Report

The Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association has the honour to present its report on its participation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s (NATO PA) 57^th Annual Session in Bucharest, Romania, 7 – 10 October 2011. The Canadian delegation was led by Mr. Leon Benoit, M.P., and included from the Senate the Hon. Raynell Andreychuk, Chair of the NATO PA Political Committee, the Hon. Jane Cordy, Former Vice-President of the Assembly, the Hon. Joseph Day, Chair of the NATO PA Defence and Security Committee, the Hon. Pierre-Claude Nolin, Treasurer of the NATO PA and Special Rapporteur for the Science and Technology Committee, and from the House of Commons Mr. Glenn Thibeault, M.P.  The delegation was accompanied by Melissa Radford, the association’s advisor, and the acting association secretary, Roger Préfontaine.

The Annual Session was hosted by the Romanian delegation and chaired by Parliamentary Assembly President, Dr. Karl Lamers, and Member of Parliament from Germany. More than 300 parliamentarians from NATO member countries, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia participated in the session.

THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is an inter-parliamentary organization of legislators from the national parliaments of member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as 14 associate members. It is completely independent of the official NATO structure.[1] As the Assembly’s website notes, “Its principal objective is to foster mutual understanding among Alliance parliamentarians of the key security and defence challenges facing the transatlantic partnership.”[2]

Canadian parliamentarians draw significant benefit from their participation in NATO PA events. In addition to gaining a better understanding of strategic issues facing the Alliance and Canada, they are presented with the opportunity to promote Canadian values and interests in the course of discussions in the Assembly, its committees and during informal meetings with their counterparts from NATO member and associate member countries.

MAIN ISSUES

The agenda of the 57^th Annual Session of the NATO PA was a culmination of topics that were of interest to the NATO PA throughout the year and included many subjects of importance to Canada, such as:

1.    NATO operations, particularly Afghanistan;

2.    Implementation of the Alliance’s new Strategic Concept and the 2010 Lisbon Summit decisions;

3.    Ongoing developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and their implications for international security;

4.    NATO partnerships – with other states and international organizations;

5.    The impact of the economic crisis on the resources available for defence operations and procurement;

6.    Security issues in regions such as the South Caucasus (particularly Georgia), the Western Balkans and the Arctic.

NATO PA BUSINESS

The first meeting of this Annual Session, the Coordination Meeting, is attended by members of the Standing Committee which include NATO PA Bureau members (President, Vice Presidents and Treasurer), Chairpersons of Committees and Subcommittees, and Rapporteurs only. Due to the key positions held by Canadian parliamentarians within the NATO PA, most Canadian delegates were in attendance. The purpose of the Coordination Meeting is to review the NATO PA’s 2011 programme and plan for the activities of 2012. In reviewing the 2011 programme, delegates took the opportunity to learn from some of the organizational changes that were made in that year. The NATO PA has made some significant decisions particularly with respect to reducing its spending in light of the financial difficulties faced by a number of member states. For example, the Assembly has decreased the number of activities by organizing joint Committee and Subcommittee activities. As well, Annual Sessions now follow a shorter format which has resulted in a day’s worth of cost savings. With this in mind, Senator Nolin, Treasurer of the NATO PA, presented his budget, which was approved by the Standing Committee after a period of discussion.

The Standing Committee also approved subjects of focus for 2012. These included:

·         The MENA Region;

·         NATO operations;

·         “Post-Lisbon, pre-Chicago” NATO adaptation, including the impact of the prolonged financial and economic crisis; and

·         NATO partnerships, regional security issues and gender.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Before the Committee meetings began, delegates had the opportunity to meet with their counterparts from their respective political groups from across the Alliance: Conservative, Christian Democrat and Associates; Alliance of Liberals and Democrats; and, Socialist. This allows Assembly members from similar political parties to discuss issues of mutual interest to their own parties and constituents, further solidifying the nature of the democratic debate and parliamentary diplomacy that takes place within the NATO PA.

NATO PA Committees then met simultaneously for the next two days. During these meetings, Committee’s debate and adopt reports and resolutions drafted by their respective Rapporteurs. In addition, these meetings are an opportunity for delegates to hear from academics experts as well as senior military and government officials from NATO member states with respect to issues of interest to the Alliance.

The Committee on the Civil Dimensions of Security adopted three reports during its deliberations: "Information and National Security", “Governance challenges in Afghanistan – an Update” and “Post-Orange Ukraine: Internal Dynamics and Foreign Policy Priorities.” Senator Jane Cordy is the Canadian member of this committee.  The Committee also took a brief opportunity to discuss how it will study the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and related resolutions in NATO member countries. So far, defence ministers from each member country were invited to describe how his or her government has begun the implementation of this Resolution. Their statements were collected and collated into a document entitled “The implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and NATO PA Resolution 381 in NATO member states” which was distributed to all delegates. In addition, Committee members had the opportunity to hear from Dr Khalid Koser, the Head of the New Issues in Security Programme at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, on “Migration and Security: An Arab Spring Case Study;” Vladimir Socor, a Senior Fellow at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington DC, on “Ukraine and Moldova: The Security Deficit in Europe’s East;” Raffaello Pantucci, an Associate Fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization (ICSR) on “The Next Decade of Terror?;” and finally, Iulian Fota, Presidential Counsellor, on “Regions of Strategic Importance for Romania.”[3]

