At the Spring Session of the North Atlantic Assembly Barcelona, 23 May 1998

Speech by NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana Monsieur le Snateur Roth, Monsieur le Prsident, Mesdames et Messieurs les Parlementaires, Mesdames et Messieurs, Je suis ravi de me trouver ici, Barcelone, pour prendre la parole l'occasion de la session de printemps de l'Assemble de l'Atlantique Nord. En tant qu'Espagnol, je suis videmment honor du fait que l'Assemble ait choisi de tenir cette session dans mon pays. Lors de notre dernire rencontre, Bucarest, l'Alliance venait tout juste de tenir son Sommet historique Madrid. Aujourd'hui, nous sommes un stade avanc de l'action mene pour mettre en oeuvre notre ambitieux programme. Vous, les Parlementaires de l'Assemble de l'Atlantique Nord, n'avez pas t simplement les spectateurs trs attentifs de ce processus d'adaptation et de changement. Le soutien que vous n'avez cess de nous apporter aux cours de ces derniers mois a t indispensable. Je voudrais, dans cette brve allocution, vous donner un aperu de certains des dfis auxquels l'Alliance est aujourd'hui confronte. Et, comme nous sommes moins d'un an du cinquantime anniversaire de l'OTAN, j'aimerais aussi vous indiquer comment je vois l'volution de notre Organisation l'aube du prochain sicle. Tout d'abord, un mot sur l'largissement. Nous sommes maintenant au milieu du processus de ratification. Plusieurs Allis, dont les Etats-Unis, ont dj ratifi les protocoles d'accession. Je suis content aussi de savoir que le Parlement espagnol a entam la procdure de ratification cette semaine. Par leur vote positif, nos parlements envoient un message trs clair, en faveur de l'extension de la stabilit et de la scurit l'Europe centrale et orientale. A cet gard, permettez-moi de revenir un instant sur le vote rcent du Snat, en raison du rle unique qu'il joue dans la Constitution amricaine et galement en raison du dbat qui a accompagn le vote. Pour moi, le vote largement positif du Snat a fait bien plus que donner un nouvel lan au processus de ratification. Il a aussi raffirm et renforc le lien transatlantique, qui est au coeur mme de l'OTAN. M. le Snateur Roth, vous et vos collgues mritez une apprciation particulire pour ce succs. La persvrance que vous avez mise diffuser le message de l'OTAN a pleinement port ses fruits. A l'OTAN, nous ne doutons pas un instant que cette tendance positive se poursuivra et que la ratification sera mene bien dans la totalit des seize Etats membres avant la fin de l'anne. Pourquoi sommes-nous si confiants? Tout d'abord, les trois pays invits sont dtermins devenir des producteurs et pas seulement des consommateurs de scurit. Ils sont prts souscrire aux principes gnraux de l'Alliance et accepter pleinement toutes les obligations nonces dans le Trait de l'Atlantique Nord. En outre, chacun d'eux a donn l'assurance que la majorit de ses forces armes serait destine l'Alliance. Deuximement, nous avons clarifi la question des cots. Les trois pays invits apporteront leur juste contribution aux activits de l'OTAN finances en commun. Tous trois ont galement pris l'engagement d'aligner leurs dpenses de dfense sur celles des Etats membres de l'OTAN. Ce qui est tout aussi important, mais qu'on a souvent tendance oublier, c'est le travail en cours au sein de l'Alliance et dans les trois pays invits pour faire en sorte que l'OTAN largie soit tout aussi efficace - et mme plus forte - que l'Alliance actuelle. Par exemple, dans le cadre du systme de planification de la dfense, nous laborons avec les trois pays invits ce que nous appelons des "objectifs de forces indicatifs". Cela nous permet d'valuer et de dterminer les contributions militaires que ces trois pays apporteront l'Alliance au moment de leur adhsion. Nous laborons galement avec eux des programmes de partenariat individuel spciaux afin d'amliorer l'interoprabilit de leurs forces avec celles de l'Alliance. Notre objectif est la transition la plus harmonieuse possible d'une Alliance 16 une Alliance 19. La bonne intgration de la Rpublique tchque, de la Hongrie et de la Pologne dans l'Alliance augurera bien de la poursuite du processus d'largissement. Leur srieux et leur volont de souscrire - et de rpondre - aux engagements fondamentaux de l'OTAN sont prcisment ce qui rend crdible la "politique de la porte ouverte" de l'Alliance. Le processus d'largissement de l'OTAN - comme celui de l'Union Europenne - reste pour les pays d'Europe centrale et orientale une puissante motivation persverer dans la voie de la consolidation de la dmocratie et des rformes. Les pays qui souhaitent adhrer l'une ou l'autre de ces organisations, ou aux deux, ont dj fait des progrs remarquables dans l'amlioration de leurs relations avec leurs voisins. Ils mettent en oeuvre d'importantes et vastes rformes politiques et conomiques. Ces dveloppements positifs sont mes yeux encourageants pour la politique de l'OTAN vis--vis des pays d'Europe centrale et orientale.