NEWSLETTER of
NATO – UKRAINE PARTNERSHIP NETWORK 

[# 10]

THE ACTIVITY OF NATO – UKRAINE PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

Meeting of Task Force IV upon Building the Integrity
Within the Ukraine – NATO Partnership Network

12 of March 2010

In the premises of NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine a meeting with Mr. Alan Waldron – representative of Transparency International and Mr. John Blaker from Defence Academy of the United Kingdom took place. During the meeting a small project was present within the IV Task Force, which aims to involve Ukraine’s civil society in building integrity, pursuing anti-corruption measures, enhancing transparency and fostering accountability across Ukraine’s security and defence sector, upon Building the Integrity namely a potential project concerning the development of a Code of Conduct for state officials in security and defence sector as well as other projects suggested to realization.

Delegates from the United Kingdom took their occasion to inform shortly upon the current state upon realization of Building Integrity in Defence Establishments Initiative in Ukraine and other states as well as the chance of NGO’s delegates attraction to take part in the next course of studies on issues of corruption prevention and counteraction that is going to take place at the end of spring in Kyiv within the framework of this initiative.  The head of Ukraine – NATO Civic League Serhiy Dzherdzh, vice – president of Atlantic Council of Ukraine Oleh Kokoshynskyi, Ludmyla Chmil - NATO Liaison Office coordinator, Andriy Voitenko – Center for Strategic Research, Oleksiy Khmara – president of company for technologies of personality development and others took part in leading through this event.

Presentation of a consolidated approach of Ukrainian independent think-tanks and civic organizations regarding New NATO Strategic Document

15 of March of 2010

On 15th of March 2010 institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation and Razumkov Center with the assistance of NATO Information and Documentation Center in Ukraine, NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine presented a position document concerning New NATO Strategic Concept that was prepared by leading analytical establishments and Ukraine’s independent experts. 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.
This contribution by leading Ukrainian security experts to the development of NATO’s New Strategic Concept is conditioned by our country’s two-fold interest in NATO's future – firstly, as an active partner of the Alliance; secondly, we see future membership as essential for our national security. We consider that the Alliance:

• Is the main basis for security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area today and will remain so in the foreseeable future;
• Brings together Europe and North America in a Trans-Atlantic security alliance of democratic nations;
• Has real capabilities linked to political decisions;
• Can operate across a full spectrum of operations;
• Has clearly demonstrated its effectiveness and ability for internal transformation.

Our proposals for NATO’s New Strategic Concept are not focused on a Ukraine-specific agenda but rather reflect a vision of NATO's future that is relevant to Ukraine's perspectives and national security interests. Demonstrating this relevance, combined with progress in Ukraine’s development as a European democracy, will positively impact public perceptions of the Alliance within Ukraine far more than any “marketing” campaign. 

Strategic perspective

The New Strategic Concept must present clear messages for societies and leaders of the member-states, Partners, and aspirant countries as well as for those who may wish to undermine the security of its members or challenge its capability to function as a military and political Alliance. This should include:

• Commitment to projecting security and stability in the region, in particular along its borders;
• Confirmation of the Alliance's interest in the independence, territorial integrity and stable democratic development of neighbouring countries;
• Articulation of a security risk to NATO from the existing conflict zones near its borders;
• Willingness to develop and strengthen international confidence building regimes and measures in Europe, and to work toward this aim with partners (to include local arrangements to address specific issues and mitigate the negative impact of the CFE regime’s breakdown).

NATO should demonstrate its willingness to discuss European security arrangements that will meet the legitimate interests of non-NATO states, with the clear understanding that these cannot replace NATO, cannot change its nature as an Alliance of democratic nations, and should not create external constraints on its freedom to make and carry out its legitimate decisions.

New strategic concept as for the activity of Ukraine – NATO Partnership Netwotk
For Civic Society Expertise

New Strategic Concept as for the activity of Ukraine – NATO Partnership Network for Civic Society Expertise Development was elaborated by delegates of Task Forces within Ukraine – NATO Civic League jointly NATO Liaison Office delegates in Ukraine. New Strategic Concept as for the activity of Ukraine – NATO Partnership Network aimed at building capacity and increase impact of Ukraine’s civil society in promoting good governance and providing for accountability, transparency and responsiveness within Ukraine’s security sector and broad Euro-Atlantic reforms. The objectives mentioned above is planned to achieve y means of building long-term relationships between Ukrainian CSOs / experts and international counterparts; strengthening links within Ukraine’s expert community through their organization into area-specific Task Forces; facilitating strategic partnerships between Ukraine’s civil society and security institutions; providing framework for open exchanges of views and a free flow of ideas about the roles of civil society in formulating and implementing national defence and security policies.