Address
by
Mr.
Linas Linkevicius, Minister of National Defence of Lithuania
at the EAPC Defence Ministers meeting
Mr. Chairman, dear Colleagues,
This item is dear to my heart and demanded me much of my time,
when I was an Ambassador in this Council. Some years ago, Lithuania,
together with Romania and the United Kingdom, presented a non-paper
on possible development of EAPC.
It was then and it is now obvious that the success of EAPC
cooperation depends on the extent to which participating countries
utilize this framework. EAPC remains important for present and
future NATO aspirants as well as for those countries who have
no intention of joining NATO. Each and every Partner Nation
should be able to engage with NATO according to their individual
aspirations. The principles of inclusiveness and self-differentiation
should remain at the core of future cooperation.
Looking at our own experience as an aspirant country, Lithuania
gained a lot from the mechanisms of the EAPC/PfP. We were given
the practical means of preparing for NATO membership and for
enhancing our self-defence capabilities. We widened our cooperation
with NATO, starting from so called intensified dialogue (one
might say- a monologue) to a rewarding and constructive working
relationship.
I can assure you that no matter what decisions are taken at
Prague, Lithuania will remain committed to the EAPC/PfP framework
of cooperation. My Government has already offered to host the
2003 EAPC APAG meeting in Lithuania.
Other countries - from allies to those that are less involved
in cooperation with the Alliance - should be allowed to find
the right formula for benefiting from this partnership. We encourage
the possibility of tailoring activities to meet individual country
interests.
First, the EAPC should retain a strong link with the PfP as
a tool for practical cooperation. Through PfP, partners can
improve the capabilities they bring to the NATO table in support
of Alliance policy and missions. They also can streamline their
own management and operational systems.
Second, Lithuania suggests considering a more regional approach
and is ready to promote this broader approach more actively
in practice; We have good examples of multilateral cooperation,
which we already are sharing with others. I have in mind a robust
military cooperation framework in the Baltic States.
We are starting to share our experience with other interested
countries in the EAPC space, namely with the countries of Central
Asia and the Caucasus, in such areas as of integrating into
NATO, developing military capabilities and establishing a modern
planning system.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the establishment of
the new framework of cooperation between NATO and its partner
Russia. We welcome the NATO-Russia Council and look forward
to the Council's practical cooperation in the many areas of
shared interest. At the same time we are inviting Russia to
increase the scope of its participation in the EAPC format.
This provides additional means of searching the way to fulfil
common goals and, we believe, will contribute towards understanding
of logic of all processes, taking place on both NATO and Russia.
The EAPC can not overlook current challenges, such as the threat
of terrorism. Many security-related organisations are discussing
this issue. I believe it is in the interest of those organizations
and their member states to ensure that actions, capabilities
and operations are effectively coordinated. This might be the
place of EAPC within the network of international organisations,
such as the UN, EU, OSCE. It may be time to think about a security
and confidence-building coordinating role for the EAPC along
with these organisations, thus putting fresh blood to our Council.
Thank you.
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