SERBIA-PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM

FOREIGN-POLITICAL POSITION OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ACCESSION TO THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM

Introduction

“Partnership for Peace” program is the most important NATO initiative designed to reinforce trust and cooperation among members of the Alliance and other Euro-Atlantic States with a view to developing and strengthening stability and security in Europe and beyond. Although the major task of the Partnership for Peace program covers cooperation in the field of defense, the Program has a predominantly political character and is a very important factor of the European security structure.

The partnership is established as an expression of shared belief that the stability and security in Euro-Atlantic space can be achieved only through cooperation and joint efforts i.e. on the basis of cooperative security. The protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms and basic human rights, as well as preservation of freedom, justice and peace through democracy represents common values on which the Partnership is built and they are compatible with the values of other international and regional organizations – United Nations, OSCE, Council of Europe, European Union and others.

In acceding to the Partnership for Peace, the States affirm their commitment to honor in good faith the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, especially to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, to respect the existing borders and to resolve mutual problems by peaceful means. They also affirm their commitment to the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE documents, as well as to the goals and obligations undertaken in the field of arms control.

“Partnership for Peace” program is specific and tailored to individual needs of each country. In line with sovereign rights and national interests and needs, each State determines the content of partnership cooperation. NATO’s approval is required if a country wishes to accede to the Program which evaluates the readiness of a candidate State on the basis of its own standards and criteria, and subsequently invites the candidate country to accede. The membership in the “Partnership for Peace” program is not formally conditioned by the membership in the European Union and vice versa. However, it is compatible since both NATO and EU embrace the same systems of values, procedures and standards of conduct. In addition, the European Union has initiated the creation of its defense policy (ESDP) which considerably relies on NATO.

The membership in the “Partnership for Peace” program was accepted by all States in Euro-Atlantic space. Following the period when our membership in the PfP was conditioned on full cooperation with the ICTY, NATO countries heads of state and government made a historic decision at the Riga Summit on 29 November 2006 that Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina be invited to join the PfP program. We officially became a member on 14 December 2006 when President of the Republic of Serbia Boris Tadic signed the Framework Document in NATO’s headquarters in Brussels.

Serbia and Partnership for Peace program – Background

The process of joining the “Partnership for Peace” program started in the period of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Assessing it to be a priority for our country, in April 2002, the Supreme Defense Council decided to recommend to the then Federal Government to undertake preparations and ensure the conditions for Serbia’s accession to the “Partnership for Peace”. In its further activities, in the end of April 2002, the Government charged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to implement the conclusions related to the creation of general preconditions in line with our aspirations to join the PfP. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has been authorized to address a letter of intent to NATO Secretary-General practically initiating the process of our accession to the PfP.

Soon afterwards, our official request contained in the letter was sent by the Foreign Minister to the NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson conveying and emphasizing our interest in and commitment to join Euro-Atlantic integration processes and accede to the Partnership for Peace.
NATO Ambassadors positively responded to our request and in 2003 approved the first program of cooperation between Serbia and Montenegro and NATO (Cooperation Program/Country Program). Thus our cooperation with the Alliance acquired a concrete form, for the first time. At the NATO Summit in Istanbul in the end of June 2004, leaders of NATO countries positively assessed the start of our cooperation with NATO. In recognition of mutual commitment and interest in cooperation, they approved a new more comprehensive program entitled Tailored Country Program which included a number of activities, material assistance and readiness to accelerate assistance to our country to pave the way for the reform of its defense sector. Thus, our country was awarded for its commitment to moving closer to Euro-Atlantic security integration processes. The NATO Summit in Istanbul encouraged our side to take more aggressive steps towards the accession to the Alliance.

In the meantime, a regular political dialogue was established and stepped up. The highest ranking officials of our country met with senior officials of the Alliance administration in Brussels. A significant number of visits on both sides took place which gave an additional impetus to the promotion of communication, mutual understanding of the situation in our region and in the territory of the Western Balkans.

In order to undertake coordinated and action-oriented efforts in the process of joining the PfP, at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the beginning of February 2004, the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro made a decision to set up an inter-departmental group (IDG) to coordinate preparatory activities for the country’s accession to the PfP. The group, which comprised representatives from all relevant state institutions was particularly engaged in working out the Plan of Action to prepare for the accession to the Partnership for Peace.

