Intervention at Opening of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)

Mr. Secretary General,

It is my great pleasure to join the colleagues in expressing Lithuanian support for the decision to launch the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. This decision, adopted on the short of the Atlantic Ocean symbolises the common belief an interest in strengthening Trans-Atlantic relations and extending security and stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic area,

EAPC
The decision on EAPC constitutes yet another building block in creating a new Euro-Atlantic security structure. Alongside with other institutions such as the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the EU and a continuing NATO opening process, EAPC will play an important role in consolidating the previously divided Old Continent by providing valuable framework for expanded political consultations and co-operation which the council will offer to the Partners who wish so.
We expect that the EAPC will be a creative tool designed to meet the requirement of both, a changing NATO and its partners interested in developing a variable and multi-speed relationship with the Alliance. Among its features are the direct, individual and more intensive political consultations and co-operation, which the Council will offer to the Partners who wish so

We welcome the fact that the EAPC will be built on the experience of the NACC and PfP. Inclusiveness and self-differentiation will be the guiding principles of the new EAPC.

The EAPC will bring together all the interested countries, irrespective of their different political aspirations as to their relationship with NATO to work on a common mission, through co-operation and consultations with NATO, to promote security and stability in Europe.

We are determined to make full use of the principle of self-selection in such areas as deeper involvement of the Partners in the decision-making process and participation in the implementation of the CJTF concept. We reckon the "NATO Security Investment Programme" as an important means in developing infrastructure-related projects.

We expect to take full advantage of the possibilities offered in the framework of the enhanced PfP. The implementation of the PfP+ recommendations should start as soon as possible and the creative development of the new elements within the process should continue. This would encompass such elements as strengthening the political consultations within the PfP, developing a more operational role for the PfP and providing for greater involvement of the Partners in the PfP decision-making and planning. An invitation to the Partners to nominate military representatives various NATO Headquarters would facilitate brining the Allies and the Partners closer together.

With these and other important projects in mind, Lithuania welcomes the idea to open NATO mission in the capitals of Aspirant Partners with a view to co-ordinating bilateral and multilateral security co-operation. In its turn, Lithuanian Government is ready to contribute to the implementation of the project.

Anticipating Madrid decisions
We anticipate that the EAPC development will be supported in Madrid by the decisions to continue the enlargement and to keep NATO open to all interested applicant nations. We expect the NATO Heads of State and Governments to decide upon the membership perspective of the applicant countries, providing for an institutionally supported accession process. At the same time, we expect that the Sixteen will commit themselves to invite the subsequent applicants to start negotiations on joining NATO, either before or when the first new states are admitted into the Alliance and to provide for a regular review of the enlargement process.
NATO-Russia relations
We view favourably the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act and hope that it will contribute to the enhancement of mutual understanding and the strengthening of security and stability in Europe.
It is our belief that within and beyond the EAPC structures, NATO and Russia will continue their co-operation based on a firm commitment to the principle of the inherent right of each state to choose its own means of ensuring its security, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Helsinki Final Act.

All these features together give us hope that today we are on the right track in creating a qualitatively new European security.

Thank you.