No. 30 (10/10/97) - 1.     Diplomatic relation with NATO

No. 30 (10/10/97) - 2.    NATO Air Defence Committee Seminar on Air Defence in Peace                                        and Humanitarian Operations and Regional Co-operation in Air                                          Defence

Under the aegis of the NATO Air Defence Committee (NADC), a seminar will take place at the Military Academy in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia, from 30 September to 3 October 1997 hosted by the Slovak authorities. The seminar is organised in the context of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) Programme and the NADC's Co-operative Air Defence Programme. The theme of the seminar is "Air Defence in Peace and Humanitarian Operations and Regional Co-operation in Air Defence".

Experts from five NATO nations, seven Partner nations and associated military and civilian agencies are scheduled to participate in the seminar. Amongst the topics to be presented and discussed are:

- The Role of Airpower in Peace and Humanitarian Operations;
- Co-operation in Training and Education;
- Improvement of Air Defence Co-operation among Visegrad Countries;
- Regional Air Defence Co-operation in Southern Europe;
- Regional Air Defence Co-operation with Central European Countries;
- Regional Co-operation in Airspace Management.

The presentations and discussions on these topics will contribute to a common understanding of regional co-operation initiatives and opportunities, as well as the role of air defence in peace and humanitarian operations. Recent developments have highlighted the regional aspects of military operations in improving transparency and maximizing scarce resources.

Participants have also been invited by Slovak Defence Forces to visit the 31st Fighter Regiment and observe a flight demonstration of L-39 and MiG-29 aircraft in combination with an orientation at an air defence missile unit.

The Slovenian authorities will host the next Seminar in Spring 1998.

(The NATO Air Defence Committee (NADC) is the senior advisory body advising the North Atlantic Council on all air defence matters and includes all NATO nations. The NADC meets twice a year with senior representatives from PfP nations.)

Press Release (97)

No. 30 (10/10/97) - 3.    EAPC Seminar on "Practical Economic Aspects of Defence                                                Industry Modernisation" 6-7 October 1997

On 6-7 October, a Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Seminar will take place in "Practical Economic Aspects of Defence Industry Modernisation". Under the Chairmanship of NATO's Director of Economic Affairs, the participants will consider the recent changes in and the future direction of developments in the defence industry and will discuss the conditions and principles as well as the instruments which can help to achieve a successful modernisation of this sector; they will also discuss practical experiences and prospects for defence industry modernisation.

Press Communique (97)116

No. 30 (10/10/97) - 4.   Press Statement by the Secretary General

I very much welcome the announcement by the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) that today ten Bosnian Croats indicted for war crimes by the ICTY have surrendered themselves to representatives of the Tribunal and have been transported to The Hague for trial.

This important step demonstrates that the International Community is determined to see that justice and the rule of law prevail in the Former Yugoslavia. I renew my call to all the Parties to implement fully their obligations under the Peace Agreement and to extend their complete cooperation to ICTY in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes.

Press Release (97)118