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NATO rapid force ready for missions

Alliance invites Balkan nations

RIGA (LATVIA): North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) leaders on Wednesday declared the military alliance's flag-ship response force, a 25,000-strong contingent to be sent to the world's hot spots, fully operational and ready for action.

``The establishment of the NATO Response Force (NRF) which today is at full operational capability has been a key development,'' alliance leaders said in a declaration after their summit in the Latvian capital Riga.

``It plays a vital part in the alliance's response to a rapidly emerging crisis. It also serves as a catalyst for transformation and interoperability and will enhance the overall quality of our armed forces,'' they said.

Combat operations

The force, to be staffed by member countries on a six-month rotating basis, will stand ready to be deployed within five days for combat missions, evacuations, disaster relief or counter-terrorism work lasting up to 30 days. The move by NATO's military commander, U.S. General James Jones, to declare so-called ``full operational capability'' of the force comes after a long battle to ensure long-term contributions from the member countries.

NATO also set the ball rolling for Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina to eventually join the alliance, barely a decade after the devastating wars in the Balkans.

NATO will allow them to build up a relationship with the alliance based on their own priorities.

The leaders said NATO would keep a close eye on Bosnia and Serbia's progress in cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, tasked with trying suspects from the wars that wracked the Balkans in the 1990s.

``It is great news for our citizens, army and the state,'' Serbian President Boris Tadic said in a statement. — Agencies

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