As an expression of readiness to cooperate with our country, NATO representatives suggested that an office be opened as a precursor of the Permanent Mission of Serbia to NATO which was accepted by our side. At a proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in March 2004, a special envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to NATO was appointed, with the rank of Ambassador. Thus, a direct communication was established and conditions were created to intensify and deepen the cooperation and relations with NATO and to make them more specific.

In implementing the decision of the Assembly of Serbia of 5 June 2006, noting that Serbia has undertaken all international obligations following the referendum on the independence of Montenegro, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, in his letter of 6 June 2006, informed NATO Secretary General that in line with this decision, the Republic of Serbia has assumed all obligations regarding the cooperation with NATO. In his letter of 27 June 2006, the Secretary General acknowledged this and expressed readiness for the continuation of cooperation and confirmed that all agreements and cooperation programs which have been signed, were still valid.

In view of the above, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia addressed a letter on 16 August 2006 to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and all ministers of foreign affairs of NATO member countries, requesting a more resolved additional support to our accession to the PfP. The talks between Foreign Minister Draskovic and NATO Secretary General in New York on the fringes of the regular session of the UN General Assembly in September 2006, and their subsequent meetings significantly contributed to a sympathetic consideration of our request.

In that period, the process of intensive defense reform system continued, which was assessed in the NATO headquarters as very positive and which vastly contributed to the adoption of a final decision to admit Serbia in the Partnership for Peace. At the same time, bilateral cooperation in the military field was conducted with the most influential countries of the Alliance which was also conducive to the positive attitude towards the membership of the Republic of Serbia in the PfP. In addition, as part of the preparations for the Riga Summit (28 and 29 November 2006) vigorous and comprehensive activities were conducted in order to win the membership support. A major breakthrough in that respect took place during the visit of the President of the Republic of Serbia to the NATO headquarters in July 2006. Also crucial in seeking and winning support was the letter of the President of the Republic of Serbia addressed to US President on the eve of the Riga Summit.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia explained the Plan of Action on cooperation with the Hague Tribunal in mid-July 2006 in Brussels whose implementation was a condition for Serbia’s accession to the PfP. Furthermore, the Prime Minister of Serbia expressed , on several occasions in his statements in September and October 2006, an absolutely clear position regarding Serbia’s readiness to fully cooperate with the Hague Tribunal.

As a result, heads of state or government made a positive decision at the Riga NATO Summit on 29 November 2006 to admit Serbia to the PfP which was included in the conclusion of the final document of the Summit. In the Riga Declaration, under item 36, it is stated that the leaders of the NATO member countries unanimously decided to invite Serbia, along with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro “to join Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council”. The decision is based on the Alliance’s assessment that “in taking this step, we reaffirm the importance we 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 the ICTY”.

President of the Republic of Serbia Boris Tadic signed on 14 December 2006 the Framework Document which contains the basic principles of the PfP. Thus the Republic of Serbia officially became a member of the PfP program and gained the right to take part in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and other PfP bodies.

The next step in Serbia’s approximation to the Alliance took place on 18 December 2006 when NATO Military Liaison Office was opened in Belgrade. It is located in the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia and headed by Brigadier General Yannick Asset. In addition to Defense Minister Zoran Stankovic and Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, also present at the opening ceremony were NATO Deputy Secretary General Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo and Commander of Allied Joint Force Command in Naples Admiral Hans Ulrich. Thus, direct institutionalized form of relations and cooperation between Serbia and NATO was established.

Following the signing of the Framework Document, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted on its session on July 27, 2007 the Presentation Document, which defines cooperation areas with NATO, the activities that it intends to undertake to fulfill the Partnership goals,  as well as military and other capacities that it will make available to the PfP.  

The Minister Vuk Jeremic, during his visit to NATO Headquarter on 5 September 2007, handed over to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Sheffer the Presentation Document of the Republic of Serbia. On this occasion minister Jeremic addressed the North Atlantic Council and had a comprehensive discussion with the NATO ambassadors.

Importance of accession to the Partnership for Peace by the Republic of Serbia

The membership in the PfP is an essential contribution to the consolidation of its international standing and credibility. In addition, the PfP membership corresponds with other goals that we have set: to respond to the new challenges and work together with NATO and PfP members in all areas of mutual interest by responsibly shaping regional and broader stability, consolidating predictability and stability in the entire Western Balkans – in order to ensure a lasting peace and sustainable long-term and comprehensive development of the region, further strengthening of good relations with neighboring countries, as well as security and military cooperation with Western Balkan countries. By finally admitting Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, NATO completed its regional concept of security by incorporating the last European region not included in the program.

