The partnership for peace

1.	Try to answer these questions before reading the text

1. What NATO programs do you know?

2. How do you understand the term “framework document”?

3. What do you know about PfP?

2.

In this exercise we’ll concentrate on the words and word combinations to be sure you know what they mean

disarmament – the reduction of offensive or defensive fighting capability, as by a nation;

to diminish – to make or become smaller, fewer, or less;

pace – rate or style of proceeding at some activity;

to refrain – to abstain (from action); forbear;

integrity – unity; wholeness;

emergency – an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, esp of a danger demanding immediate remedy or action;

bilateral – having or involving two sides;

essence – the characteristic or intrinsic feature of a thing, which determines its identity; fundamental nature;

framework – a structural plan or basis of a project;

commitment – an obligation, promise, etc. that restricts one's freedom of action;

capacity – the ability or power to contain, absorb, or hold.

3.

Read the text and translate into Ukrainian

The partnership for peace

The Partnership for Peace (PfP) is a programme of practical bilateral cooperation between individual Partner countries and NATO. It allows Partner countries to build up an individual relationship with NATO, choosing their own priorities for cooperation.

Based on a commitment to the democratic principles that underpin the Alliance itself, the purpose of the Partnership for Peace is to increase stability, diminish threats to peace and build strengthened security relationships between individual Partner countries and NATO, as well as among Partner countries.

What does this mean in practice?

The essence of the PfP programme is a partnership formed individually between each Partner country and NATO, tailored to individual needs and jointly implemented at the level and pace chosen by each participating government.

Political commitments

The formal basis for the Partnership for Peace is the Framework Document, which sets out specific undertakings for each Partner country.

Each Partner country makes a number of far-reaching political commitments to preserve democratic societies; to maintain the principles of international law; to fulfil obligations under the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Helsinki Final Act and international disarmament and arms control agreements; to refrain from the threat or use of force against other states; to respect existing borders; and to settle disputes peacefully.

Specific commitments are also made to promote transparency in national defence planning and budgeting to establish democratic control over armed forces, and to develop the capacity for joint action with NATO in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

The Framework Document also enshrines a commitment by the Allies to consult with any Partner country that perceives a direct threat to its territorial integrity, political independence or security – a mechanism which, for example, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia made use of during the Kosovo crisis.