BUENOS AIRES GROUP OF EXPERTS "ILLUSTRATIVE LIST OF
CONFIDENCE-AND SECURITY-BUILDING MEASURES FOR COUNTRIES
TO CONSIDER ADOPTING ON THE BILATERAL SUB-REGIONAL REGIONAL LEVEL"
MARCH 15-18, 1994

I. POLITICAL MEASURES

    1. Increase in joint planning at appropriate levels for consideration of matters of common interest;
    2. Promotion of legislative contacts for discussion of security questions;
    3. Study of appropriate measures to effectively honor the solemn commitments to peace, non-use of force in international relations, respect for international law and peaceful settlement to disputes;
    4. Reiteration that representative democracy is the indispensable condition for peace;
    5. Political overtures that demonstrate the purpose of promoting peace and inter-American cooperation in its multiple facets;
    6. Closer cooperation for eradication of transnational criminal activities that affect peace and democracy;
    7. Strengthening of regional cooperation programs to respond to natural disasters, in coordination with existing organizations;
    8. Prioritization of joint development projects, particularly in border areas;
    9. Adequate access to technology for satellite sensing;
    10. Increase in cooperation on environmental issues.

II. DIPLOMATIC MEASURES

  1. Introduction of courses in foreign service institutes disarmament, arms limitation, and related topics;
  2. Holding of academic seminars with participation of diplomats and military officers on various topics und the broad umbrella of security;
  3. Establishment of special offices or sections on these subjects in the foreign ministries, to which diplomat from other countries could be detailed for study tour
  4. Increase current levels of exchanges in diplomatic training institutions.

III. EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL MEASURES

  1. Promotion of studies on disarmament, security, and development;
  2. Development of regional and international support for educational and cultural studies on peace and development;
  3. Studies and research, preferably done jointly with professional groups from other countries, on topics related to security and defense;
  4. Seminars on the responsibility of the media in forming and guiding public opinion on security questions.

IV MILITARY MEASURES

A. Confidence- and Security-building Measures Relating to Troop and Army Deployment

  1. Advance notification of maneuvers that their own units or those of third countries undertake within a certain distance from coasts and borders;
  2. Advance notification of identification, planned route, and purpose of military units that are expected to be within a certain distance;
  3. Radio contract between border forces, through periodic communications, in order to coordinate activities undertaken by all organs at the border, thus obviating the possibility of tension through misunderstanding;
  4. Meetings of naval and air officials to deal with navigation issues;
  5. Invitations to armed forces of neighboring countries to send observers to maneuvers and troop exercises carried out in areas near the respective borders.

B. Confidence- and Security-building Measures Relating to Information Exchange

  1. Strengthening of machinery for information and cooperation on search and rescue operations;
  2. Periodic meetings of the general staffs of the armed forces;
  3. Exchange of information on military budgets;
  4. Exchange of information on production and/or purchase of new equipment and weapons;
  5. Exchange of information on military doctrine and organization;
  6. More active participation in the United Nations Register of Conventional Weapons and the instrument for standardized international presentation of reports of military expenditures.

C. Confidence- and Security-building Measures Relating to Personal Exchange

  1. Personnel exchange visits to military units.

D. Confidence- and Security-building Measures Relation to Communications

  1. Direct and frequent communication between authorities with a view to ensuring the exchange of information that will permit comprehensive reciprocal understanding of military activities.

E. Confidence- and Security-building Measures Relating to Contacts

  1. Normal safety procedures when naval and air units are in operation, in accordance with the international agreements in force;
  2. Sharing of experiences on:

- organization and structure of defense ministries and armed forces;
- peacekeeping operations;
- analysis of specific problems of mutual interest.

F. Confidence- and Security-building Measures Relating to Training and Education

  1. Exchange of military personnel of various ranks on diverse subjects, such as:

    2. - survival training,
    - confidence- and security-building measures training,
    - general staff and higher level courses,
    - military training and refresher courses,
    - exchange of basic information on confidence and security building measures,
    - exchange of cadets, students, and advisers;

  2. Joint activities of military academies;
  3. Visits and exchange of chiefs and units of the respective armed forces;
  4. Exchange of specialized military personnel in areas of personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, civil affairs, data procession, and other areas of interest;
  5. Joint training exercises with armed forces of other countries.

Finally, the working group expressed interest in considering the possibility and desirability of a follow-up study on verification of confidence-building measures.