REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association has the honour to present its report on its participation at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s (NATO PA) 2018 Spring Session in Warsaw, Poland, 25 – 28 May 2018. The delegation was led by Association Chair Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P., and included from the Senate, the Honourable Gwen Boniface, the Honourable Jane Cordy, the Honourable Joseph Day, the Honourable Stephen Greene, and the Honourable Vernon White.  From the House of Commons, the delegation included Ms. Rachel Blaney, M.P., Mr. Darren Fisher, Mrs. Cheryl Gallant, M.P., Mr. Tom Kmiec, M.P., Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus, M.P., and Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P. The delegation was accompanied by Katherine Simonds, Association Advisor, Daniel McBryde, Association Advisor, and Association Secretary Jean-François Pagé.

SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS

A. Standing Committee   

The Standing Committee[1] met on Friday, 25 May 2018, to hear updates from the Assembly’s leadership and to plan upcoming activities in 2018. Senator Joseph A. Day, Vice-President of the NATO PA, chaired the Steering Committee meeting at the request of President Poalo Alli, until the Standing Committee had an opportunity to discuss the Bureau’s recommendations related to the future of the Presidency.

As President Alli was defeated in the Italian parliamentary elections held on 4 March 2018, the Bureau recommended that President Alli should continue to carry out his mandate according to the Rules of Procedure, at which point Vice-President Rasa Juknevicience would be appointed as acting President until the next Annual Session.  The Standing Committee agreed with the Bureau’s recommendation.

Vice-President Day opened the meeting by expressing his condolences to the French delegation and victims of the terrorist attacks that had taken place in southern France the day before. Following strong condemnation of the attacks by Vice-President Day as well as members of the French delegation and other NATO PA delegates, a moment of silence was held to commemorate the victims.

In the lead up to Latvia hosting the 2019 NATO Summit, Raimundas Karoblis, Minister of National Defence for Lithuania, addressed the Standing Committee regarding Lithuanian priorities and expectations for the upcoming NATO Summit. Following a question and answer session, President Alli resumed chairmanship of the meeting.

The Standing Committee then discussed the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, United Kingdom (U.K.) that took place on 4 March 2018. The President recalled that the U.K. government attributed responsibility for the attack to Russian authorities. Richard Benyon, head of the U.K. delegation provided a briefing on the situation and asked the NATO PA to issue an urgent statement of support in accordance with the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure. Following discussion, the Standing Committee agreed to adopt a draft statement on the issue and approved text suggested by the U.K delegation.

The Standing Committee then considered a draft declaration on Affirming NATO’s Unity and Credibility at the Brussels Summit. Following amendments, the draft declaration was adopted unanimously.

Next, Michele Nicolette, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) addressed the Standing Committee. President Nicoletti cited the foundational principles of PACE: the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberties and human rights. He then outlined his key priorities for PACE during his tenure as president, which include strengthening cooperation with other parliamentary assemblies. He also expressed concern about rising nationalist sentiments in several European countries. He urged parliamentarians to preserve Europe’s unity and stability by helping to resolve conflicts with allies and partners while upholding shared democratic values.

The Standing Committee unanimously elected Ms. Ruxandra Popa to assume the position of Secretary General following the end of Mr. David Hobbs’ mandate in 2019. The NATO PA Treasurer then presented financial documents including the draft budget for 2019, which proposed an increase of 59,047 euros to cover salary increases in accordance with Belgian legal requirements.

NATO PA Secretary General, Mr. David Hobbs, then outlined upcoming Assembly activities. Prior to adjournment, Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P., welcomed delegates to attend the upcoming 64th Annual Session of the NATO PA, to be held 16-19 November in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Canadian Participation:

Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P. and Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus, M.P. represented the Canadian delegation at the Standing Committee meeting. Senator Joseph Day attended as a member of the Bureau.

