Signing Ceremony of the NATO-Russia Founding Act, Paris, 27 May 1997

Address by the Prime Minister of Greece Constantinos Simitis

(24 Kb) At the outset I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Secretary General, for your tireless efforts to bring about a fair and balanced agreement, acceptable to all sides. I would also like to extend my thanks and appreciation to our Russian partners, personally to President Yeltsin and to Foreign Minister Primakov, for their constructive approach to the negotiations, which allowed us to conclude this document and sign it formally today. Let me also congratulate and thank our host, President Chirac, for his personal contribution and for the organization of this important meeting. This is historic moment marking an event of cardinal importance, which will pave the way for future developments in Europe in the fields of cooperative security and stability. I belong to a generation, which had to live through the horror of a civil war. We lived through the limitation and overthrow of democracy, the contempt for the individual. All this look place in the name of confrontation in which NATO, as well as the Soviet Union played a dominant role. Today this era formally draws to a close: The cold war, the iron curtain, the arms race, the nuclear deterrent are no more. For countries such as ours these factors abolished our autonomy and threatened our survival. Today we take official note that they belong to the past. However, let there remain a lesson. In today's world there always exists a way to attain peace and cooperation. Peace and cooperation are preconditions not only of freedom, but also of our ability to face up to the challenges of our time. We are faced now with a unique opportunity to develop cooperative structures to ensure stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic region. The strong stable and enduring security partnership between NATO and Russia is a key element in this endeavor. We consider that, by expressing our common will to seek, to the maximum extend possible, joint decisions and joint actions with respect to security issues and by strengthening mutual trust and cooperation we are working together for the benefit of Europe as a whole. On every occasion, we have stressed the fact that Russia has an important role to play in the European political and security scene and that it should assume such a responsibility to consult with NATO and address together with Allied member-states issues of common interest. In the evolving and changing European security environment, we expect the positive contribution and the productive cooperation of our Russian friends and partners. Democracy, international Law, peaceful resolution of international disputes, refraining from the threat or use of force and full respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states have always been the principles guiding our thoughts and actions. They have always been central in Greece's foreign policy. We feel happy to see them included in the NATO-Russia Founding Act serving as cornerstones and guiding principles of our new relationship and cooperation. Every country in our continent has the inherent right to proceed to the security arrangements she deems necessary in accordance with the International Law. We believe therefore that NATO should be open, in a balanced geographical and political approach, to accept new members and to promote its cooperation with other countries as well. It is our understanding that what we did today is not the end of the road. It is rather the starting point of a new cooperative process, which will allow more peace and prosperity for all European states, without lines of division, but through working relationships in all fields. In signing this Founding Act, we are conscious that a new Europe is emerging where Allies, partners and friends alike, from Vancouver to Vladivostock will commit themselves to work constructively for peace and stability and for the common benefit. Greece as a European allied country will contribute its fair share to this noble cause.