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Mr Secretary-General, dear Colleagues
It is my privilege and honour to be given the opportunity to present the views and thoughts of Slovenia, concerning the EAPC work.
Let me also thank you, Mr Secretary-General, for your excellent report on the Enhancement of PfP and the Implementation of the EAPC Basic Document and as well as on the other documents.
As stated in the EAPC Basic Document that "by establishing the EAPC, the Allies and Partners reaffirm their joint commitment to strengthen and extend peace and stability in the Euroatlantic Area, on the basis of the shared values and principles which underline their co-operation, notably those set out in the Framework Document of PfP", this new institution opened NATO towards its Partners. At the same time regional issues are tabled much more intensively than ever before.
The decision to create the EAPC proved in a relatively short time to be appropriate and necessary for further enhancement of Ally - Partner relations. We believe that the whole spectrum of deciding, consulting and informing will eventually lead to an even higher proportion of decision-making in common affairs in NATO bodies dealing with PfP and at the Ambassadorial level in the EAPC.
The report on PfP Enhancement discusses in detail the development of various modalities for enhancing partner contributions to the provision of political guidance and oversight for future NATO-led PfP operations. The further development of CJTF concept and Partner involvement in its headquarters is an important step for both - NATO and Partners.
But when we talk about the enhancement of the Partnership, we do not think only of its quantitative growth through extension to new areas, but also of its qualitative deepening. The Partnership is a very special relationship. It is not a membership in an alliance but it is substantially more than mere membership in an international organisation. It is like the relationship between partners in a long-term business venture or a police team on patrol. It means mutual trust and respect, solidarity, professionalism, firm commitment to common values and self-confidence. This is the direction we would like the Partnership to grow.
Slovenia strongly supports the EAPC Action Plan which we see as result oriented, comprehensive, focused on the vital issues and well balanced. It is a considerable step forward in the Partnership, giving it new substances and dynamics. Its main strength derives from its consensus nature, strongly binding the Allies and the Partners in our common endeavours.
The Action Plan is important both politically and practically. From the political point of view it proves that the EAPC has been the proper and adequate response to the broader response to the the new Euroatlantic security architecture. The ideas from Sintra and Madrid have been successfully translated into a concrete goal-oriented action plan in a short time. From a practical point of view, it will enable us to better prepare and organise for our future work.
We welcome the opening of the Alliance to work with Partners on the issue of political-military framework for NATO-led PfP operations. We do believe that an early Partner's input into the Alliances' own framework for the development of a single political-military framework for the Alliance's new missions, is the right way both to enhance Partnership and to further develop and bring closer to life future peacekeeping and/or peace support operations.
For the time being, and for the foreseeable future too, PfP operations cannot stand alone, they are an inherent part of the Alliance. They were agreed upon at our previous meeting in Sintra. In SFOR non-NATO contributors from Partner countries, including Slovenia, wanted to join a NATO-led operation. SFOR has specific characteristics, which distinguish it clearly from any other peacekeeping operations undertaken by UN, OSCE, WEU or any other regional security organisation or arrangements.
We welcome the endeavours of the EAPC, which can strengthen peace, security and stability and therefore contribute also to good neighbourly relations. In that regard Slovenia is particularly interested in the work of the EAPC on the document "Prospects for Security Co-operation in South Eastern Europe". Slovenia as a Central European Country neighbouring on South Eastern Europe is interested in further consultations regarding the region in the framework of ad-hoc and open-ended meetings.
Slovenia has increased its participation in the efforts of the international community, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are flying the SFOR missions, we were in Albania in Alba and are present in the WEU-led MAPE 2. Our observers were part of the OSCE monitoring missions. We are cooperating closely with NATO military authority in contributing to various options for the POST-SFOR operation.
Our approach towards the region to the Southeast of our borders derives also from the new understanding of security, based on Madrid decisions, to which also belongs the enhanced and deepened security dialogue. Different forms of regional and subregional co-operation were launched. The trilateral co-operation between Italy, Slovenia and Hungary is a good example of such co-operation. Just recently a declaration to form a trilateral military unit at the brigade level size was signed, which could also be used for peacekeeping operations. This is a concrete contribution towards the projection of stability in the region.
We also believe, that broadening our activities into the area of civil emergency and disaster preparedness will in very short time bear fruits to the broadest publics in our countries. Many of Partner countries, including Slovenia, have long-standing tradition in this field and are well organised and equipped to swiftly respond in the need both domestically and internationally.
Bringing these important activities fully into our EAPC framework proves the responsiveness of the new structure to the real life and its needs. We are sure that in our further work we will be able to avoid duplications and to coordinate and cooperate with other international organisations in order to bring the best out of each of them. We are looking forward to more detailed report on the SCEPC action by our next EAPC Ministerial in June 1998.
In this regard I would like to inform you that Slovenia as a part of the world demining programme is establishing an International Trust Fund for Demining, Mine Clearance and Assistance to Mine Victims which will finance the activities of demining and rehabilitation of the mine victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a non-discriminatory basis.
Mr Chairman
Let me conclude by saying that Slovenia as a Partner will fully participate in an enhanced PfP. Besides the importance of its own, it also serves us as the preparation tool in our efforts towards the Washington Summit for which our expectations remain unchanged.