Address
By
H.E. Ahmet Necdet Sezer,
President of the Republic of Turkey
at the NATO-Russia Council Meeting
of Heads of State and Government
Mr. Secretary General,
Fellow Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished Participants,
It is my pleasure to attend this historic meeting. On behalf
of myself and my Delegation, I extend my thanks to our Host,
His Excellency Prime Minister Berlusconi and the Italian Government,
for the warm hospitality and for the facilities provided to
organize in the best possible way this meeting, that records
the rapprochement between NATO and Russia, which will make significant
contributions to the security of the Euro-Atlantic region, as
well as to the global security.
I would also like to express our pleasure in seeing Mr. Putin,
President of the Russian Federation, among us as an equal member
of this Council. I welcome him wholeheartedly. We support the
steps taken by President Putin in the pursuit of getting his
country closer with the Euro-Atlantic structures and wish that
they will continue.
Dear Participants,
The Russian Federation is a key player in the security, stability
and prosperity, of the Euro-Atlantic region. Moreover, the stability
and prosperity of Russia as well as its commitment to our shared
values, embodied in NATO, are important.
Our generation had intensively experienced the tensions and
fears of the Cold War. The collapse of the Berlin War and the
subsequent developments removed these fears. Today we are embarking
on a new journey on the basis of mutual trust, by completely
breaking all the walls of suspicion in our memories.
On 27 May 1997, with the signature of the NATO-Russia Founding
Act, NATO and the Russian Federation confirmed that they would
not regard themselves as adversaries any longer. Five years
later, with the new Declaration to be signed today, the equal
partnership between NATO and Russia is being registered irreversibly
in the annals of history at the highest level.
The new security environment emerging in the Euro-Atlantic
region requires a more intense cooperation with the Russian
Federation. NATO's external adaptation, EU's enlargement and
emergence as a new security player, arising risks and threats
in the post-September 11 era, terrorism in the Eurasia region,
extremist movements, the danger of the proliferation and use
of WMDs, compel all of us to act together in order to defend
the future of our peoples as well as of our common civilization.
Among the priority goals of the Turkish foreign policy is the
strengthening of our bilateral cooperation with our friend and
neighbour Russia and elevating it to an advanced level of partnership
to our mutual benefits. We know that Russia shares the same
determination.
Turkey considers Russia, with whom it has been in relation
for centuries and has shared the same geography, not as a rival
but a partner of cooperation. Constructive and creative cooperation
in this geography covering the Black Sea, the Balkans, the Caucasus
and Central Asia, will contribute to the security, stability
and economic prosperity of not only our two countries, but also
of the whole Euro-Atlantic region. With this understanding,
an Action Plan for co-operation in Eurasia was signed between
Turkey and Russia.
Today's Summit Meeting coincides with the tenth anniversary
of the bilateral Agreement on the Principles of the Relations
between Turkey and Russia, which was signed on 25 May 1992,
in me aftermath of the end of the Cold War. This adds particular
value on our part, to today's event.
We believe that works to be carried out in the selected areas
determined for consultation, joint decision and joint action
at the new Council will make significant contributions to the
prevention and the countering of the common risks and threats.
In this context, I would like to underline the importance Turkey
attaches to the fight against terrorism, which is also among
the priority objectives of the Council. Having lost thousands
of its citizens to terrorism, the Turkish nation has learnt
bitterly the scope of this threat. Unfortunately, on September
11 our American friends had to experience the same grief.
Whomever they are directed to and whatever their roots, motives
and methods are, unless all terror organizations are eliminated,
it will not be possible for nations to live in peace and security.
It is high time for concrete cooperation.
On the other hand, we should also continue our efforts of non-proliferation
of WMDs with determination. Turkey is party to all international
treaties and regimes on the non-proliferation of WMDs and attaches
great importance on these studies. In this context, I would
like to underline that we welcome the agreement between the
US and Russia to lower the quantity of the strategic nuclear
warheads and the US-Russian statement on the framework of new
strategic relations.
To conclude, I wish to reiterate our readiness to render every
possible endeavour for an efficient functioning of the new Council
in the face of these risks and threats, and extend my best regards.
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