B. Committee Business    

NATO PA Committees met simultaneously over the course of two days from 26-27 May 2018.  During these meetings, Committees debated draft reports and considered Comments of the Secretary General Of NATO, Chairman of the North Atlantic Council, on the Policy Recommendations adopted in 2017 by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. In addition, these meetings were an opportunity for delegates to hear from academic experts as well as senior military and government officials from Poland, from NATO headquarters, the European Union (EU) and from non-governmental organizations (NGO) on issues of interest to the Alliance.

1. Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security   [2]

Over two days, the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security heard from three speakers.  First, the Committee heard from Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Ms. Gísladóttir’s presentation, entitled Partnership in Election Observation: Contribution to Democracy and Security described the long history of cooperation between ODIHR and the NATO PA, particularly concerning election monitoring missions. She also focused on ODIHR’s roles and activities in efforts to promote democratic principles and respect for human rights in the OSCE area. Senator Jane Cordy asked whether ODIHR has examined third country involvement in elections, including Russian interference and about ODIHR’s response to democratic backsliding in Europe. Ms. Gísladóttir replied that ODIHR has not specifically analysed third party interference in elections to date and stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of ODIHR against such challenges, for example by retaining a single election methodology for all countries. She also affirmed the presence of democratic backsliding both east and west of Vienna and encouraged parliamentarians to work towards re-building trust between countries.

The second speaker was Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director of Frontex, European Border and Coast Guard Agency, who discussed Ensuring Border Security in a Rapidly Evolving Environment: Cooperation between Frontex and [Common Security and Defence Policy] CSDP Actors. Mr. Leggeri explained that the European Border and Coastguard Agency was initially established to guarantee efficient management of the Schengen zone borders but has evolved significantly since 2015, now covering a wide range of missions which include combating organized crime and terrorism, conducting rescue operations, and returning undocumented migrants. In 2015, when 1.2 million people entered the EU as migrants or refugees, borders were reinforced, said Mr. Leggeri.  Frontex assisted with the rescue of more than 34,000 people in 2017 alone and helped save 283,000 lives in total since 2015, according to Mr. Leggeri. Frontex is now authorized to deploy border management operations in third countries in cases where the third country borders and EU state has consented to the operation. Pierre Paul-Hus, M.P., inquired about the prevalence of exploitation of third country agreements or abuse of tourist visas. Mr. Legerri acknowledged changes in the tactics of criminal groups to exploit legal frameworks and mentioned that some economic migrants have sought to evade proper channels of registration.  

Next, the Committee heard from Marek Menkiszak, Head of the Russian Department, Centre for Eastern Studies, Warsaw, on Russia. Entitled Putin’s Last Term? What to Expect, he provided an overview of Russia’s domestic priorities, explaining that challenges in natural resource extraction may hinder its long-term economic development. According to Mr. Menkiszak, perpetuating conflict with the West is a tactic to preoccupy Russians from the country’s economic weakness. Discussing Russia’s foreign policy goals, he outlined four points of focus: regaining strategic control over former Soviet territory; the creation of a de facto security buffer zone in Central Europe; minimizing the U.S. presence and influence in Europe; and maximizing Russia’s influence in Europe. Mr. Menkiszak also forecasted the extension of President Putin’s rule and continued economic stagnation.

Mr. Robert Pszczel, Senior Officer for Russia and the Western Balkans, Public Diplomacy Division (PDD), NATO, then provided a presentation concerning NATO’s Response to Russia’s Hybrid Tactics. Mr. Pszczel suggested that Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics are a sign of weakness rather than strength and intended to compensate for its lack of soft power. He also underscored the importance for countries to invest in situational awareness and resilience-building through education and media literacy to respond to Russia’s hybrid campaigns. The continuation of dialogue through the NATO-Russia Council framework as well as support from NATO partners such as the EU and Ukraine were also welcomed.

The Committee’s rapporteurs presented their respective draft reports[3]. Finally, the Committee discussed its studies and activities for 2018.

