NEWSLETTER of
NATO – UKRAINE PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

[# 9]

THE ACTIVITY OF NATO – UKRAINE PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

NATO Strategic Concept elaboration process

On 3 – 4 of April 2009 NATO member – states’ presidents and heads of governments have entrusted NATO Secretary General to elaborate NATO new Strategic Concept till the end of year 2010.

Not only member – states of the Alliance are drown to the elaboration of NATO new Strategic Concept but partner – states of Council for Euroatlantic partnership, Mediterranean dialogue, Stambul initiative of cooperation, Alliance partners from all worlds regions, international organizations are involved in this process as well. Delegates from non – governmental expert surroundings are also taking part in this consideration.

Alliance, we would like to join and cooperate with

Razumkov Centre within the activity of NATO – Ukraine Partnership Network for Civic Society Expertise Development has begun its work upon elaboration of suggestions for NATO new Strategic Concept. On 15 of October 2009 an expert discussion took place with the participation of state officials, officials from non – governmental organizations regarding conceptual approaches for Ukraine’s share in elaboration of a document.

Those present experts have mentioned a great importance of an active sharing in NATO Strategic Concept elaboration process taking into consideration high interest towards NATO future on the side of Ukraine – as a partner and potential candidate for NATO membership. Ukraine’s active part on earlier stages will guarantee coordinating position concerning mutual interests of Ukraine and NATO member – states and increase the effectiveness of Ukraine’s influence on NATO Strategic Concept elaboration process.

Work on preparation of suggestions for NATO Strategic Concept has already been organized at official levels. Working out of a Document in a close cooperation of state and non – governmental experts that reflects the Ukraine’s vision of NATO development strategy is the main task of this project.

Non – governmental experts jointly with western partners are involved in the work on preparation of suggestions for NATO Strategic Concept. Suggestions of Ukrainian non – governmental experts may be agreed but they will not necessarily concur with official position of Ukraine’s government. 

As for participant’s opinion, the main content of those suggestions should reflect perspective vision of Alliance future role in the first place rather than concrete provisions of a new Concept for the part of Ukraine.

Following suggestions are proposed in terms of NATO Strategic Concept:

1. Present-day situation at defense and security sector, consequently new demands towards NATO 
   • Network character of present threats and means of an adequate response.
   • Classification of non – military threats pertaining to energetic security, corruption, espionage and business consolidation, cybernetic security, climate changes, environmental depletion and so on.
   • An effective reacting at composite security threats – regional challenges, global questions to solve, asymmetric threats under conditions of resources shortage.
   • Building up of multipurpose approaches as for the issues of security with attraction of international organizations, European Union first and foremost.
2. Alliance necessary abilities
   • conflicts prevention
   • conflicts adjustment
   • normalization of situation after ending the conflict
3. NATO’s new architecture for European system of collective security
   • Interaction with other institutions of European security;
   • NATO key principles preservation foreseen in articles 4 - 5, namely “open doors” policy;
   • An effective rise of political dialogue primary for the search of joint approaches and consensus in different actions dealing with energetic security, cybernetic security and climate changes;
4. Providing safety surroundings
   • An effective global partnership;
   • Indivisibility of security, enlargement of frontier’s economic and political stability;
   • Wide application of the 4th Article of Washington Treaty, namely for partnership  cooperation; 
   • Establishment of mechanisms aiming to guarantee security for member – states, active participants of the Alliance operations by informal means;
   • Improving of NATO – Russia relations;  

On the occasion of New Year and Christmas coming, the NATO – Ukraine Civic League has got a golden chance to express its gratitude to Ukrainian
non-governmental organizations and NATO member - states
partner - NGOs for fruitful collaboration
and wishes all the best in the coming
New Year!