Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2006-07
Bilag 20
Offentligt
Riga Summit DeclarationIssued by the Heads of State and Governmentparticipating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Councilin Riga on 29 November 20061. We, the Heads of State and Government of the memberEventcountries of the North Atlantic Alliance, reaffirm today in Riga28-29 Nov. 2006 - NATOour resolve to meet the security challenges of the 21st centuryNATO Riga Summitand defend our populations and common values, whilemaintaining a strong collective defence as the core purpose ofOfficial textsour Alliance. Our 26 nations are united in democracy, individual29 Nov. 2006 - NATOliberty and the rule of law, and faithful to the purposes andComprehensive Politicalprinciples of the United Nations Charter.Guidance2. The principle of the indivisibility of Allied security is fundamental,and our solidarity gives us the strength to meet new challenges together. In today’sevolving security environment, we confront complex, sometimes inter-related threatssuch as terrorism, increasingly global in scale and lethal in results, and the proliferationof Weapons of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery, as well as challenges frominstability due to failed or failing states. This puts a premium on the vital role NATOplays as the essential forum for security consultation between North American andEuropean Allies. It highlights the importance of common action against those threats,including in UN-mandated crisis response operations. It also underscores theimportance of continuing transformation of NATO’s capabilities and relationships, whichincludes our operations and missions, strong investment in enhanced capabilities, andcloser engagement with our partners, other nations and organisations. We have todayendorsed ourComprehensive Political Guidancewhich provides a framework andpolitical direction for NATO’s continuing transformation, setting out, for the next 10-15years, the priorities for all Alliance capability issues, planning disciplines andintelligence.3. From Afghanistan to the Balkans and from the Mediterranean Sea to Darfur, insix challenging missions and operations in three geographic regions, we are advancingpeace and security and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those who defend ourcommon values of democracy and freedom as embodied in the Washington Treaty. Weare working closely with our partners and other nations in these endeavours. We paytribute to the professionalism and dedication of the more than fifty thousand men andwomen from Allied and other nations dedicated to these tasks, and extend our deepestsympathies 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 whoseek 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 electedinstitutions are in place, and the implementation of national reconstruction anddevelopment strategies is improving the lives of millions. We are committed to anenduring role to support the Afghan authorities, in cooperation with other internationalactors.5. Contributing to peace and stability in Afghanistan is NATO’s key priority. In cooperationwith Afghan National Security Forces and in coordination with other international actors,we will continue to support the Afghan authorities in meeting their responsibilities toprovide security, stability and reconstruction across Afghanistan through the UN-mandated NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), respectinginternational law and making every effort to avoid harm to the civilian population. Wereaffirm the strong solidarity of our Alliance, and pledge to ensure that ISAF has theforces, resources, and flexibility needed to ensure the mission’s continued success.
Moreover, the Afghan Government and NATO are working together to developdemocratically-controlled defence institutions. We have agreed today to increase oursupport to the training and further development of the Afghan National Army, anddecided to make stronger national contributions to Afghan National Police training. Wewelcome the continued contribution of partners and other nations to the ISAF missionand encourage all members of the international community to contribute to thisessential effort.6. There can be no security in Afghanistan without development, and no developmentwithout security. The Afghan people have set out their security, governance, anddevelopment goals in the Afghanistan Compact, concluded with the internationalcommunity at the beginning of the year. Provincial Reconstruction Teams areincreasingly at the leading edge of NATO’s effort, supported by military forces capableof providing the security and stability needed to foster civilian activity. Guided by theprinciple of local ownership, our nations will support the Afghan Government’s NationalDevelopment Strategy and its efforts to build civilian capacity and develop itsinstitutions. We encourage other nations and international organisations, notably theUN and the World Bank, to do the same. NATO will play its full role, but cannot assumethe entire burden. We welcome efforts by donor nations, the European Union (EU), andother international organisations to increase their support. We also welcome the stepsalready taken by the international community to improve the coordination of civilianand military activities, including dialogue between capitals and internationalorganisations, and are convinced of the need to take this further. We encourage theUN to take a leading role in this regard in support of the Afghan Government.7. We support the Government of Afghanistan’s work to demonstrate decisive leadership,including reaching out to the provinces, strengthening the rule of law, tacklingcorruption and taking resolute measures against illegal narcotics. We further recognisethe need to disrupt the networks that finance, supply and equip terrorists who