NATO HQ 22 May 2006

Remarks by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at the opening of the photo exhibition “Riga welcomes the NATO Summit” JĀNIS EICHMANIS (permanent representative of Latvia to NATO): Ladies and Gentlemen... Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming. Good to see you here. Hum. As you can see this is an event that draws attention to the fact that Riga welcomes the NATO summit. And the idea was to present you with a panorama if you like, a view of the nice interesting aspects of Riga . As you know, the summit takes place in November. We thought we would try to show Riga in the summer. Our idea was to give you this overview. And I have to say that I have to thank several members of my delegation Ieva Kļaviņa and Āris Zobens for their pictures. And I do not know whether I do this myself. I just may care... I have to thank myself as well, because of those pictures... (LAUGHTER)... So with that, maybe I can turnover to the Secretary General. JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER (NATO Secretary General): Thank you very much, ambassador, minister, dear friends, let me start by saying that when we go to Riga we'll be at the end of November, it will be somewhere in the hearts and minds of all the NATO's head of States and government who go there. So don't worry, minister, don't worry ambassador. Secondly, before saying a few words, I think I should commend Latvia . Because I think the position, the tenth position in the ice hockey world championships is a major achievement for Latvia . And we shouldn't forget this date. (APPLAUSE) After this more important introductory remarks, let me say a few words at this small ceremony devoted to Riga and devoted to the summit which I think, I'm sure will be a milestone for NATO because we all know that for several years, the Alliance has been adapting its capabilities its structures and its partnerships to be better able to meet the new challenges in new ways and in new places as well. And in Riga , heads of State and government will take this adaptation process a decisive step further. We're now half year away to the summit. It seems a long time minister but the summit is going rather close now. And work is ongoing and we should work hard here to prepare for that meeting. First of all the work which is being done and which will be done between now and the end of November by the host, the Government of Latvia who I want to thank most sincerely on behalf of the entire NATO community Minister for the generous hospitality and unrelenting efforts to make our summit a success. Then all member States are debating a critical alliance issues in the North Atlantic Council and the support committee, fine-tune the agenda of the summit and preparing the decisions by the heads of States and government. And of course, NATO's international staff, NATO's international military staff are working hard towards the Riga summit in support of the council and its various committees. Now the pace and intensity of all this work which is already quite high will pick up now before the summer break, but certainly after... And the photo exhibition that we're about to open to which ambassador Eichmanis already referred to and the summit logo that we're about to unveil will bring the Riga summit very much alive for all of us. And I think should serve and will serve as a real inspiration for our work in the next week and month. So let me, in conclusion, thank in your personal minister the president, the government of Latvia, all Latvian authorities for hosting the summit, give us all a taste of Riga already now through this exhibition and let the flying Latvian Armed Forces Band to mark this festive occasion. And let me finish, Ambassador, with a special word of appreciation to you, Ambassador Jānis, because you have been a tremendous support and you are a tremendous support in preparation of the Riga Summit. And this exhibition owes a lot not only to this initiative but also to your sharp eye, your personal sharp eye and imagination as an amateur photographer. So having said this, Minister Slakteris, it is over to you. And let me reiterate how all... how much we're all looking forward to the Riga Summit. And I will quite certain it will be a big success. Thank you very much, Minister, over to you now. ATIS SLAKTERIS (Latvian Defence Minister): Yes, thank you... we're thanking the generals, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, at first, thank you for your welcome and I'm here about one delivery from Riga . The NATO Summit logo. And it was chosen in very serious and hard competition between 148 works of Latvian artists. And the winner is Mister Ole Defremonis and the logo is under the slogan of Riga , the historical crossroads. We'll see about future but it was and it will be crossroads. And... and now I would like to invite Secretary General to unveil the official NATO Riga Summit logo. Thank you. JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Thank you very much. ATIS SLAKTERIS: Welcome. (APPLAUSE) (INAUDIBLE) (MUSIC)