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<TITLE>Russian Vice Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanassievsky...Building
European Security Globally</TITLE>
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<CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+4">Building European Security
Globally</FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">Russian Vice Foreign
Minister Nikolai Afanassievsky</FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<P><FONT SIZE="+1"> </FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">A COMPREHENSIVE
SECURITY MODEL FOR EUROPE</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Today, the implementation of the
Budapest Summit decision regarding a global and comprehensive security
model for Europe is at the center of political discussions. It was one of
the main results of the Moscow meeting on May 10 between the President of
Russia and the President of the U.S.A. At its session in Noordwijk on May
30, the NATO Council for the first time explicitly expressed its support
for the Russian initiative to set up the model and the intention of NATO
member countries to actively participate in its elaboration.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">I believe it is also very
important that, after the Russian-American Summit in Moscow, this work was
jointly viewed as one of the main streams of future Russian-American
political cooperation. With the launching of the Russian Individual
Partnership Program (IPP) and the document on broad, enhanced dialogue and
cooperation, the agenda for cooperative efforts between Russia and NATO
has now been defined: to work out a security model and to shape special
relations in line with the place and role of Russia in European and world
affairs. The elaboration of the security model has already begun and
proved to be constructive. At the OSCE Senior Council meeting in Prague on
March 30-31, the Russian delegation outlined our vision of the model. We
are convinced that reliable security in Europe can be assured only through
common efforts and the use of all existing institutions and structures.
The first results of the exchange of views in Prague and in Vienna
indicate that there is general agreement on the need to create a security
system that would not divide Europe but would increase cooperation and the
coordination of efforts by all countries in the Euro-Atlantic region.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">Threats to Security</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Security today is most often
threatened by manifestations of aggressive nationalism, separatism, and
other forms of extremism; by social and economic disproportions,
technological disparities, and criminal activities; and by contradictions
between the interests of economic development and the growing burden on
the environment. The problems of ecology are regarded as "highly
sensitive" from a security viewpoint. There are violations of human
rights and basic freedoms, ethnic and religious conflicts, and
contradictions between principles of territorial integrity and freedom of
self-determination.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">Strengthening Security</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">One of the key ways to improve
security is to strengthen democracy in all OSCE member-states. It is also
necessary to bring obligations and agreements in the field of disarmament
and arms control in line with the new requirements resulting from the new
European military and political realities (the CFE Treaty is not the only
example). The security model should synthesize several processes:
integration with the CIS and the European Union; transformation of NATO;
strengthening and streamlining of the OSCE role; and collective efforts to
prevent and settle crises and conflicts within the framework of the U.N.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Several countries have presented
highly interesting suggestions concerning the model. The United States,
for example, suggests that the model should realign rather than dismantle
the existing effective security mechanisms, eliminating the origins of
ongoing and future challenges to security. We agree with this suggestion.
Another very interesting proposal has been made by the European Union
concerning the "typology" of security risks--their
classification as military, political, economic, security, or other
threats. We believe that it is necessary to provide OSCE with a legal
basis and appropriate conflict-prevention and crisis-management
instruments.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">The OSCE Chairman's report on
the model, which will be submitted to the Budapest meeting of Foreign
Ministers, will promote a common vision of the future European
architecture among participating OSCE states. This vision will make it
easier to determine the organizational parameters for further work on the
model prior to the Lisbon Summit.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">On July 17-18, the Russian
Foreign Ministry, together with our academic Institute of Europe, will
hold a scientific conference called "20 Years of the Helsinki Final
Act--Towards a New Model of European Security." We have invited
representatives of the Foreign Ministry, other governmental agencies, and
socio-political and scientific circles of the OSCE member-states. Andrei
Kozyrev will address the opening session of the conference. We count on
active participation from all those who wish to make a meaningful
contribution to the development of the model.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">THE ROLE OF PARTNERSHIP
FOR PEACE</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">The Partnership for Peace
program can also play a part in shaping the new European security model.
