Opening of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Sintra, Portugal 30 May 1997

Address by H.E. Antnio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres Prime Minister of Portugal

(15 Kb) Mr. Secretary General, Ministers, Ambassadors, Excellencies Let me start by welcoming you to Portugal and to this inaugural Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. The North Atlantic Cooperation Council met earlier today for the last time thus completing a cycle in the development of the political dialogue and cooperation with partners. It has fulfilled a pioneering task in the establishment of a new kind of relationship between the Allies and the counties of Central and Eastern Europe, by making the latter a part of the construction of European security architecture. It played a fundamental role in the creation of a new atmosphere of trust and transparency. We are extremely proud to be hosting this event that also represents a very significant step in the reform of NATO, which will soon be achieved at the Madrid Summit in July. We are launching today the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, which succeeds to the NACC. Is this just a change of designation? Not in the least. The EAPC will constitute the new framework for consultations and cooperation in a vast range of political and security areas. All the Allies and Partners share the opportunities of political consultations and cooperation. Self-differentiation will enable us to respond, more adequately and flexibly, to the concerns and priorities of each Partner, while maintaining transparency and a climate of trust, which are essential for the success or our endeavours. Together with NATO enlargement, the NATO-Russia "Founding Act", the enhancement of PfP, and the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership with Ukraine, the EAPC will constitute the backbone of our security architecture. No country of the emerging "Ring of Security" that embraces North America, Europe, Central and North Asia can be excluded from this endeavour. As an inclusive forum, the EAPC will contribute to allay any feelings of separateness. Nowadays we need flexible and operational structures to deal with a wide variety of crises or conflicts. As the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina has already shown, very complex situations need a great effort from the international community, both in human and financial resources. The joint experience of allies and partners in Bosnia can provide good lessons for the future. But the most important is that we must have the political will to address the crises that may pose a serious threat to the security and stability of our "Ring of Security". And doing so we should not just look inwards but also, together, take good notice of what is going along outside our Ring. For we cannot hope to guarantee a consistent degree of security for ourselves without having a coherent approach and active involvement in global world affairs. First, of course, we have to put our own house in good order. But if we manage this task successfully, then it should become clear to us that we will stand as the major and most powerful factor for peace and stability in the world. Thus, in reality, we face a double responsibility when shaping the new order within our ring. Towards our own peoples, guaranteeing their liberty in peace and security; and towards the whole world promoting global stability under the rule of law. What greater task, what more valuable mission could we offer ourselves? So, together, let us go ahead! Monsieur le Secrtaire Gnral Messieurs les ministres et ambassadeurs Excellences Nous devons faire face de nos jours une multiplicit de risques et de dfis qui menacent nos tats et notre socit, tels que nous les envisageons - des tats dmocratiques, respectant les Droits de l'Homme, avec des conomies de march et des proccupations de solidarit sociale. Nous ne devrons plus tre diviss. Il faut largir l'espace dmocratique et de stabilit pour prserver l'hritage commun que nous partageons. C'est pourquoi il faut soutenir tous les efforts contre les nationalismes violents, le fondamentalismes - quels qu'ils soient - contre les fanatismes et l'irrationalit, qui menacent la dmocratie et la stabilit. Je tiens vous dire. Le clivage dans le monde de demain sera entre ceux qui feront siennes les vertus de la raison et ceux qui sombreront dans le vertige des utopies nes de la crdulit de qui s'imagine avoir la vrit absolue dans sa poche. En venant ici aujourd'hui, je tiens saluer la cration de ce nouveau forum de dialogue mais aussi de coopration concrte. Elle montre combien de chemin on a dj parcouru ensemble depuis la chute du Mur de Berlin, le symbole de la division de l'Europe et de notre espace commun. Je tiens surtout exprimer ma confiance dans nos capacits pour continuer faire de cet "Anneau de Scurit", qui s'tend de Bering Bering, un espace de paix et de stabilit dans la dmocratie aussi bien que de progrs conomique et de solidarit sociale, un modle qui puisse devenir un example pour d'autres rgions, encore ravages par des conflits. Merci.