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Many have asked themselves somewhat anxiously what effect NATO enlargement would have on NATO-Russia relations. Some speculated that in seeking improved relations withRussia, NATO would defer or avoid the decision to accept new members. One year after signing the historic NATO-Russia Founding Act, we can confidently say that critics were wrong on both counts. We have made great progress in solidifying the new NATO-Russia partnership while preparing to welcome new Allies. I would argue that both steps, together, are making Central and Eastern Europe more, not less, stable and secure. Russia remains a country in transition. It has yet to find its true role in the new cooperative security order in Europe. We believe that role to be one of close partnership with NATO. This is the basis on which we have established with Russia the Permanent Joint Council as a new forum for consultation on security-related issues. Peacekeeping, nuclear safety, NATO-Russia cooperation in SFOR, armaments-related cooperation, terrorism, the retraining of retired military personnel - these are just some of the areas of our joint work. And we are enhancing military-to-military contacts, adding to our very successful cooperation in the Stabilisation Force in Bosnia. The newly opened NATO Documentation Centre in Moscow is helping us overcome old stereotypes and nourish a new generation of security specialists. Parliamentary contacts play an important role in dispelling misperceptions and building trust and confidence. Here again, the NAA is taking the lead in forging close ties with the Duma. I am aware that during these meetings in Barcelona you will be discussing specific proposals aimed at increasing parliamentary cooperation, as called for in the Founding Act. These are indeed welcome and very useful developments. Of course, it would be naive to believe that as of the signing of the Founding Act the NATO-Russia relationship would always be free from irritations. We are setting forth on a new path together and there are bound to be moments when our concerns differ. That is a natural part of any new partnership spanning a wide array of interests. But as our relationship grows both in scope and substance, so too does the conviction that, in this new Europe, NATO and Russia are destined to cooperate. Looking at the wider security landscape, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council - although barely a year old - has established itself as a regular mechanism for enhancing the political relationship between Partners and the Alliance. In the monthly EAPC meetings, Partners and Allies are focusing on concrete security issues. These include regional security cooperation, defence-related economic issues, scientific cooperation, terrorism. Such intensified work also reflects a broader truth. We are creating a community, a community of nations that is seeking common approaches to common concerns. In the future, this might mean launching joint peacekeeping operations like in Bosnia or working together in humanitarian relief operations. One concrete example of our fruitful cooperation with Partners in the EAPC will be the decision by Ministers next week to establish the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre. Already a few days later I will inaugurate a disaster response coordination cell at NATO HQ which will function as the new nerve centre for our joint activities. It will provide us, e.g., with an instrument to respond better to events like the floods in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic last year. Thus the coordination cell will be of practical benefit to all participants. Partnership for Peace is also developing rapidly and substantively. This is shown in the emulation by Partners of the Alliance's defence planning process, the closer relations with NATO's integrated military structure and the very extensive range of joint PfP exercises both planned and underway. Partners will also in future become more directly involved in the planning and carrying out of PfP exercises and operations. Since its inception in 1994, Partnership for Peace has demonstrated NATO's commitment to enhance security and stability in the whole continent. In March of this year, for the first time, NATO held consultations with Albania at the latter's request in view of the situation in the region. In Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, we have stepped up our military assistance through the Partnership for Peace to promote stability and deter the spread of conflict through a number of preventive measures, in light of the crisis in Kosovo. This is a new step in the evolution