Accession to the PfP represents a major political step on the road to further development of the Serbia – NATO relations. This decision is in line with set foreign policy priorities and in the function of our country’s moving forward toward European integrations. Our membership in the program confirms our commitment towards common values on which not only the Partnership for Peace rests upon, but all other Euro-Atlantic structures and the European Union as well.

Partnership for Peace offers a possibility to strengthen and promote the country’s national security and thus accelerate its political and economic transformation. This will undoubtedly contribute to fulfilling the common interests of Serbia and of its future partners to create a stable environment and promote cooperation and ties in the region towards achieving a lasting peace in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Serbia’s PfP membership will definitely accelerate the reform of defense and security sector and enable an efficient harmonization with the principles of democratic control of armed forces and strengthening the country’s readiness to respond to the contemporary security challenges and threats in the neighborhood.

Cooperation programs

The cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Alliance has been constantly growing since 2001. This successful cooperation is also reflected in regular one-year programs of cooperation (‘Tailored Cooperation Program’) since 2004. This form of cooperation has been approved in 2003 to promote our preparations for the PfP program. It includes organization of seminars on the experience of the other PfP countries, NATO organization, military budget as well as democratic control of armed forces. In addition, this program includes cooperation with NATO in the field of security sector reform, emergency planning, bases conversion, re-socialization of surplus military personnel, etc.

In addition to the above program, our country is participating in several regional NATO initiatives – SEEGROUP , SEECAP, SEECHANGE. In 2005, it was the chair of the working group for cooperation in South Eastern Europe SEEGROUP.

Parliament representatives from our country have been regularly participating since 2002 in annual seminars of NATO Parliamentary Assembly as observers.

In cooperation with NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA), in the Technical Overhaul Works Kragujevac since 2003 projects of destruction of small and light arms and landmines have been carried out. This project has been successfully completed.

The implementation of the so-called NATO Trust Fund project for re-qualification and integration of surplus military personnel in our country, valued at 6 million EURO was initiated in December 2005 in support of the existing PRIZMA project as continued NATO assistance in resolving the social dimension of the process of the armed forces reduction. The realization of this program is assisted by the International Migration Organization. To that end, the Memorandum on Cooperation was signed with the Ministry of Defense. The Governments of Denmark, Italy and Spain decided to extend financial support to this trust fund.

In the beginning of 2006, NATO – Serbia Defense Reform Group (DRG) was established and holds regular meetings. The activities of the group are organized through several work tables with the participation of representatives of the Foreign and Defense Ministries, as well as other departments. The Defense Reform Group has regular activities whose results were highly commended by the highest NATO representatives and member states. So far, a number of meetings have been held. Experts from NATO headquarters and military representatives of NATO countries accredited in Belgrade are regularly invited to attend the meetings.

The Republic of Serbia has been granted an observer status in SEDM, it is included in the Vilnius Group, it is allowed to attend the meetings of the US-Adriatic Charter and it regularly takes part in donor conferences of the Forum for assistance to the SEEC.

AGREEMENTS

Parallel to intensive overall cooperation with NATO, there are intensive activities in the field of regulating the relations between Serbia and NATO by agreements, as well as bilateral regulation of this cooperation with the Alliance member states.

In December 2002, by the exchange of letters, the Agreement was concluded on the establishment of air corridors through the territory of FRY for the needs of NATO missions.

One of the most important agreements is the Agreement with NATO concerning transit arrangements for peace plan operations, signed on 18 July 2005 and ratified on 4 November 2005. As a legal successor of Serbia and Montenegro, the Republic of Serbia has assumed all obligations under the Agreement. In order to translate the agreement into practice, the final version of additional technical arrangements is being harmonized to clarify certain provisions of the Agreement and work out in detail the procedures for transit of NATO troops over the territory of Serbia.

FORTHCOMING ACTIVITIES

Following the submitting of the Presentation Document, the next step should be the presentation of the Individual Partnership Program (IPP) of the Republic of Serbia, followed by the signing of the Security Agreement with the Alliance. The Mission of the Republic of Serbia to NATO will be set up in Brussels. This would be followed by the appointment of the representatives of the Republic of Serbia to NATO command in Mons and Naples. Furthermore, in order to create conditions for participation of the Republic of Serbia in NATO/PfP military exercises, it is necessary to sign PfP SOFA agreement on the status of forces, signed by all members of the PfP program.

October, 2007