Canadian Participation:

Senator Jane Cordy, Rapporteur of the Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance, presented her report entitled Social Media Revolution: Civil Protection in the High North and the Mediterranean Regions. Ms. Rachel Blaney, M.P., Senator Gwen Boniface, Senator Joseph Day, Mr. Darren Fisher, M.P., Mrs. Cheryl Gallant, M.P., Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus, M.P., Senator Vernon White, and Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P., also participated in the Committee’s discussions.

2. Defence and Security Committee   [4]

The Defence and Security Committee heard four expert presentations over the course of its two days of meetings.

The first speaker was Mariusz Blaszczak, Minister of National Defence of Poland who discussed The Role of NATO In Responding to Challenges Faced by Allies. The Minister noted that the Alliance is increasing its defence posture in the Baltic States and Poland. He also called for a more efficient command structure, additional high readiness forces, more detailed defence plans, and modified training plans to strengthen Allied territorial defence. The Minister stressed that Russia is not the only threat to NATO. Challenges in to Alliance’s southern and south-eastern flanks are important as well, in his view, particularly violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism. The Minister then detailed Poland’s contributions to NATO operations. He explained that Poland is the host for one of the multinational battlegroups of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) and the Headquarters of the Multinational Division North-East. Poland has also provided forces to the eFP multinational battalion in Latvia and to the tailored Foreign Presence (tFP) in Romania. He pointed out that Polish forces are involved in the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, the Global Coalition Against Daesh, NATO’s operations in the Aegean and Mediterranean, the training mission in Iraq, and the Hub for the South in Naples, Italy.

Major-General Adam Joks, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces addressed the Committee next. General Joks outlined key threats facing NATO, including international terrorism, cyberattacks, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, civil unrest, and local and regional military crises in the areas adjacent to NATO and EU borders. The General stated that Russia does not hesitate to use military forces to achieve political goals and referred to Georgia, eastern Ukraine and Crimea in this context. He elaborated on the implication of the changing character of contemporary armed conflict, with a focus on hybrid threats. The General argued that recent Russian military modernization would allow it to undertake offensive operations anywhere in the world. Poland is preparing its armed forces to counteract these threats by modernizing its doctrines, organizational structures, logistics, infrastructure, training, interoperability, research and development, and maintenance procedures. The General noted that Poland is now spending 2% of its GDP on defence, which will grow to 2.5% by 2030.

Brigadier-General Stanislaw Kaczynski, Deputy Commander of Poland’s 16^th Pomeranian Mechanised Division provided a presentation on NATO’s eFP – Poland - The NHDF Brigade: Role, Capabilities and Lessons Learned. General Kaczynski focused on the eFP battlegroup in Poland and its integration in the Polish Armed Forces. The General informed the Committee about the conclusions and lessons learned after 18 months of eFP deployment in Poland. These lessons were divided into four areas: procedures and command, communication, intelligence, and strategic communications. He stressed that the deployment of the eFP group in Poland has increased interoperability among contributing member states, while also refining strategic communications tools to combat fake news.

The final speaker was Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies, Royal United Services Institute on The Challenges of Homegrown Radicalisation in the Alliance.  Mr. Pantucci highlighted the link between the threat at home and abroad. While ISIL in is retreat, its online presence is replacing the physical caliphate, he explained. Mr. Pantucci argued that countering violent extremism should be the focus at home, and NATO should maintain a strong focus on Afghanistan, so that ISIL is not capable of increasing its physical presence in that country. He summarized his findings into three key points: 1) the threat is much more diffuse today than in the past; 2) the lines between inspired and instigated attacks are increasingly blurred; and, 3) the response to these threats must not overwhelm our societies or create police states.Spring Session

Three draft reports were considered during the Committee’s meetings[5]. As General Rapporteur, Senator Joseph A. Day presented the report on Reinforcing NATO Deterrence in the East and moderated the discussion that followed. Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus, M.P., recommended adding language underscoring the importance of military mobility in the report.

Finally, the Committee discussed upcoming studies and activities for 2018.

