enhance security and regional stability through
a new transatlantic engagement with the region. This could
be achieved by actively promoting NATO’s cooperation with
interested countries in the field of security, particularly
through practical activities where NATO can add value to
develop the ability of countries’ forces to operate with
those of the Alliance including by contributing to NATO-led
operations, fight against terrorism, stem the flow of WMD
materials and illegal trafficking in arms, and improve
countries’ capabilities to address common challenges and
threats with NATO.
6. Countries of the region might
see benefit in cooperation with the Alliance through
practical support against terrorist threats, access to
training, defence reform expertise and opportunities for
military cooperation, as well as through political dialogue
on issues of common concern.
Content of the initiative including priority areas
7. The initiative’s aim would be
essentially achieved through practical cooperation and
assistance in the following priority areas, and illustrative
menu of specific activities:
-
providing tailored advice on defence reform, defence
budgeting, defence planning and civil-military
relations.
-
promoting military-to-military cooperation to contribute
to interoperability1
through participation in selected military exercises and
related education and training activities that could
improve the ability of participating countries’ forces
to operate with those of the Alliance in contributing to
NATO-led operations consistent with the UN Charter:
-
invite interested countries to observe and/or
participate in selected NATO/PfP exercise activities
as appropriate and provided that the necessary
arrangements are in place;
-
encourage additional participation by interested
countries in NATO-led peace-support operations on a
case-by-case basis;
-
fighting against terrorism including through information
sharing and maritime cooperation:
-
invite interested countries, in accordance with the
procedures set out by the Council for contributory
support from non-NATO nations, to join Operation
Active Endeavour (OAE) in order to enhance the
ability to help deter, defend, disrupt and protect
against terrorism through maritime operations in the
OAE Area of Operations;
-
explore other forms of cooperation against terrorism
including through intelligence exchange and
assessments as appropriate.
-
contributing to the work of the Alliance on threats
posed by weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their
means of delivery:
-
promoting cooperation as appropriate and where NATO can
add value in the field of border security, particularly
in connection with terrorism, small arms & light
weapons, and the fight against illegal trafficking:
-
offer NATO-sponsored border security expertise and
facilitate follow-up training in this respect;
-
access to appropriate PfP programmes and training
centres.
-
promoting cooperation in the areas of civil emergency
planning:
-
offer NATO training courses on civil emergency
planning, civil-military coordination, and crisis
response to maritime, aviation, and surface threats;
-
invitations to join or observe relevant NATO/PfP
exercises as appropriate and provision of
information on possible disaster assistance.
Geographical scope of the initiative
8. Based on the principle of
inclusiveness, the initiative could be opened to all
interested countries in the region who subscribe to the aim
and content of this initiative, including the fight against
terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction as described above. Each interested country
would be considered by the North Atlantic Council on a
case-by-case basis and on its own merit. This initiative
would complement NATO’s specific relationship with the
partner countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue
2.
Implementing the new initiative
9. This initiative would carry
NATO into a new set of relationships with countries that may
have a limited understanding of the Alliance as it has been
transformed. Since an underlying requirement of success for
the initiative is the development of ownership by countries
of the region, it will be necessary to update governments’
and opinion-formers’ understanding of NATO and the
initiative and, in the light of the reactions of the
countries concerned, consider a joint public diplomacy
effort. Furthermore, in developing and implementing the
initiative, the views of interested countries in the region
will have to be taken into account through a process of
regular consultation.
-
10. This initiative will be launched at the Istanbul Summit.
Subsequently, in consultation with interested countries,
NATO would offer a menu of practical activities within the
above-mentioned priority areas for possible development with
interested countries of the region. The Alliance would
engage these countries, on a 26+1 basis, to develop and
execute agreed work plans. While doing so, the new
initiative could apply lessons learned and, as appropriate
and on a case-by-case basis, mechanisms and tools derived
from other NATO initiatives such as the Partnership for
Peace (PfP). Appropriate legal, security and liaison
arrangements should be put in place.
1.
Interoperability requirements constitute firm prerequisites
for contributing nations such as the need to communicate
with each other, to operate together, to support each other,
and to train together.
