No. 15. (97/05/09) - 1.     PMSC session (reinforced) on parliamentary oversight of the                                              defence establishment

A Session of the Political-military Steering Committee in NACC/PfP Format (reinforced with experts from capitals) will take place at NATO HQ on 24-25 April 1997. This meeting falls within the scope of the PFP Partnership Work Programme in the field of civil-military relations and democratic control of the armed forces, and will specifically focus on the question of parliamentary oversight of the defence establishment, an essential element in any democracy (and the reason why it received a high priority in the PfP Framework Document).

In particular, the three sessions of the meeting will be devoted to parliamentary oversight of policy-making, including the role of hearings and outside experts; oversight of budget formation, approval and adjustment; and the development of defence expertise among Members of Parliament and their staff.
Because of the nature of this topic, the session has been organized by NATO in cooperation with the North Atlantic Assembly, which has coordinated the participation of several Members of Parliament from its own national delegations. Discussions will therefore be based on contributions by Parliamentarians, from NATO and Partner countries, as well as from experts sharing first-hand experience.

Representatives of other organizations active in this field have been invited to attend.

(NATO Press Release (97)45 23 April 1997)

No. 15. (97/05/09) - 2.     NATO offers course on international security to Bosnia

In an effort to assist Bosnia to build confidence and mutual trust in the military sphere, NATO has developed a two-week course on international security for military and civilian defence officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the staff of the Presidency's newly-established Standing Committee on Military Matters . Military officers from both the Federation and the Republika Srpska and from all three ethnic groups in Bosnia are invited to participate.

The course will be held at the NATO School (SHAPE) in Oberammergau, Germany, is scheduled for the period 23rd June through to 4th July this year, and will be open to 45 candidates of the military ranks of Major and above and civilian equivalent. During the first week the Bosnian officials will be provided with an introduction to European security structures, including briefings and discussions on the OSCE, NATO, the EU and the UN. In the following week the Bosnians will join a regularly scheduled serial of NATO's "European Security Cooperation Course", which is open to candidates from all 16 Allied countries, as well as OSCE states.

The course for the Bosnian officials, including transportation and living expenses, will be funded by NATO. If the course proves to be successful, a second course will be offered in December this year, with the possibility of further courses as a contribution to the peace consolidation process in 1998.
The Secretary General announced this course during the North Atlantic Council's meeting with the Bosnian Presidency in Sarajevo on 18th April.

(NATO Press Release (97)46 28 April 1997)

No. 15. (97/05/09) - 3.     NACC Seminar on "The Role of the Private Sector in Defence"
                                         28-29 April 1997

On 28-29 April, a North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) Seminar will take place in Prague on "The Role of the Private Sector in Defence". Over 50 participants from the North Atlantic Alliance and Cooperation Partner countries will be present. Under the chairmanship of NATO's Director of Economic Affairs, they will consider countries' practical experience of private sector involvement in the provision of defence services and how to evaluate whether particular defence activities can be outsourced/privately financed or whether they should be provided and financed by the Ministry of Defence.

(NATO Press Release (97)47 25 April 1997)