FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE MEETING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL AT THE LEVEL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS, BRUSSELS

18. We reaffirm all elements of the decisions regarding Ukraine and Georgia taken by our Heads of State and Government in Bucharest.  Both countries have made progress, yet both have significant work left to do.  Therefore, we have decided to provide further assistance to both countries in implementing needed reforms as they progress towards NATO membership.

19 Through a performance, based process NATO will maximize its advice, assistance, and support for their reform efforts in the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Commission and NATO-Georgia Commission, which have a central role to play in supervising the process set in hand at the Bucharest Summit.  In this context, we have decided to amend the NATO-Ukraine Charter on a Distinctive Partnership together with our Ukrainian partners to reflect this central role of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, as is already the case in the NATO-Georgia Commission.  We have also decided to reinforce the NATO information and liaison offices in Kyiv and Tbilisi.  Finally, without prejudice to further decisions, which must be taken about MAP, we have agreed that under the NATO-Georgia Commission and NATO-Ukraine Commission, Annual National Programmes will be developed to help Georgia and Ukraine advance their reforms, which will be annually reviewed by the Allies.

24. While we continue to believe in the importance for Euro-Atlantic security of relations between NATO and Russia that are based on constructive dialogue – including on issues that divide the Alliance and Russia – and cooperation, recent Russian actions and statements have seriously diminished our confidence in Moscow’s continuing commitment to the founding values and principles of the NATO-Russia relations.  Following Russia’s disproportionate military actions during the conflict with Georgia in August, we determined that there could be no business as usual in our relations with Russia.  Russia’s subsequent recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia, which we condemn and call upon Russia to reverse, contravenes the OSCE principles on which the security of Europe is based and the United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Georgia’s territorial integrity which Russia endorsed.  We reaffirm our adherence to these values and principles and call on Russia to demonstrate its own commitment to them.  We call upon Russia to refrain from confrontational statements, including assertions of a sphere of influence, and from threats to the security of Allies and Partners, such as the one concerning the possible deployment of short-range missiles in the Kaliningrad region.  We also call upon Russia to implement fully the commitments agreed with Georgia, as mediated by the EU on 12 August and 8 September 2008.²   In the context of Georgia, we view Russia’s withdrawal from the areas it has committed to leave as an essential step and welcome the steps taken thus far to implement those commitments, while underscoring the importance of full access by international monitors and reminding Russia of its responsibility in terms of security and order.  We express our support for the constructive exchanges between all the parties involved in the Geneva international discussions aimed at making progress rapidly on pending issues related to security and humanitarian matters.  We urge Russia, as well as all other relevant actors, to continue to engage constructively in the resolution of these outstanding issues as the Geneva talks go forward.

35. We remain concerned with the persistence of regional conflicts in the South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova.  We continue to support the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova.  Peaceful conflict resolution founded on these principles has gained increased relevance for overall stability in the region.  We will further support efforts to this aim, and stand ready to enter into consultations with these countries on matters of regional concern.  We will also support these countries in their efforts to make full use of the mechanisms for conflict prevention and peaceful conflict resolution. 

3-4 december 2008

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