EAPC Ministerial Meeting 8 Dec. 1998

Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia H.E. Dr BORIS FRLEC Mr Secretary-General, dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, The main topic of today's meeting is another opportunity to review our successful work in the one and a half year period of the enhanced PfP and EAPC. I would like to thank you, Mr Secretary-General, for your excellent report on the Enhancement of PfP and the Implementation of the EAPC Basic Documents. Today's agenda is broad enough for every Partner to find its own topic to share with other Partners. And as I see it, it is also the essence of the enhanced Partnership. It is open, transparent and flexible enough to easily react to new challenges or new tasks. The different forms of participation of Partners and the level of activity in the enhanced PfP also enable differentiation among the Partners in the enhanced PfP, which we commend highly. At the same time, the enhanced PfP cannot and should not replace future membership in the Alliance for countries willing to and capable of joining. Slovenia is actively involved in the activities of the enhanced PfP and EAPC in the political, military and other fields. This year, we hosted several NATO/PfP activities, the most important of which was the Cooperative Adventure Exchange'98 Exercise, the largest out of area excercise to date, which was held in our country in the second half of November. I believe the countries participating share my view that the exercise was conducted very successfully. Slovenia remains actively involved in the joint efforts to strengthen peace, security and stability in Southeastern Europe. We believe that the continued NATO presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is essential. Slovenia continues to fly SFOR missions and in January, a platoon of the Slovenian Army military police will join the troops in Bosnia. During the peak of the Kosovo crisis, we granted our airspace for the execution of NATO air operations in less than 48 hours after the NAC request. This not only demonstrated our operational responsibility for strengthening peace and security southeast of our borders but also our ability to undertake Allied responsibilities, if I may say so. We appreciate the way that NATO consulted and informed selected partners during the Kosovo crisis. The active role of NATO enabled the creation of an environment for a possible peaceful solution. To assist further in the resolving of the crisis, Slovenia has also offered to contribute to the Kosovo Verification Mission. Mr Chairman, Let me also touch on a most vital issue - both for Slovenia and NATO - the Washington Summit 1999. Our strong belief is that the Summit represents a unique opportunity to confirm NATO's open door policy by extending invitations to those countries who fulfil the required criteria. We also believe that each country should be judged on its own merits. As you are all very well aware, Slovenia remains committed to becoming a fully fledged member of the Alliance. We are doing our utmost to further adapt to the political and military standards on which the Alliance is based. We believe that in the intensified dialogue, we have exhausted possibilities both politically and practically. We will have to move a step further, to closer and more direct relations. We hear from the most competent authorities that we are ready. We expect from the Allies in Washington a clear statement on how to execute the open door policy in the future, and not just rhetoric. Mr Chairman, The declared open door policy will have to be credibly confirmed at the Washington Summit. NATO works on the basis of consensus. It is therefore important to underline that no Ally opposes Slovenia's membership in the Alliance. Slovenia has already clearly expressed its profound interest and ability to become a new Ally. We are certain its membership is also in the interest of the Alliance. I believe it is time to act. Thank you.