Summit Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of Countries participating in the EAPC Madrid, 9 July 1997

Statement by Mr. Viktor KLIMA, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Since 1989, there have been tremendous changes in Europe's political landscape, and they are still continuing. Like all great historic changes, they have brought opportunities as well as risks. The main opportunity, on which I want to concentrate, is the possibility, and challenge, to create security and stability for all European states within an overall European security system. Security for all of Europe can no longer be regarded as an exclusively military issue. We, therefore, have to continue to develop a truly comprehensive security system that must also pay due regard to insecurity in the economic, social and ecological spheres. The concept of military security needs to be widened by ever increasing confidence-building and transparency as well as step-by-step balanced disarmament, in particular also in the nuclear field. The development of fully functioning European security structures is essential for European security and thus also for Austria. We are ready and willing to cooperate in a spirit of solidarity. We are aware that this task can only be accomplished in the framework of transatlantic partnership. The creation of a new peace order in Europe is an ongoing process. In this sense the decisions taken yesterday are more than just another item on the agenda of international conferences. Yesterday's decision to enlarge the Alliance exemplifies the process of shaping "a new NATO". It is also important that NATO has, at the same time, indicated that the door will stay open. This is a significant signal for all countries, and we interpret this decision as an invitation extended to all European countries to seek further co-operation with the Alliance to the degree they desire. As a country at the heart of the region where these developments are taking place, Austria has followed the process of and the preparations for enlargement closely. From our point of view it was particularly important that yesterday's invitation was preceded by the establishment of a new partnership with Russia and the Ukraine. We are convinced that the peaceful development of a European security order requires a strong and stable relationship between NATO and Russia as well as the Ukraine. The respective documents create innovative mechanisms and new consultative fora which cover a broad range of political and security matters and contribute to a Europe without dividing lines. We welcome the establishment of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) as a comprehensive forum for security policy consultations where NATO Members and Partners will have a possibility to contribute actively to solutions for questions of Euro-Atlantic security. I am sure that the EAPC is a valuable contribution towards enhancing stability and security in Europe. The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council should certainly not duplicate existing bodies. Rather, it should take its place in the system of overall European security with a view to a purposeful division of labour with the UN, the OSCE, the EU and the WEU. Austria sees "Partnership for Peace" as a dynamic process and defines its own participation accordingly. An enhanced PfP will give partners, who so desire, the possibility to move towards co-operation in the entire field of peace support operations, in accordance with the principle of self-differentiation. Before concluding, I should like to refer to the results of the Intergovernmental Conference in Amsterdam: the decision to include the so-called "Petersberg Tasks" in the Treaty on European Union helps to develop European crisis management. We are, of course, aware that it must always be our first concern to prevent the emergence of conflicts. But if they occur we must be able and prepared to cope with them. In this context, the implementation of the decisions of Berlin is clearly necessary. We have just started a process that requires Euro-Atlantic solidarity and will take its time. Nevertheless, we should also not forget that times may change quickly and that we politicians bear the responsibility for the future welfare and security of our peoples.