Meeting of the Euro- Atlantic Partnership Council in Foreign Ministers Session, Brussels, 17 Dec. 1997

Intervention by H.E. Mr. Algirdas Saudargas Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me start by congratulating my colleagues - the Polish, Czech and Hungarian Foreign Ministers with completion the pre-accession talks with the Alliance. The accession of these three Central European countries, including our closest neighbour, Poland, will strengthen NATO and will further contribute to the security of Europe as a whole. Lithuania, as aspiring member, supports NATO's remaining commitment to the ongoing process of enlargement in the terms set out in para 8 of the Madrid Summit Declaration. Integration into the Alliance remains one of the priorities of our foreign and security policy. We want to contribute to European security and we are already doing this. Lithuania's participation in the SFOR mission as well as the recent signing of the Lithuanian-Russian border delimitation agreements is evidence to this effect. Lithuania and Russia by signing a border agreement gave an excellent example how neighbouring states despite their differences in choosing direction of integration in preferable security arrangements can pursue their agenda of co-operation and contribute to European security. With regard to the SFOR mission, we support yesterday's decision to endorse politico-military guidance for the development of options for a future NATO-led military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina and we are determined to continue our participation in the possible follow-on force. Our goal for 1998 is to make full use of the overarching framework of EAPC, enhanced PfP as well as intensified dialogue with the Alliance in order to facilitate our way towards achieving greater interoperability that would allow my country to participate successfully in new NATO missions. By recognizing the progress achieved towards greater stability and cooperation by the states in the Baltic region, the Alliance has already contributed to stability and confidence in this part of Europe. Security in the Baltic Sea region cannot be addressed separately from the Euro-Atlantic integration processes and cannot be regionalised. We welcome the increased role that Partners will play in decision making on PfP issues. It will allow us to shape our co-operation with the Allies, thus making it operational and effective. For example, thorough discussions and co-ordination of various issues at the meetings of EAPC Ambassadors prior to the North Atlantic Council decisions is yet another prove of the role of Partners in the PfP decision making process. We especially took note of the recommendation of the NATO Military Authorities to establish Partnership Staff Elements in 1998 at the Headquarters in the first two levels of NATO Military Command structure. With great interest we are waiting for the conclusions of the NATO Military Authorities on the feasibility to establish PSEs at the third level of the Command structure. We, as a country interested in sending officers to the HQ, which deals with day-to-day practical activities in the Baltic Sea area, are eager to contribute to the NATO Military Authorities feasibility study on establishment of PSEs at the sub-regional level. Lithuania welcomes discussions on a political - military framework for NATO-led PfP operations and is committed making contributions to future operations. I want especially to note how important it is to designate our joint endeavours as "NATO-led" because we wish to see NATO-led missions within a single political-military framework of the Alliance new missions. We will continue to take part in the PfP Planning and Review process. Our common aim is to make PARP close to NATO collective defence planning. This could be achieved by introducing Partnership Goals already in this PARP cycle. It would allow for Partners who wish so to identify forces and generally prepare for the participation in new NATO missions. Thank You.