In November 1996, CNAD opened one of its Main Groups — AC/313 on Acquisition Practices — and all five of its Cadre Groups (1) to the permanent participation of partner countries. These six groups, the first NATO bodies to incorporate partner participation on such a basis, have been accordingly labelled CNAD Partnership Groups. These bodies address technical issues which are essential to successful armaments cooperation and materiel standardisation, such as codification of spare parts, quality assurance and ammunition design and safety. The two principal features of partner participation in the CNAD's Partnership Groups are that partner nations are now able to associate themselves with decisions taken by the allies, as well as to participate in the development of future NATO technical standards affecting allies and partners alike, involving them in the truly substantive work of armaments cooperation in NATO. [NATO-WWW]
