NATO
Secretary-General Lord Robertson
Statement on the North Atlantic Council Decision On Implementation Of Article
5 of the Washington Treaty following the 11 September Attacks against the United
States
October 4, 2001
Following its decision to invoke Article 5 of the Washington Treaty in the wake
of the 11 September attacks against the United States, the NATO Allies agreed
today -- at the request of the United States -- to take eight measures, individually
and collectively, to expand the options available in the campaign against terrorism.
Specifically, they agreed to:
enhance intelligence sharing and co-operation, both bilaterally and in the appropriate
NATO bodies, relating to the threats posed by terrorism and the actions to be
taken against it;
provide, individually or collectively, as appropriate and according to their
capabilities, assistance to Allies and other states which are or may be subject
to increased terrorist threats as a result of their support for the campaign
against terrorism;
take necessary measures to provide increased security for facilities of the
United States and other Allies on their territory;
backfill selected Allied assets in NATO’s area of responsibility that are
required to directly support operations against terrorism;
provide blanket overflight clearances for the United States and other Allies’
aircraft, in accordance with the necessary air traffic arrangements and national
procedures, for military flights related to operations against terrorism;
provide access for the United States and other Allies to ports and airfields
on the territory of NATO nations for operations against terrorism, including
for refuelling, in accordance with national procedures.
The North Atlantic Council also agreed:
that the Alliance is ready to deploy elements of its Standing Naval Forces to
the Eastern Mediterranean in order to provide a NATO presence and demonstrate
resolve; and
that the Alliance is similarly ready to deploy elements of its NATO Airborne
Early Warning force to support operations against terrorism.
Today’s collective actions operationalise Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.
These measures were requested by the United States following the determination
that the 11 September attack was directed from abroad.
These decisions clearly demonstrate the Allies’ resolve and commitment
to support and contribute to the U.S.-led fight against terrorism.