threatenthe government and people of Afghanistan. We recognise the linkage betweennarcotics and insurgents in Afghanistan and will continue to support the AfghanGovernment’s counter-narcotics efforts, within ISAF’s mandate.8. We call on all Afghanistan’s neighbours to act resolutely in support of the Afghangovernment’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 tomaintain security and promoting the political process. NATO will remain ready torespond quickly to any threats to the safe and secure environment. We will play ourpart in the implementation of the security provisions of a settlement, and cooperateclosely with the population of Kosovo, the EU and other international actors to promotestability and to assist in building a Kosovo security system that is democraticallycontrolled and ethnically representative, and that enjoys legitimacy throughoutKosovo. We attach great importance to standards implementation especially regardingthe safeguarding of minority and community rights and the protection of historical andreligious sites, and to combating crime and corruption. We fully support UN SpecialEnvoy Martti Ahtisaari in his efforts to conclude the process and we call on all parties towork together with the UN Special Envoy in a constructive manner, show flexibility inthe process, meet the internationally endorsed standards and participate in local civicinstitutions. This should result in a settlement that improves stability in SoutheastEurope, enhances the entire region’s prospects for integration with Euro-Atlanticinstitutions and is acceptable to the people of Kosovo. As in Afghanistan, success inKosovo will depend on a concerted effort. Accordingly, NATO activity to provide asecure environment will continue to be coordinated with the activities of the UN, the EUand the OSCE to build governance and support reform.10. Experience in Afghanistan and Kosovo demonstrates that today’s challenges require acomprehensive approach by the international community involving a wide spectrum of
civil and military instruments, while fully respecting mandates and autonomy ofdecisions of all actors, and provides precedents for this approach. To that end, whilerecognising that NATO has no requirement to develop capabilities strictly for civilianpurposes, we have tasked today the Council in Permanent Session to develop pragmaticproposals in time for the meeting of Foreign Ministers in April 2007 and DefenceMinisters in June 2007 to improve coherent application of NATO’s own crisismanagement instruments as well as practical cooperation at all levels with partners, theUN and other relevant international organisations, Non-Governmental Organisationsand local actors in the planning and conduct of ongoing and future operations whereverappropriate. These proposals should take into account emerging lessons learned andconsider flexible options for the adjustment of NATO military and political planningprocedures with a view to enhancing civil-military interface.11. NATO’s policy of partnerships, dialogue, and cooperation is essential to the Alliance’spurpose and its tasks. It has fostered strong relationships with countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), and the IstanbulCooperation Initiative (ICI), as well as with Contact Countries. NATO's partnershipshave an enduring value, contributing to stability and security across the Euro-Atlanticarea and beyond. NATO's missions and operations have also demonstrated the politicaland operational value of these relationships: eighteen nations outside the Alliancecontribute forces and provide support to our operations and missions, and others haveexpressed interest in working more closely with NATO.12. With this in mind, we task the Council in Permanent Session to further develop thispolicy, in particular to:ofully develop the political and practical potential of NATO’s existing cooperationprogrammes: EAPC/Partnership for Peace (PfP), MD and ICI, and its relationswith Contact Countries, in accordance with the decisions of our Istanbul Summit;oincrease the operational relevance of relations with non-NATO countries,including interested Contact Countries; and in particular to strengthen NATO’sability to work with those current and potential contributors to NATO operationsand mission, who share our interests and values;oincrease NATO’s ability to provide practical advice on, and assistance in, thedefence and security-related aspects of reform in countries and regions whereNATO is engaged.13. Together, we will pursue these objectives, subject to North Atlantic Council (NAC)decisions, by:omaking consultations with PfP Partners more focused and reflective of priorities,including by adapting the EAPC process and by making full use of the differentformats of NATO’s interaction with Partners, as provided for in the EAPC BasicDocument and agreed at our Prague and Istanbul Summits;oenabling the Alliance to call ad-hoc meetings as events arise with thosecountries 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 bedone using flexible formats for consultation meetings of Allies with one or moreinterested partners (members the EAPC, MD or the ICI) and/or interestedContact Countries, based on the principles of inclusiveness, transparency andself-differentiation;ostrengthening NATO’s ability to work effectively with individual countries byopening up for consideration those partnership tools currently available to EAPCcountries to our partners in the MD and the ICI, as well as interested ContactCountries, on a case-by-case basis.14. We will continue to follow closely how all Partners fulfil their commitments to the valuesand principles they have adhered to under the EAPC and the PfP. We reiterate the rightof any Partner to seek consultations with the Alliance. We welcome the progress madeby Individual Partnership Action Plan countries and encourage further reform efforts.
