Statement

It was at the NATO Summit of January 1994 that the Alliance decided to respond favourably to requests from Central and Eastern European states for membership. The world order had changed in the space of a very few years and a new reality had come into being. It would have conflicted with NATO's fundamental principles ever since its foundation, if the Alliance had acted in any other way. That great country, Russia, was certainly in a predicament at the turning-point which had been reached in its relations with Central and Eastern Europe and with NATO. For a time, a disruption to international relations seemed possible, perhaps even an upheaval. Such a course has now been averted. This is what we are confirming with our signatures.
None of us representing our nations here today is in any doubt about the importance of this event. However, it is uncertain that the real architects of this landmark will be saluted as they deserve forever afterwards.

Men who create landmarks in history are depicted in statues with drawn swords, the victors of wards and battles. More often than not their name is associated with the site of the most bloodshed, or where the outcome was settled in some other respect. But history's reconciliators often remain an invisible presence.

Although we say that history will pass the final judgement, that judicial process has its drawbacks. The court of history is slow and laborious, and although it produces provisional rulings at intervals of very few decades, I have never heard of its closing a case or delivering a final verdict. We should therefore not wait for such a verdict, but rather affirm our assessment of the situation. My vote on behalf of Iceland is that common sense has emerged as the victor. Such an outcome must suggest that, ultimately, our vision will triumph.

Suspicion, fear, self-interest and spectres of the past were the adversaries that we faced. Their mighty forces were overcome by reconciliation, solidarity, trust and faith in the future. These are the victors that we celebrate today, but above all we salute the men who embody their spirit here at this meeting in the palace of the President of France.