REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL
     AT THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE
  INDIVIDUAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME AND THE AREAS FOR PURSUANCE
   OF A BROAD, ENHANCED NATO/RUSSIA DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION
              BEYOND PFP - 09.00 31ST MAY 1995

          Our meeting today marks the acceptance of Russia's
Individual Partnership Programme under the Partnership for Peace
and of the programme for a broad and enhanced NATO/Russia
dialogue and cooperation beyond PfP. We are all pleased that it
has been possible to come to this point. It underscores the
common interest we have in building trust between us and, in so
doing, providing a key foundation stone for the new European
security architecture which we seek to build together.

          Today's formal acceptance of the Individual Partnership
Programme between Russia and the Alliance means that we can
strengthen our cooperation within the framework of PfP. 
Partnership for Peace represents an enduring enterprise which
will strengthen our relations and enhance cooperation for
ensuring security for all of Europe.  That 26 countries have
already joined with the Allies in this unique endeavour is a
measure of the breadth of its significance.  Russia's particular
qualities and capacities to contribute to this common endeavour
will significantly strengthen it.

          Russia and NATO have it in their power to become valued
friends, leaving behind for good the remnants of past mistrust
and suspicion.  Today we have taken a major step closer to this
goal.  The North Atlantic Council declares its agreement to the
Russian Individual Partnership Programme.  With your formal
acceptance of it, Mr. Minister, on behalf of your country, we
look forward to its implementation going ahead quickly and
comprehensively, not only to intensify our practical cooperation
already begun but to extend it to a range of new areas.   The
programme we adopt today is one we have worked together to
develop.  It is an extensive one, corresponding to Russia's size,
importance, and capabilities.  We now have to work together to
implement it.  

          With a country of Russia's size and importance, it is
inevitable that our relationship extends beyond the PfP
framework.  Your country has a special part and responsibility in
the building of a new security order in Europe.  This was
reflected in our decision last June to pursue a broad enhanced
dialogue and cooperation beyond PfP in areas where Russia has
unique and substantial contributions to make.  We have now agreed
a concrete programme to implement this to share information, to
consult and to cooperate on matters of common concern and
interest.  We see this as a genuinely mutual and transparent
undertaking designed to complement and reinforce relations
with all other states in Europe.

          The building of stability and security in Europe is a
dynamic process that does not allow us to stand still.  As a
political institution founded on common values and dedicated to
ensuring security and stability throughout Europe, the Alliance
has, in recent years, transformed itself in recognition of
the new and evolving situation in Europe.  

          NATO has always been a political alliance founded on
common democratic values, uniting the member countries in the
protection of their territorial integrity and independence. 
Through NACC/PfP cooperation, support for peacekeeping, changes
to its strategic concept and military arrangements, the Alliance
has played a leading role in promoting cooperative and inclusive
approaches to ensuring security in Europe based on confidence,
trust, transparency and common endeavour. The Alliance considers
no state its opponent and is striving for a new era of
cooperative security for all in Europe.

          The Alliance's evolutionary approach to including in
its membership other democratic states in Europe is a part of
this process.  A fundamental principle of our approach is that
the eventual inclusion of additional members in NATO will not be
directed against anyone and would be a natural part of the wider
development of European institutions to extend stability to a
continent which is whole and undivided.  

     The admission of new members to the Alliance is aimed at
enhancing security and stability in all of Europe.  It is not
directed against Russia nor does it diminish the national
security interests of Russia. When the Alliance decides to invite
new members to join, it will be part of our effort to build
cooperative security structures in Europe to which we hope Russia
will contribute its share.  The objective will be to enhance
security for all countries in Europe, including Russia, without
creating dividing lines. Enlargement will be part of a broad
European security architecture based on genuine partnership and
cooperation in the whole of Europe.

          Mr. Minister, when you were in Brussels a year ago to
sign the Framework Document of the Partnership for Peace, you
said that it is most important that we should direct our energies
towards a broader priority goal: creating a common Europe.  This
is a goal which we in NATO share with you and fully believe in. 
In putting our relationship on a solid foundation, we are
making a major contribution to creating this common Europe. 

          Today's acceptance of the Individual Partnership
Programme and enhanced dialogue and cooperation outside PfP set
the stage for an ever deepening relationship between us on the
basis of common experience.  We are Partners, and our Partnership
will be defined by what we put into it.  On the NATO side, we are
open to new approaches that reflect the new quality of our
relationship.  As we said in our communique, we are prepared to
initiate a dialogue on the future direction of our relationship. 
Our conversation today will, we hope, be the initial step toward
achieving by the end of this year a political framework for
NATO-Russia relations elaborating basic principles for security
cooperation as well as for the development of mutual political
consultations.