NATO MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT

Access NATO’s broadcast-quality video content free of charge

Register

Create an account

Create an account

Check your inbox and enter verification code

We have sent a verification code to your email address. . Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
Verification code

Didn't receive a code? Send new Code

You have successfully created your account

From now on you can download videos from our website

Subscribe to our newsletter

If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below.

Reset password

Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password.

Log in or Create an account
Reset password
Check your inbox and enter verification code
We have sent a verification code to your email address. Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
Verification code

Didn't receive a code? Send new Code

Create a new password

The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

Your password has been updated

Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password.

Monsieur le Président Chirac,
Monsieur le Président Eltsine,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Aujourd'hui, je suis particulièrement heureux de pouvoir affirmer devant vous que nos efforts ont porté leurs fruits. Ainsi, depuis Paris, nos regards peuvent résolument se tourner vers le vingt et unième siècle. Vers la vision d'une Europe unie et libre, prospère et stable. Personnellement, je nourris l'espoir sincère que les générations futures profiteront du courage et de la vision dont ont fait preuve les dirigeants de l'OTAN et de la Russie en ouvrant un chapitre nouveau dans l'histoire de leurs relations.

Certes, des changements aussi radicaux nécessitent de l'audace. Mais comment, dans l'environnement de sécurité de demain, imaginer une nouvelle Russie et une nouvelle OTAN autrement que partenaires? Aujourd'hui, la signature de l'acte fondateur OTAN-Russie jette les bases de ce partenariat. Par-delà la rhétorique des intentions, ce texte crée de véritables mécanismes conjoints de consultation, de coopération, de coordination et d'action conjointe dans tous les domaines d'intérêt commun touchant à notre sécurité. Le début de ce nouveau chapitre de la sécurité euro-atlantique est écrit et sera scellé solennellement dans quelques minutes; la fin en reste ouverte et dépendra de nous, de notre imagination, de notre aptitude à nous prendre mutuellement au sérieux et de notre capacité à nous faire confiance.

L'acte fondateur représente un succès pour la Russie, pour l'Alliance et pour la communauté euro-atlantique tout entière.

Il respecte la souveraineté des nations, y compris leur droit de déterminer leurs propres arrangements de sécurité.

Notre accord repose sur la conviction que tous les pays sans exception peuvent bénéficier de la nouvelle architecture européenne de sécurité que nous cherchons à bâtir.

Vous avez devant vous aujourd'hui le résultat de nombreuses heures de négociations approfondies. Mais, aussi franches et intenses fussent-elles, ces négociations se sont toujours déroulées dans une atmosphère construcutive.

Presidents, Ministers, Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen,


The vision and leadership of President Yeltsin have been truly instrumental to the success of this process. For me, it has been a great privilege to share this task with Yevgeny Primakov, who has defended Russian interests vigorously but always fairly. Minister Primakov, as well as his skilled negotiating team, deserve every tribute I can give. These long rounds of discussions have in themselves helped a great deal in the process of forming mutual understanding and respect. Our work was inspired by the clear conviction that both Russia and NATO, can only gain from becoming real partners and cooperating in the new security environment. A daily reminder of this is Bosnia, where Russian soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder with their comrades from NATO and other countries, in an effort to bring lasting peace to a war-torn region.

Last december I was entrusted with the challenging task of representing NATO in these negotiations. I have been aided in my efforts by the clarity of the mandate given to me by the Allies, by their staunch support and by their rapid response to the negotiating process. NATO, both collectively and with the support of individual Allies, has acted in its best traditions. It has been coherent, effective and visionary in pursuit of this historic moment. May I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude and that of all those who hae shared the responsibility of this negotation for all the support we have been given.

The task ahead is clear: to give life to this document by making full use of the newly created opportunities. The Atlantic Alliance, for her part, is determined to embark on a far-reaching partnership that will help to leave behind the divisions of Europe for good. This is not just a vision. This will be a practical guide to our policy as we step across the threshold of the new century.

Si vous voulez bien, nous allons maintenant procéder à la signature de l'Acte Fondateur sur les Relations, la Coopération et la Sécurité Mutuelles entre l'Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique Nord et la Fédération de Russie.

[Signatures followed by speeches by Heads of State and government in protocol order]

Presidents, Ministers, Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our signatures have just sealed a historic document. These pages will, that is our sincere hope, form a bridge towards a new relationship between NATO and Russia that leaves behind the vicissitudes of the past and looks towards the future. Let us walk it together