Opening of the ministerial meeting of the NACC/ Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Queluz Palace Sintra, Portugal 30 May 1997

Address by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, H.E. MR. Zoran Thaler

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, let me thank the Portuguese Prime Minister Guterres for his introductory address. My thanks also go to our Portuguese hosts for the excellent organisation of this ministerial meeting. I am glad to participate in the first session of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) which, I believe, will play an important role in further enhancement of the Partnership for Peace thus consolidating and strengthening security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic Area. I would like to express our profound satisfaction with the fact that a historic agreement between NATO and the Russian Federation has been reached, which is proof that the New NATO already exists. Let me extend my congratulations to all of you who have contributed, through devotion and professional skills, to its final outcome. We do believe that "the Founding Act" will contribute to the future European security system without divisions and security gaps. This morning we adopted the Basic Document for the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). This new cooperative mechanism is the framework for both and enhanced political dimension and practical cooperation under the PfP. The three substantial objectives of the EAPC are: strengthening political consultation on security-related issues; developing its operational role in design and general coordination of partnership activities; and facilitating greater involvement of Partners in the Alliance decision-making. Depending on the issue, these are to be attained not only on a global Euro-Atlantic scale, but also at the regional level. The EAPC provides for limited format meetings between Allies and Partners in open-ended groups, which can discuss appropriate regional matters. The whole spectrum of subject areas of the EAPC can and should have a specific regional edge: regional political, security and defence matters; cross-border military, environment and infrastructure cooperation; arms control and proliferation issues; international crime and drug trafficking, terrorism, military industry/technology cooperation; peace support operation, etc. Let me dwell for a moment on the latter, on the peacekeeping, or more precisely, on peace support operations. In traditional peacekeeping, there has been no place for involvement of immediate neighbours of the crisis area. We are all familiar why it was so. But who is better acquainted with a crisis, its history, special circumstances, inside knowledge of main actors, people, military, than its neighbours. They are the first to detect events which might indicate potential or actual crisis development threatening security internally, locally, regionally or at a larger scale. By virtue of their geo-physical location they are the first indicators of an early warning system. They are the ones, most directly and vitally interested in preventing, containing and successfully resolving a local crisis. SFOR/IFOR NATO-led operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the most vivid expression of the political adaptation of the Alliance to the new circumstances and its operational-military flexibility. NATO has managed to find the proper role and space for each and every country, willing to contribute and/or participate in the operation, and at the same time, it takes into full consideration the specific circumstances under which they operate/cooperate in the neighbourhood of the crisis area. Austria, Hungary and Romania, they all participate and continue substantially to the IFOR/SFOR. Slovenia, due to its specific political circumstances, contributed to IFOR through facilitating transit of troops and equipment through its territory and air space. When Dayton agreement facilitated concrete participation in SFOR, we offered the range of possibilities out of which participation of Slovene helicopters, staff officers, and medical facilities have been chosen. In the Albanian crisis we were involved from the outset of the Italian-led operation Alba, Slovenian medical team of 24 officers, non-commissioned officers and doctors have been deployed on 20 May as part of the Multinational Protection Forces. This proves our political readiness to contribute to international security and the ability of Slovenian Army to prepare on rather short notice for such operations. Our regional cooperation is not limited only to peace support operations. For some time now we have established regional security cooperation, as evidenced by the trilateral cooperation between Italy, Slovenia and Hungary. We see this cooperation as a factor of security and stability in the region. The fact that the three countries are establishing institutional forms of security cooperation can also help to integrate Slovenia and Hungary into the Alliance. The best possible use should be made of the already established cooperation, taking into account the proximity of the area of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. Mister Chairman, In only one month another important step will be taken will significantly influence the development of a new European security architecture. The decision on enlargement at the Madrid Summit should be adopted on the basis of the actual needs of Euro-Atlantic security, after careful consideration by the Allies. Slovenia envisages NATO enlargement as a consistent evolutionary process which will gradually integrate all interested Partner Countries into the Alliance. Early entry of the most qualified Partner Countries will strengthen the determined of other candidates to accelerate their adjustment and introduction of Western political, security and economic standards. This will have a double effect. On the one hand, these countries will thereby secure their invitation to join the Alliance, and on the other hand, effective introduction of Western standards will facilitate the role of these countries as stability factor in the region and beyond. The Madrid decisions - to be made in this context - will justifiably meet the expectations of the countries fulfilling the criteria. This is significant not only for the efficiency of the enlargement process itself, but also for the continuation and deepening of partnership. The new Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (the EAPC), inaugurated today, will be successful to the degree Partner countries and Allies will be able and willing to deepen their involvement, intensify their initiative and enhance their collective responsibility for the future Euro-Atlantic security.