Canadian Participation:

Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P., Ms. Rachel Blaney, M.P., Senator Gwen Boniface, Senator Jane Cordy, Senator Joseph Day, Mr. Darren Fisher, M.P., Ms. Cheryl Gallant, M.P., Mr. Tom Kmiec, M.P., Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus, M.P., Senator Vernon White, and Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P. participated in the Committee’s discussions.

3. Economics and Security Committee   [6]

Three speakers addressed the Economics and Security Committee. Piotr Wawrzyk Undersecretary of State for Parliamentary, Legal and Treaty Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, provided a presentation on The European Union and its Future after the Brexit – Poland’s Perspective and Priorities in the EU.  Mr. Wawrzyk underscored the importance of Poland’s membership in the EU and NATO but stressed that Poland must respect the priorities expressed by its citizens during elections. Poland is interested in reinforcing European security and defence, said Mr. Wawrzyk. Poland spends 2% of its GDP on defence, in compliance with NATO requirements, and recently decided to join the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). Poland hopes for greater EU-NATO cooperation for conflict and crisis response and supports EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, provided EU values are respected.

Next, Dr. Anders Aslund, Resident Senior Fellow, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council, Washington, D.C., presented his research on Russia’s energy policy in Eastern and Central Europe. He described Russia’s “weaponization” of oil and gas exports - its use of energy exports to intimidate European countries and advance Russian foreign policy goals. He explained that the Nord Stream 2 project and other proposed pipelines will deepen Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and eliminate the need to rely on Ukraine and Poland as transit countries. Russia has been promoting anti-fracking propaganda by questioning its viability as an alternative energy source and funding the activities of environmental groups in the West that oppose fracking for ecological reasons, according to Dr. Aslund. He also outlined how Putin’s associates have been misappropriating funds from Gazprom and other Russian energy companies to buy property in the West, primarily in London and the U.S. The money transfers are sent to shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Delaware, and then to the U.K -  a process that came to light in part due to the release of the Panama papers. Dr. Aslund argued that the U.K. and other countries that have enacted Magnitsky laws should use this legislation, as well as other anti-money laundering legislation, to stop such real estate investments made by anonymous corporations to launder money from criminals or corrupt officials.  

Professor Alan Winters of the University of Sussex, UK, then presented his views on the future of the international trading system. He stated that electorates in many Western countries are not as supportive of free trade as they were in the past. He took a critical view of the Trump administration’s perspective that trade surpluses should be the primary objective of U.S. trade policy. According to Professor Winters, trade surpluses do not benefit countries. Rather, a country benefits from importing goods that would be more expensive to produce domestically, while specializing in producing goods that can be produced more efficiently at home. He argued that industry and multinational companies are losing interest in free trade agreements (FTAs) in an era where the rise of populism, predatory trade practices by China, as well as protectionist policies by the U.S., have made progress on new FTAs difficult. Next, he suggested that the U.S. has been undermining the World Trade Organization (WTO) by blocking the appointment of judges, and as a result has deadlocked the organization’s work.  The rules-based international trade order built since the end of the Second World War has been undermined significantly and is being replaced by a new order where practices are increasingly becoming transactional and international agreements are no longer respected, he argued. In terms of policy prescriptions to reverse these trends, he recommended that the international community, and particularly WTO members, present a united front in the face of Chinese and American misbehavior. Professor Winters suggested that countries should also move forward with new FTAs, even if they exclude large players like the U.S., while making a better case domestically of how FTAs benefit ordinary citizens rather than strictly corporations. In his view, the current situation is alarming, and countries should not take the rules-based system for granted.

The Committee’s rapporteurs then presented their respective draft reports[7]. Finally, the Committee discussed its studies and activities for 2018.

Canadian Participation:

Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P., Senator Joseph Day, Mr. Darren Fisher, M.P., Mr. Tom Kmiec, M.P., and Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P., attended the Committee meeting.

