Speech

Secretary General
Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am fortunate to be called upon to open our Summit's proceedings. This is an exceptional Summit, made possible by the United States President's concern to demonstrate his attachment to our Alliance right from the outset of his second term of office. I want to thank him warmly for this initiative.

I would also like to thank General Jones for his briefing on operations and missions in progress at NATO. This briefing usefully reminds us that our Alliance is above all a military alliance.

A few months ago, we gathered together in Normandy to express our gratitude and our admiration for those who shed their blood in the cause of freedom in Europe. Today, as then, we are fully conscious of both the strength and the responsibilities that flow from this bond of friendship, of confidence and mutual respect, of obligation forged in that ordeal. We know that the Atlantic Alliance is, and will remain so, a foundation stone of our collective security.

ln the face of today's new challenges, the world needs a strong Alliance, in which Americans and Europeans can combine their efforts in the service of peace. Prague and Istanbul signaled our determination to remodel the TransatlanticAlliance on new foundations, adapting our organization to the new realities of the world. An enlarged Alliance, changing and modernizing in order to tackle new missions. An Alliance that is strengthening relations with a great many partner countries. An Alliance that is building a new relationship with Russia founded on respect and trust.

For the past ten years, France has played a part in all of NATO's operations. At this very moment, more than 4,000 of its soldiers are deployed on the ground in Afghanistan and Kosovo, where it has taken command of operations. It is also one of the very largest contributors to the NATO Response Force, the NRF, a key instrument in the reform of our organization.

ln Afghanistan, France has decided to step up its efforts, notably in terms of air support and training, in order to help this country make a success of its next milestone, its upcoming legislative elections. We are also considering, with an open mind, strengthening the synergies between the ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom. Wherever we share the same objectives and where NATO is mandated by the United Nations, France will fulfill its obligations.

France's commitment in the service of peace, like that of its European partners, will also increasingly be expressed in the operations of the European Union. Europe is steadily building up its defense capability.This development is a positive opportunity for our Alliance, for a stronger, more united Europe plainly implies a stronger, more effective Atlantic Alliance.

Europe and the United States are true partners. Which is why we need to dialogue and listen to each other more. Also, as the German Federal Chancellor has emphasized, we must continue to take the measure of the changes that have occurred on the continent of Europe. And I welcome, on that score, the desire expressed by the President of the United States to meet the members of the European Council this afternoon.

ln Iraq, France wants to contribute to the stability and pursuit of the political process laid down in Resolution 1546. The holding of elections was a first step toward that objective, namely to restore to the Iraqi people full control over their own fate as quickly as possible.

We decided in Istanbul on how NATO would contribute to that goal, namely by training Iraqi security forces. France is playing its part in that, in keeping with the undertakings given. Beyond that, both at a bilateral level and within the framework of the European Union, France is concentrating its efforts on consolidating the rule of law and on training for the Iraqi police. On the strength of its proposals, it is now the leading contributor to the mission the European Union plans to undertake in the coming weeks.

ln a world fraught with new challenges, our common commitment in the service of peace and of our ideals is what makes our Alliance fully legitimate. The way to ensure the durability of the strategie partnership forged by the Treaty of Washington is through a close, steadfast and balanced relationship between America and Europe.