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Updated: 03-Jun-2003 NATO Speeches

Madrid, Spain

3 June 2003

Statement

by Mr. Abdullah Gül , Foreign Minister of Turkey,
at the Meeting of the NAC
at the level of Foreign Ministers

Mr. Secretary - General
Dear Colleagues,

It has been exactly two months since we have last met in this setting. Within that short period of time much has happened for the international community, as well as for NATO.

Despite recent difficulties we faced within NATO on the issue of Iraq, we are taking forward the vision set out at our Prague Summit of an Alliance transformed to meet the threats and security challenges of the 21st century.

In this context, and in response to the questions raised by the Secretary General, I believe NATO's future should be firmly based on a clear vision where the Alliance remains the cornerstone of our collective defense and an essential pillar of peace and security in the wider Euro-Atlantic region.

Today's dynamic security environment makes it necessary for NATO to be more active and far-reaching in its activities.

NATO's role in Iraq and Afghanistan today will pave the way for such an Alliance, committed to meet the challenges to our common security from wherever they may come.

Therefore we welcome the recent NAC decision enabling NATO to provide limited support to Poland as part of the stabilization force in Iraq.

We believe that there is increasing support for and a clear expectation that NATO will play a more active role in post-conflict Iraq.

Hence, we hope that this decision will be a first step for the Alliance to assume. a greater role in Iraq in the near future. The reasons for such a role are;

  • The stability in Iraq is of utmost interest for all the Allies and the Alliance as a whole,
  • Iraq borders a NATO country,
  • The consequences of failure could ha.vc far-reaching effects for the whole Middle East, the campaign against terrorism and security of al) Alliance members.

We all have a moral responsibility towards the reintegration of Iraq to the international community. We believe that restoring security and stability in Iraq is of utmost importance. This region should be free from political disputes, violence, terrorism, social and economic problems.

We would like to sec Iraq as a reconstructed and respected democratic member of the international community. We want Iraq to be a peaceful country, where its resources are used for the benefit of all the Iraqi people. Our shared principles such as territorial integrity, sovereignty and political unity should also be valid for Iraq.

Accordingly, NATO's role in Iraq should be in the form of a full and comprehensive mission, covering the whole country and all the necessary tasks to ensure the success of the NATO mission and stability in Iraq.

We believe that the Security Council Resolution 1483 will facilitate such a NATO mission and Turkey is ready to support the implementation of 1483 and future NATO initiatives in Iraq.

Mr. Secretary - General
Dear Colleagues,

Turning now to Afghanistan, which presents an important challenge for the Alliance, we believe that NATO's enhanced role in support of ISAF will strengthen ISAF's effectiveness and reinforce the international community's commitment to building a peaceful, stable and democratic Afghanistan.

Our experience in this country tells us that, despite our support to ISAF, security in Kabul and in wider Afghanistan, cannot be ensured only by forces on the ground.

Indeed, lasting stability in Afghanistan and ISAF's contribution depend very much on the establishment of a wider security network. Such a network would enable the neighbouring countries to make a constructive contribution to the situation in Afghanistan.

In that regard, NATO is best placed to stimulate such a process through its wide-ranging partnership relations, especially with the countries of strategically important regions of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Therefore, the real task for NATO now is to further enhance cooperation with partners bordering Afghanistan, building upon the existing mechanism.? and establishing a more political and country-specific focus on these Partners, Joint approaches to key regional problems, such as Afghanistan, should be an important aspect of this cooperation.

The basic tasks for NATO lo successfully meet the challenges of ISAF are:

  • Maintaining equal distance towards all ethnic and political groups,
  • Establishing good civil-military relations; effective command and control arrangements,
  • The ability to react rapidly to unforeseen developments. These arc lessons-learned during our ISAF leadership.

As a sign of Turkey's sensitivity and contribution to the peace and security in Afghanistan and in the region alike, the Turkish government decided to contribute to 1SAF-W by maintaining its existing presence in ISAF-Hl.

We realise that both Iraq and Afghanistan present major, long-term commitments for NATO. Therefore, as we stretch our forces and capabilities to farther distances and new challenges, it is becoming even more essential that we maintain and strengthen cohesion and solidarity within our Alliance.

Indeed, the road we are taking and the vision we have set for ourselves require a solid and vibrant transatlantic partnership, which up to date has formed the basis of the most successful Alliance in the history of mankind.

In view of the common challenges we have to face together, as -well as our shared values and ideals, which lie at the core of this Alliance, we need to be able to leave the past behind and adopt a forward-looking approach that unites our efforts around common objectives.

Thank you.

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