UNCLAS USNATO 000525

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCFE NATO PARM PREL OSCE
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER CIRCULATED BY SOME ALLIES ON RAISING
NATO'S PROFILE IN THE FIELD OF ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT

REF: A. USNATO 00522


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: NATO Permanent Representatives from
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands,
Norway, and Spain circulated a non-paper (see below) to all
Allied PermReps on September 19 on exploring ways to
strengthen NATO's profile in arms control and disarmament
prior to the 2008 Bucharest Summit. The cover letter notes
that the last NATO policy document dealing with these issues
dates back to December 2000 and that currently there is a
need to highlight these issues once again, making specific
reference to the current debate on Missile Defense and the
future of the CFE Treaty. Germany has requested that the
non-paper be placed on the agenda for discussion at the
weekly PermReps' luncheon on October 2. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) Non-Paper by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary,
Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain on Raising NATO,s
Profile in the field of arms control and disarmament.


I. Rationale


1. In NATO,s Strategic Concept of 1999 the Alliance has
stated that an active policy of arms control and disarmament
will continue to be an essential part of the Alliance,s
broad approach to security, and that it will assume a
distinctive role in this process. In this process the
Alliance committed itself to enhance its political efforts to
reduce dangers arising from the proliferation of WMD and
their means of delivery as entailed in the Report on Options
for Confidence and Security Building Measures, Verification,
Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament (C-M (2000)
93 &Options Report8) adopted by Foreign Ministers in
December 2000, and stressed the importance of the CFE Regime
in ensuring stability in the Euro-Atlantic Area.


2. Work within the Alliance in the area of non-proliferation
of WMD has focused on threat analyses and supporting
political efforts such as promoting the PSI and the
implementation of UNSCR 1540. It should be complemented by a
coordinated effort towards the preservation and strengthening
of the NPT regime in the current review process.


3. With NATO considering deterrence requirements for the 21st
century in response to new security challenges and Russia
also reviewing its nuclear doctrine, an open dialogue with
Russia on nuclear posture and doctrine remains timely and
necessary. As stipulated by the Options Report, the
NATO-Russia Council should be used to that effect. This
dialogue should contribute to strengthening the NPT and NPT
Review Process under way.


4. In the area of conventional arms control, recent
developments are putting the future of the CFE regime into
question. Every effort should be undertaken to preserve the
CFE regime and to develop a realistic perspective for an
early ratification of the adapted Treaty. Likewise, NATO
should be open to agree on new confidence and security
building measures where they meet the security interests of
Allies.

II.


5. In light of the above and to ensure the continued
implementation of these goals and bearing in mind the
upcoming Bucharest meeting of Heads of State and Government,
we propose that the Council tasks the SPC, based on the
Options Report.

- to review the achievements and the contributions the
Alliance has made in matters of arms control, disarmament and
non-proliferation, with a view to identifying opportunities
for a pro-active NATO role in these fields, including through
an effective use of the NATO-Russia Council.

- to report in time for the meeting of Foreign Ministers in
December 2007. END TEXT.
OLSON