But to do so, it must become an instrument for promoting wide cooperation
between former enemies in both Eastern and Western Europe and the mutual
rapprochement of equal partners. The evolution of NATO will play an
important role in PFP's ability to succeed in this regard. For me and
other observers, it is evident that preserving the Alliance as a purely
military one and restricting its transformation only to enlargement would
lead to new lines of division on the continent.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">THE TRANSFORMATION OF
NATO</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Several participants continue to
try to convince us that NATO expansion would suit the interests of Russia.
But if we have to respect the security concerns of other partners, they
have to respect ours, which leads me to observe that the enlargement of
the Alliance does not respond to the interests of Russian national
security nor to the interests of European security in general. If NATO
really wants to become part of the all-European security system, it should
transform itself into a political organization of security; NATO as an
institution and its basic documents should be appropriately reformed and
revised. In fact, NATO Secretary General Willy Claes's statements in
Copenhagen in June appeared to be going in this direction.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">All of us have to be sure that
NATO's involvement in peacekeeping efforts meets the common goals and
decisions of the U.N. and the OSCE. We also must be sure that such
involvement is not an expansion of any major NATO country's military and
political presence beyond the traditional zone of Alliance responsibility.
Russia is interested in taking part in the dialogue on NATO's
transformation and in organizing special relations with NATO and its
members. The shaping of new relations between Russia and the reformed
Alliance will be an important element of European policy.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">The partnership between Russia,
Central and Eastern European countries, and NATO countries is just in the
initial stage. We must give this partnership the chance to realize itself.
Through mutual rapprochement and cooperation, we may be able to find
answers to many questions that are of concern to Europeans today.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">STRENGTHENING NACC</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">We believe that it is necessary
to strengthen the political functions of NACC and to build a real
partnership throughout all of Europe. To do this we propose:</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<UL>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">To transform NACC and the
Partnership for Peace Steering Committee into a single forum--the
Euro-Atlantic Cooperation and Partnership Council (EACPC)--and to
establish an executive body--the Council Secretariat. This would enable
us to better adjust PFP cooperation with common political objectives;
streamline current bodies and committees, planning, and activities; and
enable better dialogue and interaction with other all-European
organizations.</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">To establish contacts between
NACC and a future EACPC on the one hand, and with the OSCE on the other.
This would mean the establishment of an efficient liaison between the
Council and the OSCE. The Council could be represented by NATO,
Central-European countries, and CIS countries, while the OSCE could be
represented by the Troika.</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">To hold, within NACC,
consultations on ensuring stability in Central Europe and state security
in this region, including the signing of a special multilateral treaty
between NACC members on this issue.</FONT></FONT></LI>
</UL>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">FUTURE AREAS OF
COOPERATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND NATO</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">After cooperative programs
between Russia and NATO have been launched, new opportunities will open to
make our relationship substantial and meaningful. One such opportunity, a
priority in our view, is to set up regular political consultation
mechanisms, including a permanent Russia-NATO consultative body. This
would help to avoid surprises and imbalances such as the recent
aggravation of the situation in Bosnia.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">A political and military
consultation mechanism in the "16 + 1" format, operating at
various levels, would help to harmonize positions on issues of mutual
interest. These would include various aspects of NATO's transformation and
a wide range of political, military, and technological issues, such as
prevention and settlement of crises, peacemaking, disarmament and arms
control, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, actions against
terrorism, cooperation in the field of the environment, and conversion.
The consultation mechanism could also be actively used for the elaboration
of the future European security model.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">More specifically, some of the
promising areas of cooperation between Russia and NATO are:</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<UL>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">interaction between our
military forces, command, and staff at different levels;</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">cooperation in peacekeeping,
including joint exercises;</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">dialogue on the issues of
nonproliferation of double-use--technologies and radioactive materials;</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">cooperation in fighting
organized crime;</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">ensuring non-discriminatory
conditions for the access of Russia's defense industry to foreign
markets;</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">cooperation in developing new
equipment for peacekeeping operations; and</FONT></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">cooperation in eliminating
the consequences of emergencies and natural disasters.</FONT></FONT></LI>
</UL>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">The development of an efficient
partnership between states, using the Partnership for Peace in particular,
can effectively contribute to our common cause--ensuring reliable security
and stability in Europe.</FONT></FONT> </P>
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