HQ NATO 12 April 2000

Secretary General's Farewell Speech to General Clark Ladies and Gentlemen, We are here to say goodbye to General Wesley Clark and to thank him for his service to NATO, and to all of its members, as Supreme Allied Commander Europe. It is both a proud and a sad moment. Wes, you were truly the right man, in the right place, at the right time. Your achievements as SACEUR have been nothing short of remarkable. And your track record speaks for itself. You have been instrumental in securing a lasting peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. During your time at SHAPE, the security situation in that country has improved to the point that we can now begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel -- where Bosnia-Herzegovina will one day stand on its own feet as a peaceful country. That historic success will in no small part be due to you. You have personally worked very hard to ensure the smooth integration of NATO's newest members into the military structures of the Alliance - your success has ensured the continuing credibility of NATO's open door. Your determination to bring the Partner nations as close as possible to the Alliance, at SHAPE Headquarters and in the field, has helped make PfP and EAPC what they are today: the centerpieces of a cooperative Euro-Atlantic security community. Again, General, an historic success. Indeed, most elements of NATO's agenda have benefited from your wise military advice, your determined and committed leadership and your political savvy. But nowhere has your unique and invaluable contribution been clearer than since the Kosovo crisis began. Wesley, I do not need to exaggerate the importance of the outstanding role that you have played in making NATO's operations in Kosovo succeed. With your background at Dayton, you brought to the post of SACEUR invaluable knowledge of the Balkans, of the FRY, and of Milosevic himself. You knew how to negotiate with Milosevic and his henchmen. And you knew when diplomacy would not suffice. When it came time to take up arms, and fight for the cause of peace, you did what the best generals do: you succeeded. You led NATO's armed forces into the first major offensive military operation of its 50 year history. And you did so within the complex political and military framework of a 19 nation Alliance, and always under constant and intense media scrutiny. The results are not only testimony to your military skills but also to your political acumen. Less than a year after the end of Operation Allied Force, KFOR is re-establishing the peace in Kosovo, and helping the people of that province emerge from forty years of communism, a decade of apartheid and over a year of brutal ethnic cleansing. Thanks in so many ways to your inspired military leadership, there will be lasting peace in Kosovo, and indeed throughout the Balkans. This is an achievement of which you should be very proud. What is even more remarkable is that you achieved this military success, and the political unity of the Alliance was preserved and strengthened. You understood fully that political unity was essential to our success, despite the military constraints that that implied. Because of your unique combination of political and military skills, NATO has entered the 21st Century in better shape than ever. General Clark, Wes, the Alliance owes you many thanks, and a great debt. It gives me great pleasure to present you with the NATO medals for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. No one individual could deserve them more. On behalf of the Alliance, let me say - thank you, and best wishes for the future.