Meeting of Allied and Partner Heads of State and/or Government under the aegis of the EAPC Madrid, 9 July 1997

Intervention by H.E. Mr. Algirdas Brazauskas, President of the Republic of Lithuania Effective Co-operate Security in the Euro-Atlantic area: risks, challenges and opportunities Mr. Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen It is a privilege for me to share my thoughts at this historical meeting which will undoubtedly have significant implications for the Euro-Atlantic security and lasting peace. First, I would like to welcome NATO decision to invite Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to start accession negotiations with NATO. The accession of these three Central Europeans countries to NATO will strengthen the Alliance, will start the process of erasing Cold War divisions and will contribute to the security of Europe as a whole. We extend our congratulation to these countries and wish them success in the pre-accession process. By initiating the very enlargement process, NATO once again has demonstrated its ability to make firm and solid decisions. Yesterday's determination demonstrates that Alliance has embarked upon a consistent long-term evolutionary process of expanding the area of democracy and stability Eastwards. The invitation of the first applicant countries has reaffirmed practical implementation of the main OSCE principle that all states have the inherent right to choose their security arrangements, including the alliances. We are pleased to note the emerging new NATO. Further implementation of new NATO's missions and development of the ESDI within the NATO will once again reconfirm that the Alliance is indeed a new Alliance. It is obvious that by enlargement, NATO is also expanding the community of democratic states that will stand up against new challenges such as ethnic conflicts, regional instability, drugs trafficking and weapons of mass destruction. I am deeply convinced that the process of NATO's internal and external adaptation will be successful. I also hope this process will not stop half-way and will continue in the future. I believe that in the near future the Alliance will confirm its commitment to the "open door" policy by launching the next round of enlargement before or when the first invitees will join. A very important element of the Alliance's "open door" policy is the commitment to continue and strengthen intensified dialogue with the applicant countries after the Madrid Summit and to keep the progress of this dialogues under continuous review. Lithuanian integration into the Alliance remains the priority of our foreign and security policy. I can assure that Lithuania will continue paying major attention to the intensified dialogue with NATO and will develop specific programs aiming to meet membership requirements. Yesterday's decisions, especially clear recognition of the Baltic's aspiration for membership and the Alliance's recognition of the progress achieved towards greater stability and co-operation in the region, encourage us to further work towards that goal. Through participation in the activities of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Lithuania will seek further to contribute to the creation of the new Europe, based on co-operation and integration. I can assure the leaders of the Alliance that Lithuania will maintain status of an active and creative partner. In order to support these promises we are ready to open separate mission to NATO this fall. It is very important to maintain what has already been achieved and to move forward, so that the newly established institution should indeed offer a new quality of co-operation. In its turn, Lithuania will actively contribute to make EAPC an important element of European security architecture. Lithuania will actively participate in the enhanced PfP and NATO missions as we are doing it in Bosnia. Through individual approach and self-differentiation all EAPC member states will be able to define their own place in the new NATO and partners' initiative, which would best correspond to their individual interests. I believe that an enhanced PfP programme will become a practical guide for Lithuania and other candidate countries seeking to join the Alliance. We will make full use of the activities within the EAPC framework and are ready to go beyond the EAPC to better prepare to shoulder Article 5 responsibilities. The signing of NATO-Russia Founding Act in Paris and the Charter between NATO and the Ukraine here in Madrid outlined new type of relationship in Europe. The development of NATO - Russia relations its proves that Post Cold War countries are well aware that confrontation should give away to co-operation. Through co-operation alone can one discard the old myths and enhance mutual understanding. By concluding my short intervention, I would like to emphasize that by active participation in Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, developing regional political-military co-operation, and strengthening our defence forces in line with NATO standards, we shall continue to seek the implementation of NATO membership requirements so that we can become full NATO members in the future.