The Defence and Security Committee adopted three reports under the Chairmanship of Senator Joseph Day: "Transition in Afghanistan: Assessing the Security Effort”, "Missile Defence: the Way Ahead for NATO" and "NATO Operations under a New Strategic Concept and the EU as an Operational Partner.”  Senator Day facilitated discussion and mediated suggested amendments to the reports. In addition, Committee members had the opportunity to hear from Bogdan Aurescu, Secretary of State from Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on “Missile Defence Co-operation in the Euro-Atlantic Area: The Romanian Approach;” Dr Bradley Roberts, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Nuclear and Missile Defence Policy at United States Department of Defence, on “NATO’s Deterrence and Defence Posture Review;” Romania’s Lieutenant General Dr Stefan Danila, on “Romania’s Contribution to NATO Operations and the Reform of the Romanian Armed Forces;” and finally, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, on “The Impact of Operation Unified Protector on the Future of the Alliance.”[4]

The Economics and Security Committee also adopted three reports during its deliberations. Mr. Leon Benoit is the Canadian member on this Committee and also Chair of its Subcommittee on Transatlantic Economic Relations. The Committee’s reports are entitled “Confronting a Difficult Fiscal Environment: the Economic and Security Implications of Fiscal Consolidation," "Finding Workable Solutions in Afghanistan: The Work of the International Community in Building a Functioning Economy and Society" (submitted by the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Economic Relations) and "The Balkan Economies: Regional Roadblocks, Europe’s Distractions and Global Crisis." In addition, Committee members had the opportunity to hear from Professor Sultan Barakat, Director of the Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit at the University of York, on “Post-Conflict Development in Afghanistan” and Frank Boland, Director of Force Planning of the NATO Defense Policy and Planning Directorate on “Transatlantic burden sharing in a time of budgetary crisis.”[5]

The Political Committee adopted three reports under the Chairmanship of Senator Raynell Andreychuk: "The Rise of China and Possible Implications for NATO”, "Belarus - A Difficult Partner" and "Afghanistan - the Regional Context.” Senator Andreychuk facilitated debate over the reports’ observations and conclusions, and oversaw deliberations on suggested amendments. Mr. Glen Thibeault represented Canada during Committee discussions. Committee members also had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Teodor Baconschi, Foreign Minister of Romania, on “Romania’s vision on the future of NATO;” Nawabzada M. Amad Khan, a member of the Pakistani National Assembly and former Secretary of State in Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on “The Current Situation in Pakistan;” and finally, Professor Aude Merlin from the Free University in Brussels, on “Stability and Security in the North Caucasus.”[6]

Finally, the Science and Technology Committee also adopted three reports during its deliberations: "Countering Biological and Chemical Threats: The Way Forward", "Countering the Afghan Insurgency: Low-Tech Threats, High-Tech Solutions" (which was presented by the Committee’s Special Rapporteur, Senator Nolin) and "Food and Water Security: Implications for Euro-Atlantic Security." During the last half of the meeting, Senator Nolin stepped in to replace the Chair. Mr. Glen Thibeault also represented Canada at this Committee meeting. In terms of presentations, Committee members had the opportunity to hear from Sorin Dumitru Ducaru, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Romania to NATO, and Jason Healey, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative.[7]

PLENARY SESSION

On the final day, all NATO PA members met during the Plenary Session to debate and adopt decisions made by the Standing Committee. In addition, delegates were addressed by the Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Presentations were also made by Ms Samira Hamidi, Afghan Country Director of the Afghan Women's Network and Major General Karl Engelbrektson, Swedish Military Representative to the EU and to NATO on the subject of “Gender and Security.” Senator Jane Cordy participated in the subsequent question and answer period.

Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin, Treasurer of the NATO PA, was re-elected to his position by acclamation. He subsequently presented his budget for 2012, which was approved by the Assembly.

Finally, the Assembly debated and adopted all Committee reports in addition to five resolutions and a Declaration. The resolutions and Declaration are as follows:

·         RESOLUTION 387 on CYBER SECURITY

·         RESOLUTION 388 on SUPPORTING THE LIBYAN PEOPLE

·         RESOLUTION 389 on CONFRONTING A DIFFICULT FISCAL ENVIRONMENT: ECONOMIC CRISIS , FISCAL CONSOLIDATION AND THE RISK OF EUROPE'S STRATEGIC IRRELEVANCE

·         RESOLUTION 390 on THE POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

·         RESOLUTION 391 on COUNTERING BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL THREATS

·         DECLARATION 392 on SUPPORTING TRANSITION IN AFGHANISTAN

SUMMARY

The NATO PA provides Canadian parliamentarians with an opportunity to learn about the broader strategic issues facing the Alliance, which have an impact on Canada’s national security and defence. It also gives them an attentive international forum in which to promote Canadian values and interests in the course of discussions and debates about future Alliance policy and strategy. As this report indicates, the 57^th Annual Session was no exception, offering Canadian delegates many opportunities to shape the outcome of discussions, convey a Canadian perspective on key issues of concern, and gain a better understanding of strategic issues facing Canada, the Alliance and Canada’s partner countries.

Overall, the NATO PA appreciates the opportunity to participate in the process of monitoring the implementation of the new strategic concept by NATO, particularly with respect to building confidence and eventually cooperating with Russia on missile defence, as well as understanding and discussing how best the Alliance can counter threats in the cyber environment. All members of the NATO PA continue to be concerned about how the economic crisis is affecting their countries’ economies and what this ultimately means for the ability of NATO to fulfill its mandate as well as its current and future responsibilities.  NATO’s mission in Libya and the political uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa continue to be priorities for the NATO PA as it explores how it can engage with their respective transitional governments on democratic development. Afghanistan, particularly NATO’s current transition mission, continues to be a primary focus.  Closer and more effective cooperation between NATO and the EU as well as with other partners around the world is also being encouraged. Finally, NATO PA members had the opportunity to share and discuss best practices on how to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and its follow-up Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security within their defence departments and militaries as well as in their operations, including NATO operations.

Canada continues to have important interests in all these issues.

Respectfully submitted,

Mr. Leon Benoit, M.P Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (NATO PA)