Prague, 21/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The summit of the 19 NATO nations quickly came to agreement on Alliance enlargement, the NATO Response Force (NRF), the Prague Capabilities Commitment (PCC), and the new command structure. A NATO official said there was no debate on enlargement. In fact, the announcement of the decision on enlargement and statements by heads of state and government on this issue was broadcast in its entirety at the press centre. NATO invited seven nations to begin accession talks: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
During the working session in the morning of 21 November, Alliance heads of state and government endorsed in principle the NRC, PCC and new command structure. These decisions will be finalised for the defence ministers meetings in Brussels in the spring of 2003, the NATO official said. Heads of state and government stressed the importance of a close synergy between the NRF and EU and agreed on the need for complementarity between the force and the European Rapid Reaction Force, according to the same source.
The NATO official said nine countries had agreed to raise defence spending. NATO Secretary General George Robertson named: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, France, the UK, Portugal and the US. Heads of state and government also endorsed a military concept for defence against terrorism and to increase their capabilities to defend against cyber attacks. They also agreed to examine options for addressing the missile threats to Alliance territory, forces and population centres through an appropriate mix of political and defence efforts, along with deterrence.
The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, addressed the session on Berlin Plus. Everyone would have preferred finalisation of Berlin Plus in Prague, the Alliance official said, but this was not the case. Alliance heads of state and government, however, agreed on a Turkish proposal to hold a joint NATO-EU exercise in 2003 to develop closer cooperation.
Heads of state and government agreed on a statement on Iraq and continued to discuss the issue over lunch. The Alliance official stressed the fourth paragraph of the statement: NATO Allies stand united in their commitment to take effective action to assist and support the efforts of the UN to ensure full and immediate compliance by Iraq, without conditions or restrictions, with UNSCR 1441. We recall
that the Security Council in this resolution has warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violation of its obligations. Lord Robertson denied that the statement had been watered down.
Macedonia: Extension of NATO mandate for limited period
The Atlantic leaders also decided to leave a NATO military presence in place in Macedonia, for a limited period after 15 December, date when the operation Amber Fox mandate was to have expired, so as to contribute to maintaining stability. Operation Amber Fox will be reviewed (in the spring of 2003, according to reliable sources) in the light of developments in the situation. NATO's Heads of State and Government noted that the European Union was ready to take over, when the time came and when the conditions were there.