We commend the initiatives to strengthen cooperation, security and stability in theBlack 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 expandedframework for the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) agreed at our Istanbul Summit, and weremain 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 toenhance our relationship with MD and ICI countries as well as interestedContact Countries.17. Since our Istanbul Summit, NATO’s expertise in training has developed further whileour partnership with the nations in the broader Middle East region has matured andgrown in importance to NATO operations and missions. In this light, we have todaylaunched the NATO Training Cooperation Initiative in the modernisation of defencestructures and the training of security forces. The Alliance stands ready, in the spirit ofjoint ownership, and taking into account available resources, to share its trainingexpertise with our MD and ICI partners from the broader region of the Middle East.Through an evolutionary and phased approach building on existing structures andprogrammes, we will set up to the benefit of our partners and NATO nations anexpanding network of NATO training activities. An initial phase will include expandingthe participation of these partners in relevant existing NATO training and educationprogrammes, partnership activities, and Allied training facilities to meet Allies’ andpartners’ needs, as well as the establishment of a Middle East faculty at the NATODefense College. As a second phase, NATO could consider supporting theestablishment of a Security Cooperation Centre in the region, to be owned by the MDand ICI countries, with regional funding and NATO assistance. A decision oncontributing to the establishment of such a NATO supported centre would be based onoverall political considerations, appropriate preparatory work by the Alliance and withpartners, and experience gained in all aspects of the initial phase. Various sources offunding, including voluntary funding, for example trust funds, will be considered. Welook forward to the timely implementation of this initiative, in close consultation withour partners.18. All Allies continue to contribute to the NATO mission in Iraq, consistent withUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, to support the Iraqi security forcesthrough training, in or out of the country, equipping, or contributing to trust funds. Ourtraining mission is a demonstration of our support for the Iraqi people and theirgovernment, and for the stability, democratic development, unity and territorialintegrity of the Republic of Iraq, in accordance with relevant United Nations SecurityCouncil resolutions. In response to a request from the Prime Minister of Iraq, we haveasked the NATO Military Authorities to develop additional niche training options tosupport Iraqi security forces where military expertise is required, within the mandate ofthe NATO Training Mission-Iraq. This demonstrates our continued commitment to helpIraq build effective and sustainable multi-ethnic security forces.19. We are deeply concerned by the continued fighting in Darfur as well as the worseninghumanitarian situation and call on all parties to abide by the ceasefire. We areconcerned about the regional implications of the conflict. We welcome the conclusionsof the 16 November 2006 meeting in Addis Ababa for an African Union (AU) / UN hybridpeacekeeping mission and urge the Government of Sudan to implement them. NATOcontinues to support the ongoing AU mission and is ready, following consultation withand the agreement of the AU, to broaden that support. The Alliance is committed tocontinued 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 andtraining.20. We strongly condemn terrorism, whatever its motivations or manifestations, and willfight it together as long as necessary, in accordance with international law andUN principles. The Alliance continues to provide an essential transatlantic dimension tothe response against terrorism. Operation Active Endeavour, our maritime operation in
the Mediterranean, continues to make an important contribution to the fight againstterrorism and we welcome the support of partner countries which has further enhancedits effectiveness. We remain committed to our dialogue and cooperation with ourpartners and other international organisations to fight terrorism, and reiterate ourdetermination to protect our populations, territories, infrastructure and forces againstthe consequences of terrorist attacks. We commend NATO’s Defence Against Terrorisminitiatives, including development of cutting-edge technologies to counter terroristthreats, such as defending Allied forces in Afghanistan from Improvised ExplosiveDevices. We call upon Allies to continue to develop and fully implement their nationalcapabilities in this important area, and to strengthen the Alliance’s ability to shareinformation and intelligence on terrorism, especially in support of NATO operations.21. We support the promotion of common values, reform, and dialogue, among differentpeoples and cultures. In this regard, we acknowledge the