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Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to this informal meeting of Alliance Defence Ministers. I would like to begin by thanking, on behalf of all of us, our Polish host, Minister Jerzy SZMAJDZINSKI for the very generous hospitality shown to us here in Warsaw. Thank you, Jerzy.

I also want especially to welcome Ministers Peter STRUCK of Germany and Benk KORTHALS of the Netherlands, who are with us for the first time. This is also the case for General Kujat, in his new capacity as Chairman of the Military Committee. Gentlemen, a warm welcome to all of you.

This is the last meeting of Alliance Ministers before the Prague Summit. It is therefore a critical opportunity to review the status of work on key aspects of NATO's transformation, on which your Heads of State and Government will take decisions in less than two months time. I cannot overemphasise the importance of our meeting to ensure the Prague agenda is on track.

Two weeks ago at NATO Headquarters we commemorated the anniversary of September, 11th, 2001, when so many lost their lives in the horrifying terrorist attacks against the United States. It was an occasion to express once again our sorrow and to re-affirm our complete solidarity in the fight against terrorism.

But if there is a time, in the face of loss, for grief and remembrance, there is also a time, in the face of menace, for planning and for strategy.

As we approach the Prague Summit, we need therefore to think very carefully about the role of this Alliance in the future, not least in protecting our citizens from criminal terrorists and criminal states, especially where they are armed with weapons designed for massive and indiscriminate destruction.

Our common aim must be to maintain the will and the capabilities to deter these 21st century threats where possible; to root them out and destroy them where deterrence has broken down; to defend our forces and our people from attacks of all kinds; and, in the worst cases, to make the best use of our military capabilities in dealing with the consequences of future aggression against us.

NATO played the key role in defeating the threats of the Cold War and the instability that followed it. We must now transform our Alliance so it can play an equally pivotal part in the war against terrorism and the dangers of weapons of mass destruction.

Of particular interest to Defence Ministers are decisions about NATO's future roles and capabilities. Prague will involve firm commitments to acquire the defence capabilities needed to deal effectively with today's threats, and to adapt our command structure so that together we are able to use those capabilities rapidly and efficiently.

We have much work ahead of us.