Issued at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council
In Defence Ministers session held in Brussels
On Thursday, 12 june 2003

7.  At the Prague Summit, the Heads of State and Government agreed to examine options for protecting Alliance territory, forces and population centres against the full range of missile threats in an effective and efficient way through an appropriate mix of political and defence efforts, along with deterrence; in particular they agreed to initiate a new NATO missile defence feasibility study. Excellent progress has been made, and we are confident that the new study will be under contract by October 2003. Our efforts in this regard will be consistent with the indivisibility of Allied security. We also welcome the completion of the feasibility studies for an Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence.