Meeting of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in Ministerial Session NATO HQ Brussels 11 Dec 1996

Enhanced Co-operation for European Security Address By H.E. Mr. Algirdas Saudargas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to re-join this distinguished audience and to share our views on ways to further strengthen co-operative activities initiated by the Alliance as far back as December 1991. Today the Alliance is in the process of reshaping itself and upgrading its relations with the partners on a new comprehensive basis: a foundation of the new European security system, based on inclusiveness and engagement. It is apparent today that the partners, too, are different than they were five years ago. Since the PfP programme started, we have achieved a lot in attaining greater interoperability with NATO forces. We gained experience in peace operations. We brought our nations closer to work jointly for peace, stability and prosperity. Hence, we have made our common security building more stable and peaceful. IFOR once again confirmed the role of NATO and PfP as lasting and indispensable elements of European security architecture. Experience gained in IFOR will help us enhance the political and politico-military co-operation, with an emphasis on the preparatory phase of future missions. The implementation of military aspects of the Peace Agreement in Bosnia already provides an example of CJTF in practice. IFOR has shown that flexible structure of CJTF would allow partners to fully participate in such operations. We highly value the work undertaken by NACC in assessing its achievements. The Review of NACC at 5 Years illustrates the importance of the institution in helping the partners with the process of political, economic and defence reforms. The process of the Alliances internal and external adaptation, NATO decisions with regard to enhanced relations with Partner countries, and, most importantly, the political will in the Allied and Partner capitals to continue this historical process give us solid ground to assert that we are on the right track. We are encouraged by yesterdays agreed agenda for the 1997 NATO Summit meeting. We think that invitation to one or more of the countries to begin accession negotiations together with the Alliance readiness to pursue consultations with recognized nations which seek Alliance membership, will be an important step towards ensuring transparent and continues process of NATO enlargement. In searching for new ways to improve our partnership, we should lay special emphasis on the further enhancement of PfP, expanding co-operation beyond PfP, developing other new forms of engagement and strengthening partnership with Russia and Ukraine. Enhancement of PfP We should move beyond the scope and structure of what is presently available through NACC/PfP. The diversified relations between NATO and the partners would go fully in line with the very nature of PfP. This would also tailor PfP activities to different needs of particular nations. We should also use the opportunity to reinforce the relations between the allies and partners by strengthening the political consultations element in PfP, by broadening the scope of operational activities, going beyond humanitarian, peacekeeping and search and rescue missions. It is important to develop a more operational role for PfP, providing for greater partner involvement in PfP decision- making and planing process, inviting them to take part in NATO regular combat training exercises. It is also necessary to secure a continuous encouragement and support by the Alliance for bilateral, multilateral and regional projects "in the spirit of PfP", to assign partners forces to a CJTF "nucleus" HQ, to establish permanent military representations of partner countries at regional and subregional NATO HQs (e.g. HQ BALTAP, AFNORTHWEST, etc.). We strongly support the idea of establishing NATO offices in the capitals of interested partner countries. However, these offices should not limit themselves to being mere information distribution points but should act as a conduit of experience and expertise. Expanding co-operation beyond PfP Some partner countries strongly aspire for NATO membership. The weight of this goal requires a particular way of accommodation. It is understood, that due to diverse reasons it would be complex to accept all the applicant partners at once. However, the states that have not immediately adhered to membership cannot be pushed away. For them, the message should be "not yet but later". It is therefore indispensable to create a mechanism so that NATO enlargement becomes a real process. Providing, possibly under the 16+1 formula, an institutionally supported perspective of NATO membership would assure transparency of the enlargement process and consolidate the efforts to continue along the reform path. This would also mean that "the open door policy" is not a mere political statement but a commonly shared and pursued endeavour. The time we have until next year NATO Summit could be used to continue exploring the readiness and facilitating the preparation of applicant partners to assume the obligations of NATO membership. Other new forms of engagement Lithuania welcomes the initiative to establish the Atlantic Partnership Council during the 1997 Summit. We believe the emerging APC would provide a necessary framework for enhanced co-operation in both the PfP program and in NATOs efforts to establish more meaningful and productive consultative processes. We hope that the proposals by partner nations defining the practical content of APC will constitute a valuable contribution in shaping the new co-operative structure. The APC concept could be further elaborated and built on the principle of self-selection, leaving a possibility to continue and enhance individual dialogue under the 16+1 formula as well. I would also like to draw your attention to the need for the partners to balance their internal and external engagement in the field of defence matters. It must be noted that a vast number of activities within PfP requires additional funding and resources. We may find that under circumstances of increased PfP activities some partners, having honest and strongest aspirations to join the Alliance, will face a dilemma - how to make the best use of the resources available in order to increase their defence capabilities and, at the same time, to be actively involved in the new PfP ? Therefore, we believe that increased participation in PfP should be measured carefully in order not to make it at the expense of internal reforms and development of national armed forces. Strengthening partnership with Russia and Ukraine We support the evolving dialogue and co-operation between NATO and Russia. Further steps in this respect may add to better understanding, confidence and security for all. However, in order to make it happen, decision on institutionally supported membership prospect to the aspiring countries should be made before working out a new arrangement between NATO and Russia. The said, as well as other possible arrangements, neither in their form nor content, can give a right of veto or droit de regard vis-a-vis NATO enlargement to any country outside the Alliance, neither they can delay or suspend the enlargement process. Moreover, a special relationship between NATO and Ukraine should be considered. Co-operation with other NACC and PFP partners who have not expressed their wish to join the Alliance should also be improved. Mr. Chairman, Enhanced PfP and other forms of co-operation will facilitate internal and external transformation of the Alliance and give additional impetus to strengthening the role of NATO. This will also provide additional assets for partners to bring the armed forces closer to the Alliance in terms of interoperability requirements and ability to conduct joint operations. Indeed, security in Europe should be defined in terms of a strong need to build stable societies and to increase their contribution to broader security. Overall European security will depend on reaching out to all countries and bringing them together for the common goals. By promoting co-operation, by enhancing partnership with the countries pursuing different tasks, we will ensure an efficient PfP and a smooth and transparent process of NATO opening. Thank you.