|
|
|
Map of Europe |
Email this citationCIAO DATE: 05/04
Reducing Threats at the Source: A European Perspective on Cooperative Threat Reduction
Dr. Ian Anthony
November 2003
Abstract
While states are responsible for honouring any commitments to one another that they make, it has become obvious that they are not always capable of doing so. Where the failure to implement agreed undertakings reflects a lack of financial or technical capacity rather than a deliberate effort to undermine the terms of an agreement it is preferable for all parties to offer assistance rather than criticism and punishment. During the period after the end of the cold war a new type of international cooperation has appeared as states have been willing to render practical assistance to one another in order to reduce common threats. In broad terms military activities have been of three types: facilitating the dismantlement and destruction of weapons; the establishment of a safe and secure chain of custody over weapons or other items; and demilitarization and conversion projects.
These practical measures are usually associated with Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR). Originally, CTR was the name of a specific programme managed by the US Department of Defense. The acronym has now come to be used both in Russia and elsewhere to cover a wide range of practical measures intended 'to reduce the dangers posed by the old Soviet Union's massive cold war arsenals' where these measures involve international assistance.
A broad definition of cooperative threat reduction would be practical measures to enhance security jointly implemented and with consent on the territory of one state by a coalition of parties that may include states, international organizations, local and regional government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector. Cooperative threat reduction is not an activity that has been the preserve of any single institution or organization. Projects have been discussed and developed in different constellations, including within international organizations and in more informal settings. The discussions have included states, international organizations as well as local government, the private sector of industry and NGOs.
Although most activities usually considered to fall under cooperative threat reduction have been carried out in Russia projects have been carried out in other countries, most notably Ukraine but also in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Practical disarmament measures have also been used in other countries and in future this approach is likely to be extended to a larger number of countries.
