NATO HQ 2 Apr. 2004

"A Dream Fulfilled" Address by H.E. Rihards Piks Foreign Minister of the Republic of Latvia at the Ceremonial Session of the North Atlantic Council on the Occasion of the Accession of Seven New Members to the Alliance News 02/04/2004 - NATO Ceremony to mark the accession to NATO Secretary General, Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, This morning, a dream has been fulfilled for the people of Latvia. Latvia' s flag has been raised at NATO Headquarters ! In Riga today, there will be many who raise, if not the flag, then at least a glass, to toast this moment. This is truly a moment to be enjoyed like no other. But it is not only a dream that has been fulfilled. We have also fulfilled the goal of every Latvian Government for the last decade - to join this splendid Alliance of free, democratic nations. With the fulfillment of dreams, reality presents itself. Our new reality will mark a new beginning in our history, but with a big difference. Instead of standing on the threshold, now we will be working on the inside, in the company of friends. This new reality is accompanied by a strong sense of purpose and a sense of chosen destiny. The choice we have taken means that Latvians may never again have to suffer the loss of freedom. In the past, Latvia lost its freedom because it had to look for security on its own. Now, Latvia stands shoulder to shoulder in the company of twenty five other nations guaranteeing the liberty of each other and sharing the values and ideals that unite us. We know that today’s reality means that no country is an island in the ocean of international security. No country can hope to handle the emerging threats on its own. NATO’s strength lies in its ability to combine the unique contribution of each member for the joint security of all. By working together, both the traditional and new challenges can best be met, whether they be the fight against terrorism, peace support or collective defense. The reality of Latvia’s history during the last century taught us that the very existence of nations is threatened when tyranny prevails. NATO's greatest challenge today is that the power of its members will lie dormant when morality and security call for the use of that power. This lesson is surely just as relevant in this century as it was in the last century. As we celebrate the appearance of Latvia’s flag at NATO headquarters, let me honour those that carry that flag on their uniform and represent their country with pride and honour in various NATO operations. Whilst we are in the safety of NATO’s headquarters, they are there facing dangers in different parts of the world in order to make the world a better place. I pay tribute to the men and women from Latvia’s armed forces that are today serving in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. We salute you and your fellow soldiers from all NATO countries. We are grateful for the service that you are performing on our behalf. It was only some fifteen years ago that Latvians were able to celebrate the reappearance of Latvia’s flag on our own territory. Since then, our freedom has been restored. This week that freedom is being strengthened and consolidated as we take our place amongst Allies. Latvia thanks the nineteen NATO member states that allowed our dream to be fulfilled. Thank you, Secretary General, for giving us the chance to celebrate our entry into NATO today.