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<TITLE>Polish State Secretary Andrzej Karkoszka...Foreword to European
Security: Beginning a New Century</TITLE>
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<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+4">Foreword to <I>European Security: Beginning a New
Century</I></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+3">State Secretary of Poland Andrzej Karkoszka</FONT></CENTER>
<P>Throughout the 20th century Europe failed twice--after the first and
second World Wars--to arrange for a durable peace and the development of
equitable opportunities for all nations on the continent. Now, with the
end of this century and the end of the Cold War, we have been given a
third historic chance to build democratic and effective international
structures able to develop international relations in adherence with
certain fundamental principles: undiminished security for all nations;
cooperation, confidence, and openness; dispute resolution by peaceful
means; allegiance to arms control and other security building measures;
respect for international law and human rights. </P>
<P>This chance to build a new comprehensive European security system
arrived in 1990 when NATO extended a "friendly hand" to all then
Warsaw Pact countries as a demonstration of the Alliance's good will and
peaceful intentions. In the ensuing process the North Atlantic Cooperation
Council and Partnership for Peace were launched, and intensive dialogue
and cooperation began to take place between former opponents, members of
the two alliances, including all post-Soviet republics. </P>
<P>The political, social and economic reforms which are underway in our
region are the final stage of the post-Second World War arrangements on
the continent; they are the ultimate fulfillment of the Yalta agreement to
conduct free and fair elections in the states of the region--which the
totalitarian system had denied them until recently. Thus, the division of
Europe has been overcome. At last we have a chance to accomplish the
Marshall Plan in the eastern half of the continent that was unable to
benefit from it when it was originally proposed. If the generosity of the
Plan, which created the foundations for Western Europe's prosperity and
stability and for NATO's strength, can be emulated today by its post-war
recipients, the prosperity of the entire continent will be assured. </P>
<P>Within the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, Poland aims to stay at
the forefront of democratic changes and reforms leading to integration
with NATO, the WEU and the European Union. Militarily, our country is
fully engaged in the process of preparing and implementing the IPP and
PARP programs, and conducting joint military exercises. We are
participating in the NATO mission in Bosnia (IFOR) and will soon decide
upon a National Plan of Integration with NATO. </P>
<P>I believe that the NATO Workshop in Warsaw was a stepping stone in our
efforts on the path to the Alliance and a chance to "get NATO closer
to our homes." It helped us develop a psychological link between the
Polish people, the family of the 16 NATO members and that of the NATO
Partners present in Warsaw. These links are a basis for friendship, mutual
trust and understanding. The Workshop corroborated common values among
Partners and Members. It improved understanding about the importance of
the full engagement of Russia and Ukraine in the efforts to build a common
European security system. The Workshop show the value of PFP and the
indispensability of its continuation and development, especially after the
first decisions on admitting new members of the Alliance are taken. The
Warsaw discussions showed that the Alliance is well and sound, that it is
able to confront new challenges and opportunities and work together with
all willing nations to safeguard stability and peace on the European
continent. </P>
<P><A HREF="Foreword.htm">Go to top of page</A> <BR><A HREF="Workshop96.htm">Return to Warsaw '96</A> <BR><A HREF="../index.html">Return to Home Page</A> </P>
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