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| Updated: 13-Jun-2003 | NATO Speeches |
| NATO HQ
13 juin 2003 |
Statement by
Mr. Nikolay Svinarov, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria
at the EAPC at the level of Defence Ministers Brussels
Panel 1: The Partnership’s role in addressing the new security challenges Mr. Secretary General,
I would like to point out that more than ever we need the broad approach to dealing with the challenges instead of the “purely defensive” and “consequence management” approach. In this sense the role of the Partnership with its structure, processes, programs and projects is a very substantial one and even more importantly it has proven its bi-directional positive effect both in terms of the Partner countries as well as the Alliance members. The Partnership mechanisms speeded up the clear understanding of the shared security environment where there are neither ”ensured” nor can one “self-capsulate” against contemporary threats and challenges. Generally speaking, these challenges are manifested by low intensity conflicts, asymmetric threats, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as human, drugs and arms trafficking. This list, of course, is far from being comprehensive but it will not be difficult to prove that those factors are often directly interrelated. All that demands a complex approach and coordinated efforts of all countries aimed at a maximum neutralization of the whole spectrum of threats for the international peace and security. After the end of the Cold War Europe underwent substantial changes that on the one hand can be summarized by the unification of Europe that started with the fall of the Berlin Wall. At the same time in the last decade of the 20th century Europe witnessed wars the causes of which were typical for the Middle Ages – ethnic and religious contradictions. It is a very sad fact that even at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century communities that have long traditions of peaceful relations are using force in sorting out conflicts and disputes. In this aspect in the past years the West European countries and NATO in particular had to solve two different types of challenges: the unification of the West European countries and NATO Enlargement on the one hand and the dissolution of Yugoslavia on the other. Low intensity conflicts taking place in the immediate vicinity of the NATO member countries were a source of instability not only on a regional scale but also for the security and stability of Europe at large. The involvement of the UN and NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Allied Force operation in Kosovo demonstrated the determination of the international community to prevent a spread of the conflicts and to use all available influence mechanisms including coping with these conflicts and peace enforcement. The Partner countries contributed to the process of restoring stability in South Eastern Europe as well. It all was achieved both through the assistance provided to the Allied Forces during the Kosovo operation as well as through the participation in SFOR and KFOR. The cooperation established within the framework of the Euro Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace facilitated the successful integration of the provided by the Partners assets into the multinational forces of SFOR and KFOR. On the other hand the joint regional initiatives of Alliance member countries and partner countries play an important role in strengthening the confidence between the countries and the coordination of the common policy aimed at increasing the level of security and elimination of the problems at a very early stage. The asymmetric threats and actions aimed against statehood are yet another challenge equally valid for the member states as well as the partners. September 11th 2001 time and again reiterated the truth which the West European countries and the USA already were very well aware of: not a single county in the world can any longer afford the luxury to consider itself protected and ensured against terrorist attacks. Terrorism is of a more and more international character, its forms of a greater variety are more lethal while its victims are more and more indiscriminated. The established in October 2001 antiterrorist coalition joined by a significant number of countries – both NATO members and partners from all continents undoubtedly has proven the determination of the international community to fight terrorism. This spirit was reflected in the Declaration of the Euro Atlantic Partnership Council dated September 12th 2001. The place of the Partner countries is shoulder to shoulder with the Alliance member countries. The common threat requests united efforts. An important “key to success” are the coordinated and determined actions aimed at stopping the funding and provisions for the terrorist organizations, equal treatment of all organizations in the whole spectrum of their activities, pursuing their members and handing them over to justice. The threat of weapons of mass destruction proliferation has already been in the focus of the international community attention for a very long time. NATO developed measures and activities against the WMD proliferation, based on the possibility of individuals or terrorist groups getting hold of small quantities of these weapons and using them as a means of threat or pressure. The role of Partner countries in these measures and activities is substantial. The problem of storage and destruction of excess small arms and light weapons is faced by all Partners and sorting out this issue is of critical importance. The EAPC mechanisms offer efficient solutions but each partner taking account of its individual contribution can facilitate the increase of security and stability level on the internal as well as the international scale. The export control and the prevention of illegal traffic of small arms and light weapons requires efficient actions and regional and international coordination. The EAPC is a forum that provides a favorable environment for cooperation and better efficiency of our strive towards a more peaceful and secure world. Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you!
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