initiative on an “Alliance ofCivilisations” 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 ableto perform its full range of missions, including collective defence and crisis responseoperations. Our operations in Afghanistan and the Balkans confirm that NATO needsmodern, highly capable forces – forces that can move quickly to wherever they areneeded upon decision by the NAC. Building on our decisions at the Summits in Pragueand Istanbul, much has already been done to make Alliance forces more capable andusable. We will strengthen capabilities further in accordance with the direction andpriorities of the Comprehensive Political Guidance.23. The establishment of the NATO Response Force (NRF) which today is at full operationalcapability has been a key development. It plays a vital part in the Alliance’s responseto a rapidly emerging crisis. It also serves as a catalyst for transformation andinteroperability and will enhance the overall quality of our armed forces, not only forNATO, but also for EU, UN or national purposes. We support the improvedimplementation of the agreed NRF concept through mechanisms to enhance long termforce generation, and steps to allow for a more sustainable and transparent approach tomaintain the capability of the force in the future.24. The adaptation of our forces must continue. We have endorsed a set of initiatives toincrease the capacity of our forces to address contemporary threats and challenges.These include:improving our ability to conduct and support multinational jointexpeditionary operations far from home territory with little or no hostnation support and to sustain them for extended periods. This requiresforces that are fully deployable, sustainable and interoperable and themeans to deploy them;commitments to increase strategic airlift, crucial to the rapid deploymentof forces, to address identified persistent shortages. Multinationalinitiatives by NATO members and Partners include the already operationalStrategic Airlift Interim Solution; the intent of a consortium to pool C-17airlift assets, and offers to coordinate support structures for A-400Mstrategic airlift. Nationally, Allies have or plan to acquire a large numberof C-17 and A-400M aircraft. There have also been significantdevelopments in the collective provision of sealift since thePrague Summit;the launch of a special operations forces transformation initiative aimed atincreasing their ability to train and operate together, including throughimproving equipment capabilities;
ensuring the ability to bring military support to stabilisation operations andreconstruction efforts in all phases of a crisis, as required and as set outin the Comprehensive Political Guidance, drawing on lessons learned andemerging from current operations on the added value of such militarysupport;work to develop a NATO Network Enabled Capability to share information,data and intelligence reliably, securely and without delay in Allianceoperations, while improving protection of our key information systemsagainst cyber attack;the activation of an Intelligence Fusion Centre to improve information andintelligence sharing for Alliance operations;continuing progress in the Alliance Ground Surveillance programme, with aview to achieving real capabilities to support Alliance forces;continuing efforts to develop capabilities to counter chemical, biological,radiological and nuclear threats;transforming the Alliance’s approach to logistics, in part through greaterreliance on multinational solutions;efforts to ensure that the command structure is lean, efficient and moreeffective; andthe signature of the first major contract for a NATO Active Layered TheatreBallistic Missile Defence system which is a major step towards improvingthe protection of deployed NATO forces.25. At Prague we initiated a Missile Defence Feasibility Study in response to the increasingmissile threat. We welcome its recent completion. It concludes that missile defence istechnically feasible within the limitations and assumptions of the study. We taskedcontinued work on the political and military implications of missile defence for theAlliance including an update on missile threat developments.26. We are committed to continuing to provide, individually and collectively, the resourcesthat 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 thatdecline and to aim to increase defence spending in real terms. As set out in theComprehensive Political Guidance, the development of capabilities will not be possiblewithout the commitment of sufficient resources. Those resources should be usedefficiently and focused on the priorities identified in the Comprehensive PoliticalGuidance.27. We endorse the drive for greater efficiency and effectiveness in NATO Headquarters andits funding practices.28. In the Western Balkans, Euro-Atlantic integration, based on solidarity and democraticvalues, remains necessary for long-term stability. This requires cooperation in theregion, good-neighbourly relations, and working towards mutually acceptable solutionsto outstanding issues.29. NATO’s ongoing enlargement process has been an historic