Address

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

It is great to be here. As NATO Secretary General, I have a pretty busy schedule, including here in Slovenia. But I have made it a rule that, whenever my calendar permits, I will try to meet with university audiences. Because I sincerely believe that meetings with the so-called “successor generation” are critically important in building and sustaining a true security community.

This event here today is truly special. You have demonstrated your interest in international security and NATO in perhaps the strongest way possible: by simulating the “real” Atlantic Alliance.

Simulating NATO certainly isn’t easy. After all, you have had to re-create an Alliance:

• that brings together 26 nations, from two continents – nations that range from the United States, with the world’s most powerful military forces, to Iceland, a country with no military forces at all;

• an Alliance that acts only on the basis of consensus, so that no country, however big or small, can be marginalised by others;

• an Alliance that now maintains relationships with 20 Partners in Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia; 7 partners in Northern Africa and the Middle East; and 4 partners in the Gulf region; and that is currently looking at ways to build closer ties with countries even further a field, such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea;
• and last but not least, you had to simulate an organisation that is conducting some very demanding operations and missions on three continents – a job that requires the particular attention and leadership of the NATO Defence Ministers who are gathered here today and tomorrow.

So now to the key question: Did you manage? Does your Model NATO correspond to reality? Of, course, I could not be part of your proceedings, but judging from your conclusions and recommendations, I can only say: mission accomplished. Congratulations.

What you say about Afghanistan, the NATO Response Force, the need for Allied solidarity and other issues shows a very good understanding of the challenges before us.

I am very heartened by all the work that you have done. To me, your “Model NATO” clearly shows that not only is there a successor generation, but that it is also a very engaged one. And I hope that for you, it has become even clearer that our Atlantic Alliance is a most valuable instrument for protecting and promoting our common values and security interests.

Of course, I am now all the more curious to see if the “real” NATO Defence Ministers will do as well as you have done. In a few minutes, when our Defence Ministerial begins, I will have the opportunity to find out.