4. Political Committee   

Three speakers addressed the Political Committee. Mr. Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland provided an overview of Poland’s foreign policy and security priorities. Noting that Poland was celebrating 100 years of independence, he reminded delegates that the world failed to react appropriately to aggression that led to the Second World War. Minister Czaputowicz highlighted that Poland’s accession to NATO following the end of the Cold War was significant for Poland’s security. He urged the Committee members to promote the Alliance’s continued adaptation to new and emerging threats such as cyber and hybrid warfare and argued that NATO should adopt a flexible defence posture in order to implement a 360-degree approach to security. Minister Czaputowicz underscored the importance of the Alliance’s transatlantic bond and stated that a strong bilateral partnership with the U.S. in particular was a Polish foreign policy priority. The completion of the U.S. missile defence complex in Redzikowo, a project begun in 2016, will be an important element in NATO’s ballistic missile defence system, he added. The Minister discussed Poland’s commitments to multilateralism and the implications of Russian aggression and concluded by urging NATO parliamentarians to support the Alliance in their respective countries.

Dr. Anders Aslund, Resident Senior Fellow, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council made a second presentation entitled Is it possible to work with Russia despite persistent tensions and rivalry? He told Political Committee members that it is not possible to work with Russia in the current environment. Dr. Aslund briefly discussed the history of Russia’s relations with the West under Vladimir Putin and identified three inflection points in the relationship between Russia and the West since 2000: 1) the termination of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the United States and Russia in 2002; 2) the 2003 Iraq War to which Russia was fundamentally opposed; and 3) perceived Western support for the Ukrainian revolutions of 2004 and 2014. He once again urged NATO countries to combat Russian money laundering by adopting legislation that prevents the establishment of anonymous accounts. He also mentioned that sanctions have diminished Russia’s GDP to around 0.7% per year.

The final speaker was Dr Sławomir Debski, Director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs on the State of the Transatlantic Relationship. Dr. Debski argued that Western media had developed a tendency to exaggerate events concerning President Trump and that despite the sensationalism surrounding recent political actions, the transatlantic relationship remained strong. While the EU and the U.S. may disagree on international trade from time to time, the relationship is multifaceted and can be sustained through cooperation in other areas, such as a cohesive response to Russian aggression. The role of Canada as an importance facet of the transatlantic relationship was discussed. Dr. Debski highlighted Canada’s contributions to the eFP in Latvia and mentioned that the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) was a strong step towards deepening the Canada-EU relationship.

The Committee’s rapporteurs presented their respective draft reports[9]. Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Rapporteur of the Sub-Committee on NATO Partnerships, presented the report on Security in the Western Balkans.

The Committee then discussed its studies and activities for 2018.

Canadian participation:

The following Canadian delegates participated in the meetings of the Political Committee: Senator Raynell Andreychuck, Senator Joseph Day, Mrs. Cheryl Gallant, M.P., Senator Stephen Greene, and Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P.

5. Science and Technology Committee   [10]

The Science and Technology Committee heard presentations from three speakers. Andrzej Wilk, Senior Fellow, Centre for Eastern Studies in Poland focused on Russian Military Developments and Challenges for the Eastern Flank. Mr. Wilk described the technological aspects of Russia’s military modernization as well as changes to the command structure. He told the Committee that central control of military training was important to Russia as it frequently uses military training and exercises to project readiness. Russia’s opaque military budget was also described by Mr. Wilk, and he asserted that it was difficult to assess real expenditures. NATO’s response to Russia’s armed forces development should include a focus on mobility in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. The deployment of Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad was also discussed.

The Committee then heard from Robert Murray, Head of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Defence Investment Division, NATO, who presented on Following on from AWACS: How to Make Allied Future Surveillance and Control a Reality. Mr. Murray explained that three elements were necessary to maintain NATO’s technological edge: a greater sense of urgency; an understanding of current NATO capabilities; and engagement with the industrial base.  He described his role within NATO as a bridge between policy and technological implementation. Detailing the primary purpose of the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Mr. Murray said that these NATO-owned assets have been flying since the 1980s and will retire in 2035. As they are reaching the end of their service life, NATO agreed to modernize the AWACS during the 2016 Warsaw Summit and launched the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) program to find a follow-on capability. Currently NATO is studying a mix of ground, air, and unmanned systems. Discussing what had been accomplished regarding the AFSC to date, Mr. Murray said that a permanent governance framework and an initial blueprint had been created. Currently, the project is on track: NATO is studying capability requirements and is engaging in dialogue with industry at this stage.

