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Mr. Chairman, dear Colleagues,
This item is dear to my heart and demanded me much of my time, when I was an Ambassador in this Council. Some years ago, Lithuania, together with Romania and the United Kingdom, presented a non-paper on possible development of EAPC.
It was then and it is now obvious that the success of EAPC cooperation depends on the extent to which participating countries utilize this framework. EAPC remains important for present and future NATO aspirants as well as for those countries who have no intention of joining NATO. Each and every Partner Nation should be able to engage with NATO according to their individual aspirations. The principles of inclusiveness and self-differentiation should remain at the core of future cooperation.
Looking at our own experience as an aspirant country, Lithuania gained a lot from the mechanisms of the EAPC/PfP. We were given the practical means of preparing for NATO membership and for enhancing our self-defence capabilities. We widened our cooperation with NATO, starting from so called intensified dialogue (one might say- a monologue) to a rewarding and constructive working relationship.
I can assure you that no matter what decisions are taken at Prague, Lithuania will remain committed to the EAPC/PfP framework of cooperation. My Government has already offered to host the 2003 EAPC APAG meeting in Lithuania.
Other countries - from allies to those that are less involved in cooperation with the Alliance - should be allowed to find the right formula for benefiting from this partnership. We encourage the possibility of tailoring activities to meet individual country interests.
First, the EAPC should retain a strong link with the PfP as a tool for practical cooperation. Through PfP, partners can improve the capabilities they bring to the NATO table in support of Alliance policy and missions. They also can streamline their own management and operational systems.
Second, Lithuania suggests considering a more regional approach and is ready to promote this broader approach more actively in practice; We have good examples of multilateral cooperation, which we already are sharing with others. I have in mind a robust military cooperation framework in the Baltic States.
We are starting to share our experience with other interested countries in the EAPC space, namely with the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, in such areas as of integrating into NATO, developing military capabilities and establishing a modern planning system.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the establishment of the new framework of cooperation between NATO and its partner Russia. We welcome the NATO-Russia Council and look forward to the Council's practical cooperation in the many areas of shared interest. At the same time we are inviting Russia to increase the scope of its participation in the EAPC format. This provides additional means of searching the way to fulfil common goals and, we believe, will contribute towards understanding of logic of all processes, taking place on both NATO and Russia.
The EAPC can not overlook current challenges, such as the threat of terrorism. Many security-related organisations are discussing this issue. I believe it is in the interest of those organizations and their member states to ensure that actions, capabilities and operations are effectively coordinated. This might be the place of EAPC within the network of international organisations, such as the UN, EU, OSCE. It may be time to think about a security and confidence-building coordinating role for the EAPC along with these organisations, thus putting fresh blood to our Council.
Thank you.