success in advancingstability, peace and cooperation in Europe and the vision of a Europe whole, free, andat peace. In keeping with our pledge to maintain an open door to the admission ofadditional Alliance members in the future, we reaffirm that NATO remains open to newEuropean members under Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The MembershipAction Plan (MAP) is a crucial stage in preparing countries for possible NATOmembership. All European democratic countries may be considered for MAP oradmission, subject to decisions by the NAC at each stage, based on the performance ofthese countries towards meeting the objectives of the North Atlantic Treaty. We directthat 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 ofMacedonia (1) to prepare themselves for the responsibilities and obligations ofmembership. We commend their increasing contributions to international peacekeeping
and security operations as well as their common efforts to advance regionalcooperation. At our next summit in 2008, the Alliance intends to extend furtherinvitations to those countries who meet NATO’s performance based standards and areable to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security and stability.31. We welcome the improved conduct of Parliamentary elections in Albania in July 2005.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 Croatia’s full cooperation with International Criminal Tribunal for theFormer Yugoslavia (ICTY) and its significant progress in furthering political, economic,rule of law and defence reform, which must be sustained, and encourage further effortsto ensure that its membership aspirations are backed by stronger popular support.33. We welcome the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s successful conduct ofParliamentary 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 offervaluable contributions to regional stability and security. We strongly support theongoing reform processes and want to encourage further positive developments in theregion on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.35. NATO will further enhance cooperation on defence reform with Bosnia and Herzegovinaand Serbia, and will offer advice and assistance as Montenegro builds its defencecapabilities.36. Taking into account the importance of long term stability in the Western Balkans andacknowledging the progress made so far by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro andSerbia, we have today invited these three countries to join Partnership for Peace andthe Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. In taking this step, we reaffirm the importancewe 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 theICTY. We will closely monitor their respective efforts in this regard.37. We reaffirm that the Alliance will continue with Georgia and Ukraine its IntensifiedDialogues which cover the full range of political, military, financial, and security issuesrelating to those countries’ aspirations to membership, without prejudice to anyeventual Alliance decision.38. We reaffirm the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership, which has its10th anniversary next year and welcome the progress that has been made in theframework of our Intensified Dialogue. We appreciate Ukraine’s substantialcontributions to our common security, including through participation in NATO-ledoperations and efforts to promote regional cooperation. We encourage Ukraine tocontinue 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-industrialsector and fighting corruption.39. We welcome the commencement of an Intensified Dialogue with Georgia as well asGeorgia’s contribution to international peacekeeping and security operations. We willcontinue to engage actively with Georgia in support of its reform process. Weencourage Georgia to continue progress on political, economic and military reforms,including strengthening judicial reform, as well as the peaceful resolution of outstandingconflicts on its territory. We reaffirm that it is of great importance that all parties in theregion should engage constructively to promote regional peace and stability.40. The NATO-Russia partnership remains a strategic element in fostering security in theEuro-Atlantic area. As we look towards the 10th anniversary of the signing of theFounding Act and the 5th anniversary of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in May 2007,we welcome progress made in intensifying political dialogue and practical cooperationbetween NATO and Russia, and believe that the cooperative agenda set forth in theMay 2002 Rome Declaration has not yet achieved its full potential. Much work remainsto 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 Russia’searly ratification of the PfP Status of Forces Agreement, which would facilitate thefurther intensification of our practical cooperation, in particular military-to-militaryprojects. We value Russia’s contribution to Operation Active Endeavour, and ourpractical cooperation in countering narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan and Central Asia.We are prepared to strengthen and deepen