JOINT STATEMENT
SEDM
MINISTERS OF DEFENSE MEETING
05 NOV 04 Ljubljana/ SLOVENIA
(FINAL)
Defense Ministers of ten NATO and PfP Countries participating in South Eastern Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM):
-His Excellency, Vlado BUČKOVSKI
-His Excellency, M. Vecdi GÖNÜL
-His Excellency, Dr. Anton GRIZOLD
-His Excellency, Pandeli MAJKO
-His Excellency, Antonio MARTINO, represented by H.E. Filippo BERSELLI
-His Excellency, Ioan Mircea PAŞCU, represented by H.E. Aurel Sorin ENCUTESCU
-His Excellency, Berislav RONČEVIĆ
-His Excellency, Donald H. RUMSFELD, represented by H.E. Ian BRZEZINSKI
-His Excellency, Spilios P. SPILIOTOPOULOS, represented by H.E. Vasilios MICHALOLIAKOS
-His Excellency, Nikolay SVINAROV
together with the Representative of Ukraine, COL Vitalii KOZAK, with observer status, met in Ljubljana on 05 November 2004, to further promote lasting peace, stability and security in South Eastern Europe and its integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
SEDM Ministers welcomed the Defense Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Nikola RADOVANOVIĆ and Serbia and Montenegro, H.E. Prvoslav DAVINIĆ with guest status.
SEDM Ministers welcomed representatives from the Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples and Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe.
The Chairman of the SEDM-CC/PMSC briefed the Ministers on South Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) certification and deployment process. In this context, the Chairman of the SEDM-CC/PMSC stated that the JFC Naples assessment team completed Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and Full Operational Capability (FOC) evaluations in April and October 2004 respectively, and pointed out that the Brigade accomplished the IOC with certain shortfalls, and the FOC with full appreciation of the results that are supposed to be given in details in the Final Report of the NATO Evaluation Team. The Chairman also emphasized that despite the limitations observed at the end of IOC and FOC evaluations, HQ SEEBRIG accomplished the NATO certification process thanks to the efforts of HQ staff and member nations.
The Chairman of SEDM-CC/PMSC underlined the fact that the advances made by SEDM Nations so far should go along with a more constructive approach toward SEEBRIG deployment; and that it is high time for Nations to give an actual impetus to eliminate the shortfalls.
SEDM Ministers exchanged views on SEDM activities, certification process and deployment of SEEBRIG. The Ministers extended their appreciation to the SEDM-CC/PMSC Secretariat and HQ SEEBRIG for the diligent activities and high quality work done during the certification process. Upon commending the countries of the region for launching this initiative to contribute to regional peace and stability, the Ministers declared the deployment of SEEBRIG in a PSO to be the main objective. In this regard, SEDM Ministers expressed their intent to take the necessary steps for the elimination of operational and logistic shortfalls identified during the NATO certification process.
SEDM Ministers tasked SEDM-CC/PMSC Chairman and COMSEEBRIG to formulate the requirements in the form of a Combined Joint Statement of Requirements (CJSOR). SEDM Ministers committed to meet those requirements in order to make SEEBRIG fully operational, which will serve to justify the credibility of SEDM and SEEBRIG; it will also enhance regional ownership of stability and the sharing of the collective burden.
As for a SEEBRIG deployment, SEDM Ministers approved the “General Timeframe for SEEBRIG deployment in a NATO- or EU-led PSO” and declared that HQ SEEBRIG and SEDM-CC/PMSC Secretariat are directed to take necessary actions in accordance with the provisions of MPFSEE agreement to facilitate SEEBRIG deployment in a PSO in short-term. The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with SEEBRIG force offer to NATO and EU, and appreciated the steady and strenuous efforts of SEDM-CC/PMSC Secretariat and HQ SEEBRIG toward the deployment of SEEBRIG.
Since deployment of SEEBRIG in a PSO is a principle objective of SEDM Nations, the Ministers reiterated their support for ongoing NATO and EU operations in the region, particularly Ops ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ministers tasked SEDM-CC/PMSC Secretariat and HQ SEEBRIG to continue to seek an opportunity to deploy in an operation under EU or NATO auspices in accordance with the provisions of the MPFSEE agreement.
Upon the update given by COMSEEBRIG on SEEBRIG activities since last year, SEDM Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the activities of HQ SEEBRIG and supported the exercises in 2005, namely; NATO CIS “Combined Endeavor-05”, STAFFEX –05, NATO/PfP Exercise Study/CMX “Cooperative Aura 05, CPX “Seven Stars -05” and NATO/PfP CPX “Cooperative Associate 05”.
SEDM Ministers appreciated the chairs of SEDM projects and expressed determination to continue the project activities in order to promote confidence building in the region.
SEDM Ministers expressed their appreciation to H.E. Vlado BUČKOVSKI and H.E. Ioan Mircea PAŞCU (represented by H.E. Aurel Sorin ENCUTESCU) for the willingness of their countries to co-host Exercise SEESIM-06, and welcomed H.E. Berislav RONČEVIĆ’s offer for his country to assume the chairmanship of the CBSC project.
SEDM Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the progress achieved in defense and security cooperation, in particular the ongoing SEDM projects since their last meeting. These projects are:
- Southeastern Europe Simulation Network Exercise (SEESIM-04)
- Satellite Interconnection of Military Hospitals (SIMIHO)
- Defense/Military Support for WMD Counter Proliferation, Border Security and Counter Terrorism (CBSC)
- Cooperation on Armaments, Defense Industry, Research and Technology (SEEDIRET)
- SEEBRIG Disaster Relief Operations Working Group (SEDROWG).
SEDM Ministers expressed their support for SEDM aspirants and stated in the frame of SEDM’s open-door policy that the aspirants would be very welcomed to the Process once they meet the criteria specified for full membership. SEDM Ministers also reiterated their support to non-NATO SEDM Nations for their accession to NATO. Based upon the request of Ukraine to become a full member of the SEDM Process and the MPFSEE Initiative, SEDM Ministers tasked the SEDM-CC Secretariat to take this issue to the 13th PMSC and 12th SEDM-CC Meetings due to take place in Izmir in March 2005.
MPFSEE Ministers approved the HQ SEEBRIG Budget for the year 2005.
SEDM Ministers agreed to staff the date and venue of the next ministerial meeting and in close cooperation with the US circulate through the SEDM-CC/PMSC Secretariat a proposal by mid December 04.
Finally, SEDM Ministers expressed their appreciation to H.E. Dr. Anton GRIZOLD and his staff for organizing this meeting and their gratitude for the distinctive Slovenian hospitality.
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