EAPC Meeting of the Defence Ministers NATO HQ, Brussels 8 June 2001

Speaking notes by Mr. F.H.G. de Grave, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands These remarks will focus on the Balkans, but that should not be seen as a lack of interest for other regions such as Central Asia and the Caucasus. After Croatia did so last year, Yugoslavia now also returned to democracy. This has opened the way for a rapprochement between Yugoslavia and the Euro-Atlantic security structures, and this circle of EAPC ministers may will be expanded in the near future: the accession of the FRY to the Partnership for Peace is no longer a far-fetched idea. Of course, certain conditions such as those with regard to full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal will apply. In Macedonia, we hope that the plan being worked out now will be successful in solving the problem in a sustainable way. We certainly can not tolerate armed rebellion. Meanwhile, we strongly encourage the Macedonian Government of Unity in its efforts toward political dialogue and reconciliation and toward moderation in the use of its military and police if they have to be used again. The Netherlands supports the High Representative's determined policy in Bosnia-Herzegovina. SFOR continues to play a key role there. Also, much of the international effort in Bosnia Herzegovina focuses on the process of economic restructuring and statebuilding. This will contribute to the essential objective of making the Bosnian people self-reliant, and ourselves dispensable. The most obvious proof of the importance and the success of the Partnership for Peace is the operational cooperation between NATO and Partners in the Balkans. We greatly value the contribution of our Partners in these operations and we are satisfied that the consultations with Partners, structured in the Political-Military Framework for NATO-led PfP operations, and with a continued commitment to the Operational Capabilities concept, are productive. Smooth co-operation between NATO and non-NATO countries, as well as between NATO and other organisations, such as the EU, the UN and the OSCE, is essential in building a lasting peace.