Sean Kanuck, Director for Cyber, Space & Future Conflict at the International Institute for Strategic Studies provided a presentation to the Committee on the Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape. Describing cyberthreat trends, Mr. Kanuck outlined that the majority of cyberattacks are being undertaken below the threshold for use of force, that there is a lack of cyberspace norms to date, and that militaries were increasingly being targeted. Noting that a cyberattack can last for days, months, or years before being detected, he recommended that NATO states assume that cyber environments are always compromised. By developing operating procedures that assumed a compromised environment, Mr. Kanuck told delegates that governments or other organizations’ operating procedures would be more likely to avoid single points of failure and plan for cascading effects – a particularly important consideration for critical infrastructure sectors. Mrs. Cheryl Gallant, M.P., asked Mr. Kanuck whether it was possible for NATO to develop a central nexus for NATO allies to report real-time cyber intrusions using artificial intelligence (AI). Mr. Kanuck said that there could be opportunities to automate certain systems, but that different information sharing requirements between countries would make real-time sharing difficult.

Jennifer Henderson, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, former Transformation Director at the U.K. Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) then discussed Improving Gender Equality in the U.K’s Science and Technology Laboratory. Ms. Henderson noted that when she first started at DSTL, part of the British Ministry of Defence, there was a stark gender imbalance. In particular, there was a lack of female representation in senior leadership positions. Understanding the importance of role models, she argued for the creation of a mentorship program to encourage more female scientists to apply for positions in the organization. Elaborating on the findings of the program, Ms. Henderson identified three preconditions for women consider positions at DSTL: aspiration or ambition; a belief that they had a chance to get the position; and a climate that would support and encourage their success. Ms. Henderson reported that, after three years of the mentorship program, there was remarkable progress throughout the organization and that women were increasingly being appointed to leadership positions.  Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P. asked about attracting and retaining women at senior levels in the fields of defence and science. Ms. Henderson responded that women are more likely to be apply for positions where flexible work hours are allowed and that a detailed evaluation of the program produced significant statistics demonstrating its effectiveness.

Dr. Marco Overhaus, Associate Researcher from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs then provided a presentation entitled After the US-withdrawal from the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] JCPOA – What Next for Transatlantic Policy towards Iran? According to Dr. Overhaus, from the European perspective, the JCPOA was able to successfully moderate Iran’s nuclear activities. He suggested that by withdrawing from the JCPOA without offering alternatives, the U.S. position diminished the progress that had been made with Iran. Dr. Overhaus reiterated the need for the EU to continue diplomatically engaging with Iran to rebuild trust.

The final speaker to address Committee was Dr. Antoine Bondaz, Research Fellow, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique and senior lecturer, Institute of Political Studies, Paris, France. Dr. Bondaz’s presentation, entitled, Cautious optimism Should Prevail in the Korean Peninsula, began with a brief description of recent events concerning President Trump and the cancelled meeting with Kim Jong-un, though the speaker expected that it would be rescheduled. He explained that there were reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the prospects for disarmament on the Korean peninsula, largely owing to the reduction in nuclear testing from the previous year. Dr. Bondaz underlined that nuclear technology had become part of North Korea’s identity and that nuclear weapons were viewed by the regime as necessary for its survival. As such, any denuclearization agreement would have to reassure North Korea about its security. Mrs. Cheryl Gallant, M.P. asked the speaker about the level of access that should be granted to IAEA officials to test sites in North Korea and the role ballistic missiles should play in a future agreement. He responded that while inter-continental ballistic missiles and medium-range ballistic missiles should be included in any future agreement, it does not necessarily guarantee denuclearization in the short term.

