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<TITLE>Latvian Vice Prime Minister Dr. Valdis Birkavs...Cooperation in the
Northern Region and the Baltics</TITLE>
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<CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+4">Cooperation in the Northern
Region</FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+4">And the Baltics</FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">LatvianVice Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister Dr. Valdis Birkavs</FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">INTRODUCTION</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Last year I addressed the 11th
NATO Workshop posing this question: Will the Partnership for Peace (PFP)
produce the kind of Baltic security we want to see at the end of this
decade? One year later, the answer is still uncertain. Latvia continues to
be concerned about two regional security issues: first, the pattern of
regional cooperation, and second, the progress of efforts to integrate
economically into the EU and to extend long-term security arrangements
eastward.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">ASSESSMENT OF THE
REGIONAL SECURITY SETTING</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Global cooperation stems from
regional arrangements. A Baltic regional security setting must be analyzed
in a broader context, both as a constituency of the European security
architecture and as a contributor to global security and stability. The
two basic institutions that shape the Atlantic relationship, NATO and the
European Union, have adapted to the realities of the post-Cold War world.
Today we speak about new roles and missions for NATO. The European Union
now focuses on the political and economic dimensions of security in
current circumstances, while European and Atlantic dimensions remain
closely linked.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">One circumstance that makes it
possible to contribute and to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic community is
the projection of the transatlantic dimension, namely, U.S. commitment to
the security of Northern-Baltic Europe. This remains of fundamental
importance. In the regional setting, the transatlantic dimension is
provided through the new NATO.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">A second circumstance that
supports the Euro-Atlantic community is the emergence of a reinforced
European security and defense identity through the EU and the Western
European Union. Latvia's Associate Partner status in the WEU reflects our
support.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">PARTNERSHIP:
EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">At the NATO ministerial meeting
in Istanbul, U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher noted that
Partnership for Peace was intended "to reassure new democracies and
strengthen European security." PFP's objective is to promote both
national and coalition efforts toward reform and collaboration.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">On the national level, the
Partnership process seeks to promote openness in defense planning and
budgeting. On the coalition level, the Partnership has launched an effort
to develop joint planning, training, and exercise initiatives in order to
undertake a range of combined operations, including peacekeeping, search
and rescue, and humanitarian relief.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">The PFP program seeks to go
beyond dialogue and cooperation--already achieved in the OSCE process--and
forge a true security partnership. Such a partnership has already evolved
among five Scandinavian countries and three Baltic States. This kind of
horizontal cooperation within the PFP framework makes a substantial
contribution to the development of military establishments in the Baltics.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Individual Partnership Programs
specify activities in which a particular Partner nation intends to
participate. In effect, each Partner develops a unique, independent
program matching its participation, integration, and activity objectives.
Among other initiatives, Latvia has proposed that several units be
prepared for possible deployment in future peacekeeping operations. Those
units are an infantry company, which is part of a reconnaissance landing
force battalion; Latvian elements of the BALTBAT peacekeeping battalion;
and units of our military medics services. These units are being trained
and prepared and will be ready for operations as of the beginning of 1997.
We expect that our endeavors for PFP will be useful and effective.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">NEW TRENDS: PROCESSES
AND STRUCTURES</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Currently, the Alliance is
seeking to define what constitutes a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF). A
single, unified vision is needed if we are to gear training, exercises,
doctrine development, and combined operational procedures toward the
objective of conducting coherent, multilateral actions. Therefore, we must
focus future Alliance exercises on preparing the forces of potential
participating nations--including Partners for Peace--for effective
integration into CJTF.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">From my perspective, a Combined
Joint Task Force is both a process and a structure. As a process, it
equips the Alliance to assemble and groom forces to operate together. As a
structure, it provides a command and control architecture for NATO to
direct and employ a combined operation. It enables NATO member-nations to
deal effectively with issues that fall outside of the Alliance's
traditional boundaries; moreover, it provides a mechanism through which
both NATO and non-NATO nations can participate in expanded coalition
activities.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">The need for what CJTF offers is
beyond dispute. It will transform existing NATO structures and processes
to carry out the responsibilities outlined in the New Strategic Concept.
Indeed, change is inevitable. But the real issue is how such change will
take place. I believe that it will take place by implementing the CJTF
concept, and that it is in this way that PFP offers the most promise for
the future.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">Ongoing discussion concerning
the expansion of NATO, both among NATO nations and among PFP Partners, has
already resulted in the proposal of several intermediary solutions, such
as guaranties outside of NATO and associated status with NATO. Though we
are prepared to cooperate in generating new ideas, we do not regard any
proposed solutions thus far as a substitute for full NATO membership.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+1">CONCLUDING REMARKS</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0">The challenge today is to create
mechanisms and relationships that will provide the community of
responsible nations with the means to promote stability, resolve
conflicts, and shape the future. Both processes and structures that will
enable the international community to work together are needed. While the
most dramatic period is probably behind us, dynamic change is likely to
continue for years to come. Collective action offers opportunities to find
a way through the new complexities and to ensure overall geopolitical
balance.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+0"><A HREF="Birkavs.htm">Go to Top
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