At the Meeting of the EAPC Luxembourg 29 May 1998

Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Dr. Wolfgang Schssel In the recent past, European security architecture has undergone fundamental changes, especially in the field of crisis management. I am referring to the continuous deepening of co-operation in the PfP framework on the one hand, and to the course chosen by the European Union in the Treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam on the other. Today the political efforts on both sides of the Atlantic concentrate on enhancing and strengthening the cooperation between the existing institutions and for a, on the basis of a division of labour and in the interest of functioning European security structures. The experience of the last years - especially the conflicts on the territory of the former Yugoslavia and in Albania - have taught us that the operational challenges in crisis management have increased. Commenting on the UNPROFOR experience, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, already made the point that it does not make sense to entrust lightly armed peacekeeping forces with a mandate for peace enforcement, in this or other comparable crisis situation. The Members of the European Union have also decided to strengthen the role of the Union in international crisis management by incorporating the full range of the Petersberg missions of the WEU into the Treaty of Amsterdam, that is to say not only humanitarian and rescue tasks as well as peacekeeping tasks, but also tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking. Similarly, the offer of cooperation within the framework of PfP now covers the full range of peace support operations. As a result, the field of crisis management to be covered by CFSP and the operational range of PfP are now more or less congruent. Therefore, Austria is of the opinion that we should exploit synergies and must not duplicate existing mechanisms. All in all, developments in the area of crisis management have lead to ever greater interlinkages between the Union, the WEU, NATO, OSCE and the United Nations. In view of this fact the Madrid Summit has also referred to the "common strategic interests", which "the Alliance and the European Union share". Against this background, I would welcome a direct dialogue between all organizations involved. Austria is aware of the fact that the development of functioning European crisis management has been facilitated by NATO's readiness to support WEU -led peace operations with NATO assets and capabilities. We therefore hope that the implementation of the CJTF concept which can make a contribution to a "European Security and Defence Identity", will continue to move ahead. Austria welcomes that the new consultative mechanisms created by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. We also salute the substantive development that the PfP has undergone since Sintra. As to the future, we are, in principle, interested in the ability to cooperate with partners in the full range of peace support operations. As to the multinational peace operation in Bosnia, we are fully aware of the stabilizing impact of this mission on South Eastern Europe and its environment. Subject to the necessary decision of the Austrian Parliament, we are therefore ready to maintain our transport unit in Bosnia beyond June 1998. Austria will also continue to support the operation by granting transit rights, in conformity with existing Austrian legislation. The explosive situation in the Kosovo, undoubtedly presents us with the greatest challenge to European security. From Austria's point of view, reinforced international efforts in Albania and Macedonia are urgent if we wish to prevent a spill-over of the conflict. We are ready to support these efforts according to our means. More generally, NATO's efforts to place a new emphasis on international crisis management constitute an important element in shaping a new NATO. Austria hopes that the EAPC mechanisms can be used to involve partners in the planning of upcoming operations and to inform them, as fully as possible, about the ongoing work on the strategic Concept of the Alliance. Other developments that NATO has initiated are, of course, also of great importance to partners. I just wish to refer to the specific documents that NATO has agreed with Russia and Ukraine. From our point of view, these cooperative mechanisms help to make the disappearance of dividing lines in Europe irreversible. This why I see the signing of these acts as the beginning of a new pan European peace order. I would like to appeal to the Alliance and the two partner countries concerned to avail themselves of the great potential of these instruments. From our perspective as a member of the European Union, the enlargement of the Union and of NATO are autonomous processes - but at the same time, these two processes should mutually contribute to European security. For Austria, this link is particularly important, for political as well as security reasons. Furthermore, we see the decision of the Madrid summit to keep NATO's doors open as a signal; this is an invitation to all European nations to develop their cooperation with the Alliance to the degree they desire.