cooperation within the NRC by making itsexisting structures more effective, and to continue working together as equal partnersin areas of common concern and interest where our cooperation can provide addedvalue, as envisaged by the Rome Declaration.41. NATO and the EU share common values and strategic interests. NATO-EU relationscover a wide range of issues of common interest relating to security, defence and crisismanagement, including the fight against terrorism, the development of coherent andmutually reinforcing military capabilities, and civil emergency planning. Our successfulcooperation in the Western Balkans, including through the Berlin Plus arrangementsregarding EU operation Althea, is contributing to peace and security. We will strive forimprovements in the NATO-EU strategic partnership as agreed by our twoorganisations, to achieve closer cooperation and greater efficiency, and avoidunnecessary duplication, in a spirit of transparency and respecting the autonomy of thetwo 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 securityand to the early entry into force of the Adapted Treaty, which would permit accessionby new States Parties. The 3rd Review Conference underscored the vital importance weattach to the CFE Treaty and we are determined to maintain our constructive approachto conventional arms control. Fulfilment of the remaining Istanbul commitments on theRepublic of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova will create the conditions for Allies andother States Parties to move forward on ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty. Wewelcome the important agreement signed by Russia and Georgia on 31 March 2006 onthe withdrawal of Russian forces, and the progress made since then. We note withregret the continued lack of progress on withdrawal of Russian military forces from theRepublic of Moldova and we call upon Russia to resume and complete its withdrawal assoon as possible.43. We regret the persistence of regional conflicts in the South Caucasus and the Republicof Moldova. Our nations support the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereigntyof Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova. We support continuedefforts to achieve peaceful settlements to the conflicts involving these countries.44. We fully support the United Nations Security Council’s determination that theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear test constitutes a clear threat tointernational peace and security and the Council’s demand that the Iranian governmentsuspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities including research anddevelopment to be verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. We expect thatboth governments comply fully with the demands of relevant United Nations SecurityCouncil resolutions. We express our support to ongoing diplomatic efforts in thisrespect. We reiterate that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty remains the cornerstoneof non-proliferation and disarmament, and call for the full compliance with it by allStates Parties to the Treaty. We reaffirm that arms control and non-proliferation willcontinue to play a major role in preventing the spread and use of Weapons of MassDestruction and their means of delivery. Current proliferation challenges underline theimportance of strengthening national measures, implementation of United NationsSecurity Council Resolution 1540, and existing multilateral non-proliferation and exportcontrol regimes and international arms control and disarmament accords, including theBiological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention and theHague Code of Conduct against the Proliferation of Ballistic Missiles.45. As underscored in NATO’s Strategic Concept, Alliance security interests can also beaffected 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 Sessionto consult on the most immediate risks in the field of energy security, in order to definethose areas where NATO may add value to safeguard the security interests of the Alliesand, upon request, assist national and international efforts.46. We express our deep appreciation for the gracious hospitality extended to us by ourLatvian hosts. Here in Latvia, a nation whose accession to NATO has strengthenedsecurity for all in the Euro-Atlantic area and brought us closer to our common goal of aEurope whole and free, united in peace and by common values, we have reaffirmed theindispensable link between North America and Europe, and underlined our commitmentto 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 the21st century security environment, through its operations, transformed defencecapabilities and deeper engagements with countries in and beyond the Euro-AtlanticArea, as well as continued internal reform. These efforts will strengthen our mission inAfghanistan and the Alliance’s ability to meet further challenges. We will meet next inSpring 2008 in order to assess progress, and give further direction to NATO’s ongoingtransformation, including our enlargement process.1. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.