of PfP. The measures include advising both countries on monitoring their borders; holding exercise and training activities with their armed forces; and advising on how to deal with a possible influx of refugees. In a few days, the NATO Partnership Cell will be opened in Tirana, in order to assist Albania in the effective implementation of its Individual Partnership Programme. My point is that PfP and the EAPC are not fair-weather talking shops. Both respond to clear-cut requirements. The smooth setting up of our Bosnia operation owes a lot to the Partnership for Peace framework. At our School in Oberammergau we are conducting courses for officers of the three Entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is an overlooked but vitally important element of the reconciliation effort - building confidence among the legitimate armed forces of this country. Let me share with you now my impressions of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are still a long way from true reconciliation in Bosnia. But the overall trends are encouraging. Infrastructure is being rebuilt. The economy is slowly re-gaining momentum. A new currency will soon be introduced. Refugees are returning home. War criminals are being put where they belong - in The Hague. In sum, Bosnia is moving in the right direction. But the Dayton Accords must be implemented to the fullest. Our ultimate objective, a self-sustaining peace, is not yet achieved. We must persevere. That is why our international military presence will be maintained until the job is done. And that is also why Allies and troop-contributing Partner countries are preparing for the continuation of SFOR beyond the end of its current mandate. I am convinced that this strong determination - by SFOR, by the international community - is essential to support those in Bosnia who are building a new country - one that is at peace. NATO has generated much positive momentum through its cooperative approach. PfP/EAPC, our distinct relationship with Ukraine and NATO-Russian ties all testify to this. But this approach can also be used to build new bridges elsewhere - across the Mediterranean, for example. Our Mediterranean dialogue is exactly that - a bridge-building endeavour. It is underpinned by measures to enhance NATO's information efforts towards these countries. We have invited them to observe NATO land and sea exercises and participate in courses at the NATO School in Oberammergau and the NATO Defence College in Rome. These are steps that can help dispel possible misperceptions about the Alliance. They therefore complement other international efforts, such as those launched in this very city - Barcelona - by the EU a few years ago to build cooperation in this region. As you can discern from all this, NATO's agenda today is both long and complicated. The key strategic asset that allows us to deal effectively with such a complex set of major issues is the transatlantic cohesion. Keeping the transatlantic link strong and dynamic is the precondition for tackling an ever-growing transatlantic agenda. This requires that the transatlantic community completes its transition from a community of shared threats to a community of shared interests and shared responsibilities. On this account, too, NATO has been looking ahead. We are creating the means by which we can assist our European Allies in developing operational capabilities for peacekeeping and crisis management. This will help Europe to become the stronger Partner that befits Europe's economic and political weight. A genuine European Security and Defence Identity is now coming to life within NATO and in close cooperation with the WEU. We are now close to completing the conceptual work on ESDI, and will soon test new mechanisms for NATO support of the WEU through exercises in the field. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, We are less than a year away from the NATO Summit in Washington. There we will celebrate the Alliance's 50th anniversary. It is important, however, that on this occasion we not just celebrate past achievements, but look forward to the next 50 years. It will be an occasion to position our Alliance for the 21st century. With a new Strategic Concept and an adjusted balance between NATO's core and new missions; with three new members and with new partnerships and cooperation with virtually every country in the Euro-Atlantic region, we are shaping an Alliance better attuned than ever to meet the security challenges ahead. As in the past, the North Atlantic Assembly will play an essential role in helping present the new NATO to our publics on both sides of the Atlantic. Let us start thinking now of the celebrations ahead next April - celebrations to mark this new NATO. Your involvement and support remain as important, and as appreciated, as ever.