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<TITLE>Norwegian Defense Minister J. H. Kosmo...Cooperating to Build Peace</TITLE>
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<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+4"></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+4">Cooperating
to Build Peace</FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">Norwegian Defense Minister
J. H. Kosmo</FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">INTRODUCTION</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">At the NATO Summit in January
1994, the heads of state and government made important decisions on the
Partnership for Peace (PFP) program and the Combined Joint Task Forces
(CJTF) concept. These new tasks, which are closely connected, are much
related to the situation in Central and Eastern Europe. Some twenty
countries have signed the Partnership for Peace Framework Document, an
indication that the Partnership for Peace initiative is already quite a
success; and Russia has now joined.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1"><B>PRESERVING COLLECTIVE
DEFENSE WHILE ADDING NEW TASKS</B></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Since these new tasks were
discussed at the Workshop, I would like to stress one point: NATO will not
be able to undertake new tasks unless we ensure that the Alliance's core
function--the defense and security provisions of member countries under
Article 5 of the Washington Treaty--receives high priority in the future,
too. In particular, NATO must retain the capacity to finance satisfactory
command and force structures. We must also preserve the integrated defense
planning structures. Only in this way will NATO be able to fully undertake
new challenges and tighten its cooperation with the Partner countries. By
implication, nations must be willing to make the necessary additional
financial contributions to guarantee the full implementation of the Summit
decisions on Partnership for Peace and the Combined Joint Task Forces
concept. Without such additional funding, the new tasks may never be
accomplished or they will become a drain on NATO's ability to fulfill its
core function--an even worse situation, in my opinion. If countries
continue to reduce their defense budgets, this could well become NATO's
greatest challenge.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Peacekeeping. Participation in
peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the auspices of the
United Nations will also be among the tasks of the new NATO. From the
outset of the Cold War until the end of the eighties, peacekeeping was
regarded almost as a substitute for active involvement by the great powers
in the resolution of conflicts. During the Cold War, the United Nations
Security Council was unable to make decisions of a peace and war nature.
The few peacekeeping operations that were conducted during this period
were low scale in every aspect: money, manpower, and mandate. In order to
avoid involvement by the great powers in the actual conflicts, the
troop-contributing nations were small ones, such as Nordic countries,
since they were viewed as impartial and too small to have specific
interests in the matter at stake.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Thus, the experience gained by
the Norwegian Armed Forces has been mainly in peacekeeping operations from
the time our country joined this type of activity in the late 1940s. The
Norwegian units are basically created and adapted for this kind of
service. Our country's long experience with such operations has permitted
us to acquire special competence--with qualifications that are quite
different from those of purely fighting units. Voluntary and reserve
forces are well adapted to this service, as are members of our regular
officer corps. In the future, it will be equally desirable for the forces
that we contribute to concentrate on such operations.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Peace Enforcing. Since military
support for humanitarian-aid operations often entails the use of force,
this potential requirement will place extra demands on forces and their
equipment. Norway ought to be able to participate in these types of
operations, too. Norwegian participation in peace-enforcing operations
with fighting units should primarily occur within a NATO framework. First
and foremost, Norway will contribute to NATO's rapid reaction forces,
which it would be appropriate to deploy in such cases. In addition to the
F-16 squadron and naval vessels, the IRF battalion will represent the
best-educated and best-trained infantry unit in the Norwegian Armed
Forces. On the other hand, Norwegian participation in peace enforcement
will also be in support of units such as engineers, maintenance, supply,
and medical staff.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">An Effective Command and Control
System. Initially, a large contribution by Norwegian forces abroad will
influence our capability for national defense. As a result, Norway's
international military effort must develop in such a way that it gives
adequate consideration to the maintenance of a satisfactory defense
capability. At the same time, Norway is also committed to participating in
peace operations outside Europe when it can contribute to the resolution
of difficult conflicts. As was mentioned earlier, when participating in
international peace operations, it is of great importance that the command
and control system function effectively to ensure the safety of personnel.
In this respect, the U.N. has initiated the positive step of improving its
organizational command and control system.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">International involvement to
stop the fighting in the former Yugoslavia is an excellent example of how
fast the nature of peacekeeping is evolving. For the first time, a
regional organization is actively supporting the United Nations in
conducting a peacekeeping operation. NATO's role in Bosnia-Herzegovina is
historic. The concept of international peacekeeping, however, is
undergoing rapid change, as highlighted by the current situation in the
former Yugoslavia.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">CONCLUSION</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Collective defense remains the
core function of the Alliance; but today's challenges to our common
security, and the stability of Europe as a whole, are more diverse and
complex than those NATO faced during its first four decades. It lies with
us to take on these new challenges and work constructively and in close
cooperation to build peace in the post-Cold War period. The historic time
window may be very brief. Let us get our act fully together sooner rather
than later.</FONT></FONT> </P>
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