NATO summit in Riga

On 7 December 2005, NATO foreign ministers agreed that the 28-29 November 2006 meeting of NATO Heads of state and government would be held in Riga. This meeting in Riga took place only two years after the previous enlargement of the Alliance in 2004 when Latvia joined NATO. The success of the Riga summit, from the viewpoint of both organisation and content,  demonstrates the successful integration of Latvia and the new member countries into NATO, a fact emphasised by leaders of NATO member countries in the NATO Riga Declaration:

Here in Latvia, a nation whose accession to NATO has strengthened security for all in the Euro-Atlantic area and brought us closer to our common goal of a Europe whole and free, united in peace and by common values, we have reaffirmed the indispensable link between North America and Europe, and underlined our commitment to the continuing transformation of our Alliance.  

Resolutions of the Riga Summit

Summit resolutions are passed according to the principle of unanimity of all 26 member states. They were compiled in a comprehensive concluding document: the Riga Declaration.

Discussions on individual resolutions continued to the very moment of adopting the Declaration on the second day of the Summit, but member states of the Alliance achieved agreement on all points included in the agenda.

The central message of the Riga Summit: NATO is a united and strong organisation continuing its successful transformation in order to be able to respond adequately to the challenges of the 21^st century. In its operations, the Alliance will continue to promote international stability, and is open to closer co-operation with other interested countries. From Latvia's viewpoint, a vital and united Alliance is crucial to our long term security.

The following are some of the more important resolutions included in the Declaration:

• Announcing the fully operational readiness of NATO Rapid Reaction Force (NRF). NRF is the main element of the military transformation of the Alliance. The NRF, is a rapid reaction unit of up to 25,000 personnel, which can proceed to any location within a couple of days after a decision made by NATO, and is able to hold out without reinforcements for at least a month.
• Latvia attaches great importance to the NRF because it would ensure the collective defence of countries under Article 5 of the Washington agreement, should this become necessary. 
• Approve Comprehensive political guidelines for the next 15 years. The Guidelines is the second most important NATO document after the Strategic Concept, and the main document stating the future course of transformation of the Alliance, formulating the main threat to security (terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction), and the military capability needed for their containment.
• Deciding on the main point of content of the Summit, the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan, the Heads of state agreed not to impede the use of national military units in battle in cases of critical need.  Similarly, the Heads of state agreed to increase assistance for the equipping and training of the Afghan army and police.
• The decision to start comprehensive planning. By this decision, NATO will begin to prepare recommendations for co-operation with other international organisations and non-governmental organisations for planning joint operations. Such co-operation would include both military and civilian aspects. Comprehensive planning would permit better use in crisis regions of the joint forces and resources of involved organisations.
• Resolution to invite such candidate countries as may promote the security of the Alliance to join at its 2008 Summit.
• Expand NATO co-operation with partners outside the Euro-Atlantic space (Australia, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, and others). At the same time, practical co-operation and political consultations with existing partners will be made more flexible and individual.
• Grant partnership in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) to Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Serbia, thereby also ensuring access by these countries to the Partnership for Peace Programme.
• In the matter of energy security, ask NATO ambassadors to define new areas where the Alliance can best become involved and protect the interests of member countries. This will be a new area for NATO involvement because until now the organisation has not engaged in matters of energy security
• Express NATO support for reforms in Georgia and Ukraine, and emphasise the territorial integrity of the Caucasian states and Moldova.

Outside the official NATO Summit agenda, other conferences were organised in Riga in late November. These included the New Leaders Forum "Building Bridges for the Next generations" and a high level conference "NATO Transformation in the New era of Globalisation", where issues of international security, current NATO issues, and issues of the future of the Alliance were discussed  in a less formal atmosphere.

Latvia's experience gained in organising the Riga Summit

By the autumn of 2005, an office was established for the organisation of a meeting of NATO Heads of state and government, which initially provided assistance to Latvian officials and diplomats advocating Riga as the most suitable candidate for the NATO Summit location. Starting December 2005, the practical organisation of the Summit became the basic function of the office. Operations of the office were terminated on 1 February 2007.

Appreciating the high organisational level of the Riga Summit, positive reviews were received during the Summit itself, which the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer later noted in his letter to the President of Latvia. The Secretary General of the Alliance presented the NATO Meritorious Service Medal to the Head of the office, Edgars Rinkevics, for organising the  NATO Heads of state and government meeting,. Presenting the award, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer thanked every one involved in the preparation of the Summit, the high level of professionalism, perseverance and responsiveness during the preparation process of the event. The experience gained during the process of preparations and holding of the Summit will be invaluable for relevant Latvian structures in organising future major international events. Latvia shall also be able to share this experience with other countries. 

Links:

Riga Declaration

Homepage of NATO Summit in Riga

NATO on the Riga Summit

Previous NATO Summits