Commemorative
stamp
presentation
ceremony

Malines,
11 Jan. 1999

A selection of photos of the event is available.

Ministers,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be present at this ceremony today. I think this admirable Belgian initiative of printing stamps to commemorate NATO's fiftieth anniversary comes just at the right time to celebrate how alive and full of energy NATO is. What was created in haste fifty years ago has become our Alliance, which has been a historic success in terms of both its longevity and what it has achieved. Not only did it ensure our security during the Cold War; it has also proved to be an essential source of stability since the divided Europe was made whole again. Today, half a century after its foundation, NATO is still just as dynamic. Now, it is central to the building of a new security architecture for the entire Euro-Atlantic area. The Alliance has become our primary means of shaping our strategic environment.

The Alliance Summit to be held in Washington next April will of course be an opportunity to mark NATO's fiftieth birthday. But it will also enable us to show that NATO has been highly successful in adapting to the new challenges of the rapidly changing environment in which we live. In welcoming new members, strengthening its ties with its new partners, fufilling new missions and equipping itself with new and more flexible structures, the Alliance has prepared itself as well as possible to enter the new millenium as the guardian of peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Yet what is essential to the smooth running of the Alliance is the environment in which it has settled and developed: Belgium's warm welcome and admirable hospitality encouraged us to look forwards as soon as we moved here, 32 years ago. Today, Belgium and NATO - both NATO Headquarters in Brussels and SHAPE in Mons - are united in close and mutually rewarding co-operation. Your country's welcoming nature and manifold charms have made NATO an integral part of the country and its population.

But Belgium is not just NATO's host nation. It is also an unfailingly loyal ally. In point of fact Belgium provides an effective contribution to the Alliance force structure, and particularly to the reaction forces. Today Belgium, having drawn lessons from its experience in Bosnia and Africa, possesses highly competent, specialized armed forces which make a fitting contribution to the Alliance's credibility - the credibility we must all maintain and strengthen for the good of our continent and to preserve security beyond its boundaries.

I should like to conclude this brief address by expressing once again the gratitude and appreciation of all the Alliance countries and all those who work and live here for the continuing support we have received over the years, and I think I speak for all us when I say a big thank-you, Belgium, for making us so welcome.