The Committee Rapporteurs then presented three draft reports[11]. Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P. Special Rapporteur of the Science and Technology Committee, presented the draft report on Defence innovation: Capitalizing on NATO’s Science and Technology Base.

The Committee was adjourned following a discussion of future studies and activities.

Canadian participation:

C. Plenary Sitting   

Mr. Paolo Alli, President of the NATO PA, opened the Plenary Sitting of the 2018 Spring Session of the NATO PA. In his opening remarks, he reaffirmed the importance of unity within the Alliance in order to tackle the myriad of security challenges facing NATO, including terrorism, instability on its southern flank, and Russia’s aggressive actions in the east. President Alli told parliamentarians that Russia aims to consolidate its presence and influence from the High North to the Middle East, and from Eastern Europe and the Balkans to Asia. He encouraged NATO PA delegates to take concrete measures to prevent Russian interference in the politics and media of Allied countries.

The Marshel of the Sjem of the Republic of Poland, His Excellency Mr. Marek Kuchinski, called on delegates to provide resource to combat new security threats, including cyber and hybrid warfare. The Marshel of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, His Excellency Mr. Stanislaw Karczewski, focused his remarks on military mobility and called on NATO countries to remove bureaucratic barriers to enhanced military infrastructure such as roads and airports. His Excellency Andrej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland, recalled that, Warsaw, the city where the Warsaw Pact was signed, is an important symbol of the circumstances that led to the creation of NATO. He noted that parliamentarians help strengthen the credibility of the Alliance and shape public opinion in countries across the EU and North America. His Excellency Mr. Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, reiterated the critical nature of the transatlantic bond and stressed that Alliance unity was being threatened. He urged NATO member states to respond to these threats by demonstrating their commitments to unity and solidarity at the Brussels Summit in July 2018.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg then addressed the plenary. Mr. Stoltenberg underscored the important role played by parliamentarians in developing defence and security policies, as well as the budgets that fund the implementation of those policies. Next, he outlined the key topics to be discussed at the NATO Brussels Summit in July 2018: managing relations with Russia through a mix of deterrence and projecting stability; combating terrorism, and promoting stability in the Western Balkans, including by enlarging NATO by adding new members such as Montenegro. He went on to discuss the importance of NATO-EU cooperation, burden-sharing, as well as NATO modernization and adaptation. He concluded by stating that the strength of NATO is being able to manage internal disagreements without weakening NATO’s core mutual defence mandate. He reminded the audience that the U.S. and Canada are increasing their military presence in Europe and that NATO remains one of the strongest and most successful alliances in history.

Noting that a significant number of citizens in NATO countries are not familiar with NATO’s goals or objectives, Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P. asked Secretary General Stoltenberg about how to increase citizen engagement. Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Canada for its involvement in efforts to increase communications about NATO and said that the Alliance will be focusing on improving communications efforts in this regard.

Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P. reiterated Canada’s support for Georgia and Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership. He mentioned Canada’s contributions to security sector reform efforts in Ukraine and asked Mr. Stoltenberg whether NATO would consider urging other Alliance members to contribute as well. The Secretary General replied that these activities are extremely important to NATO, and he thanked Canada for its strong stance on this issue.

The plenary then debated and adopted the draft Declaration sponsored by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (U.K.)  on Affirming NATO’s Unity and Credibility at the Brussels Summit. NATO PA Treasurer Mark Angel (Luxembourg) then presented his financial reports. 

In closing, NATO PA President Alli thanked the Polish Delegation, its staff, the International Secretariat, and all others who were instrumental in the Spring Session’s success.

OTHER MEETINGS

Canadian parliamentarians attended a briefing session at Canada’s Embassy to Poland where diplomatic and military staff updated the delegates on recent political developments in Poland. Key issues related to the Canada-Poland bilateral relationship were also discussed.

Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P., participated in the meeting of the NATO PA Working Group on Education and Communication about NATO.

Respectfully submitted,

Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P.
Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association