2.
Specificity in this respect refers in particular to the
composition of this initiative and the Mediterranean
Dialogue, as well as the multilateral dimension of the
Mediterranean Dialogue.
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Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI)
Reaching out to the broader Middle East
NATO's
Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, launched at the Alliance's
Summit in the Turkish city in June 2004, aims to contribute
to long-term global and regional security by offering
countries of the broader Middle East region practical
bilateral security cooperation with NATO.
It focuses on practical
cooperation in areas where NATO can add value, notably in
the security field, starting with the individual members of
the Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Based on the principle of
inclusiveness, the Initiative is, however, open to all
interested countries of the broader Middle East region who
subscribe to its aims and content, including the fight
against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction.
It is understood that the words
“country” and “countries” in the document do not exclude
participation, subject to the North Atlantic Council’s
approval, of the Palestinian Authority in cooperation under
this initiative.
Each interested country will be
considered by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case
basis and on its own merit. Participation of countries in
the region in the Initiative as well as the pace and extent
of their cooperation with NATO will depend in large measure
on their individual response and level of interest.
To date, four of the six
countries - Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab
Emirates - have joined the Initiative, while all six
countries have shown a great interest in it.
What key principles is the Initiative based on?
The ICI is based on a number of
important principles, including:
-
it is a cooperative initiative, based on joint ownership
and the mutual interests of NATO and the countries of
the region, taking into account their diversity and
specific needs;
-
the process is distinct yet takes into account and
complements other international initiatives including by
the G8 and international organisations such as the EU
and the OSCE.
What does this mean in practice?
The Initiative offers a 'menu' of
bilateral activities that countries can choose from in six
areas:
-
tailored advice on defence reform, defence budgeting,
defence planning and civil-military relations;
-
military-to-military cooperation to contribute to
interoperability through participation in selected
military exercises and related education and training
activities that could improve the ability of
participating countries' forces to operate with those of
the Alliance; and through participation in selected NATO
and PfP exercises and in NATO-led operation on a
case-by-case basis;
-
cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including
through intelligence-sharing;
-
cooperation in the Alliance's work on the profileration
of weapons of mass destruction and their means of
delivery,
-
cooperation regarding border security in connection with
terrorism, small arms and light weapons and the fight
against illegal trafficking;
-
civil emergency planning, including participating in
training courses and exercises on disaster assistance.
How did the Initiative evolve?
NATO recognizes that
dealing with today's complex new threats requires wide
international cooperation and collective effort. That is why
NATO has developed, and continues to develop, a network of
partnerships in the security field.
The Initiative was
preceeded by a series of high level consultations conducted
by the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Ambassador Minuto
Rizzo, with six countries of the region in May, September
and December 2004. These were: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. During these
consultations all of the countries expressed their interest
in the Initiative.
ICI was launched at
the Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in
Istanbul, 28 June 2004.
Following the
Summit, from September to December 2004, the Deputy
Secretary General of NATO paid a second round of visits to
the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, to discuss
the way ahead.
In the first three
months of 2005, three countries: Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar
frormally joined the ICI.
In March 2005,
NATO's Public Diplomacy Division and the NATO Defense
College organized in Rome a conference on “NATO and the
broader Middle East region”. It brought together over 100
high-ranking officials, parliamentarians, academics and
security experts from NATO and the countries of the Gulf to
exchange perceptions and discuss further ideas concerning
the implementation of the Initiative.
In June 2005, the
United Arab Emirates joined the Initiative.
Which NATO bodies have a
central role?
Following the launch
of the ICI, NATO countries decided to establish the Istanbul
Cooperation Initiative Group, composed of political
counsellors from the 26 delegations of member countries to
NATO.
The Group is in
charge of defining the procedures for the development of a
menu of practical activities with interested countries and
ensuring its succesful implementation. It will also report
to the Council or to NATO's Senior Political Committee and
will prepare the ground for the decisions to be adopted by
the North Atlantic Council on ICI.
In addition, the
Group will engage countries participating in the Initiative
on a '26+1' basis for the development of individual
workplans and follow up on their implementation.
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