Indian Army delegates Brig. Jassmohan Singh Sidhu (left) and Col. James Mayandy Devadoss take notes during a seminar session. India will co-host the PAMS 2004 seminar.

Once regional cooperation takes root, threat prevention as well as rapid reaction at the initial phases of a crisis can be facilitated.
Lt. Gen. Hong Gap Sik
Vice Chief of Staff
Republic of Korea Army

About 80 army officers from 33 countries in the Asia-Pacific region met to discuss regional security during the annual Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) in Seoul, Korea.

Lt. Gen. Hong Gap Sik, Vice Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army, talks with participants during a break between plenary sessions of the 27th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS).

PAMS provides a forum for senior-level officers from regional ground forces to exchange views and build friendships during a week of plenary sessions, question and answer panels, syndicate discussions, and briefings. “Regional Cooperative Approaches to Meet Common Security Challenges” was the theme of the September 2003 seminar. Lt. Gen. Hong Gap Sik, Vice Chief of Staff of Republic of Korea Army, and Lt. Gen. James L. Campbell, Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, co-hosted the 27th PAMS gathering.

In his opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Hong noted that areas for strengthening regional cooperation include expanding military exchange and cooperation, encouraging multilateral security dialogue, allowing foreign observers at domestic military exercises, and conducting joint exercises. “Once regional cooperation takes root, threat prevention as well as rapid reaction at the initial phases of a crisis can be facilitated, and more efficient military responses such as peace keeping can be executed,” he said. “As we have seen, the increasing demand for regional cooperation will open up more opportunities of multinational military cooperation in the future. The word ‘interoperability’ will become one of our most frequently used words. I strongly believe that the most important factor in improving interoperability is a cooperative spirit and willing attitude,” observed Lt. Gen. Hong. He also noted that doing so entails the daunting challenge of harmonizing different weapons systems, military operational doctrine, and the economic capabilities of the individual countries involved.

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker speaks to PAMS delegates on the battle against terrorism.

“The theme for this year’s seminar could not be more appropriate or timely,” said Lt. Gen. Campbell at the seminar’s opening. “Despite what makes the news headlines, we, as nations working together, often behind the scenes, have scored some significant successes against those who would propagate terror. Slowly, but surely, infrastructure and quality of life for the people of Afghanistan and Iraq have improved and will continue to improve each day. International travel has been made safer through close coordination and the incorporation of the most sophisticated security devices. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, many of those responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing terrorist attacks have been brought to justice, and it is only a matter of time until others face a similar fate. The key to success to date has been cooperation.”

Coming to a consensus on how to win the war on terrorism is not an easy matter. “There is no clear definition of terrorism,” said Maj. Gen. Jabir Singh Lidder of the Indian Army. “Somebody’s freedom fighter is another person’s terrorist. It’s a very, very tricky issue. We look forward to the future when we can consolidate efforts more comprehensively,” he added, saying that the sovereignty of each nation must be respected during that consolidation process. “It is forums like this – our common approach, our shared ideas – which are going to carry us through in issues of national security. Seminars like PAMS are very good milestones in this approach.”

Lt. Gen. James L. Campbell, Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, addresses the importance of cooperation “against those who would propagate terror.”