|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/roger.dnai/96Book/ |
Upload File : |
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//SoftQuad//DTD HoTMetaL PRO 4.0::19971010::extensions to HTML 4.0//EN"
"hmpro4.dtd">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META NAME="GENERATOR"
CONTENT="Mozilla/4.04 (Macintosh; U; 68K) [Netscape]">
<TITLE>SACEUR General George A. Joulwan...Shaping a New Alliance & a
New Europe</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+4">Shaping a New Alliance and a New Europe</FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+3">Supreme Allied Commander Europe General George A.
Joulwan</FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">INTRODUCTORY REMARKS</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>As we held the Thirteenth NATO Workshop in historic Warsaw, we were
reminded that Poland is a vital part of Europe--politically, culturally,
socially, and geographically. We in NATO value Poland's friendship, and
welcome Poland as a partner and a true friend. We also appreciate Poland's
contribution to Operation Joint Endeavour and to the Bosnian
Implementation Force. Since Poland hosted the first PFP exercise two years
ago, it has been one of our most active Partners. I applaud the efforts of
General Wilecki and his government in taking such a positive role in the
Partnership for Peace program. </P>
<P>All of us at the Workshop were delighted to be in Warsaw as the city
celebrated its 400th anniversary as the capital of Poland, and as Poland
demonstrated its renewed commitment to peace with freedom, democracy, and
a free market economy. </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NATO WORKSHOPS</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>The NATO Workshop held two years ago in Bergen, Norway, was the first
NATO Workshop I attended as the Supreme Allied Commander. At that Workshop
I laid out my vision of a new NATO: one that was more agile and flexible,
committed to adaptation, and in which the initiatives of the January 1994
Summit--Partnership for Peace Combined Joint Task Force--would play a
major role. This new NATO would learn from the past but not live in the
past, and would plan for the future. The new NATO would be committed to a
European Defense and Security Identity within a strong transatlantic
alliance. </P>
<P>At Bergen we developed these ideas into a strategic concept based on
clear political guidance from the North Atlantic Council. Last year at
Dresden we further refined the concept and discussed the initial success
of Partnership for Peace. We also discussed the great potential PFP had to
create conditions for success if and when NATO and its new Partners had to
act together in a future out-of-area mission. </P>
<P>Today, we stand at a defining moment in the history of the Alliance. We
have taken the theories discussed in the past two workshops--PFP and
CJTF--and put them into practice in Bosnia. NATO has been joined by 16
non-NATO nations in bringing peace to the Balkans. And at the June
Workshop, precisely, we were at D+183 days, or exactly at the midpoint of
our year's mandate. </P>
<P>Let me be clear: how successful we are in Operation Joint Endeavour and
how successful we are in IFOR's mission in Bosnia will directly affect the
theme of this year's NATO Workshop--European security at the beginning of
a new century. If we are successful--and we must be successful--then
indeed a new security framework is possible for Europe, one based on
mutual trust and confidence, and on shared risks and shared values. As our
Secretary General Solana said, our priority is success in Bosnia. With
such a success, adaptation has special meaning. With such a success,
opening the Alliance to new members and enlargement will enhance an
already credible alliance. </P>
<P>So you can see how important I believe this Workshop is to the future of
NATO and to the future of peace and stability in Europe. We have the
opportunity to discuss informally the challenges and opportunities we face
as we approach the next millennium. Each of the past two Workshops has
given us insights and ideas for the way ahead. With our involvement in
Bosnia, with the recent Ministerials in Berlin and Brussels, with the
great potential for peace and stability and a Europe whole and free, this
Workshop could not have come at a better time. And we have all the right
participants to make it a memorable conference: </P>
<UL>
<LI>Political and military authorities represented by the North Atlantic
Council and the Military Committee</LI>
</UL>
<UL>
<LI>Chiefs of Defense and senior civilian officials from Alliance
countries</LI>
</UL>
<UL>
<LI>Military and civilian officials from our Partner countries, from
Presidents and Prime Ministers to Ministers of Foreign Affairs and
Defense to Chiefs of Defense</LI>
</UL>
<UL>
<LI>Leaders of defense industries who bring technology and modernization
potential to both NATO and Partner nations</LI>
</UL>
<UL>
<LI>Commanders who represent our major NATO commands</LI>
</UL>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">THE STATUS OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOUR</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>Operation Joint Endeavour has demonstrated that <I>NATO procedures and
doctrine work.</I> Admiral Smith gives you an operational update in
remarks that follow, but let me share with you now some of my thoughts at
the strategic military level. </P>
<P>The political approval for Joint Endeavour's operations plan and funding
was quickly achieved. This was extremely important if we were to be
successful on the ground. I still recall the North Atlantic Council
session on December 16 when the Council approved deployment in response to
the SACEUR's simple but clear recommendation: "Let's go." At
1100 hours on December 20, NATO assumed command from UNPROFOR and
immediately went about its mission. Bunkers and checkpoints were knocked
down. A clear signal was given that a new organization was in
charge--NATO. </P>
<P>The French and British units already in Bosnia were particularly robust.
The French cleared 40 checkpoints around Sarajevo by D+7 and set the tone
for Operation Joint Endeavour. Within two weeks the Americans had built a
bridge over the Sava River in absolutely terrible weather conditions and
were soon streaming into Bosnia. Other nations quickly joined the
Implementation Force. </P>
<P>In 30 days the former warring factions (FWF) were separated by 4 kms
over a 1000+ km confrontation line; in 45 days land was transferred; in 90
days the gaining party took control of the new land; in 120 days a 10-km
Zone of Surveillance (ZOS) was imposed and FWF began complying with
confidence-building measures to withdraw all heavy weapons and forces to
cantonment areas and barracks. After 180 days, that withdrawal was nearly
complete. </P>
<P>I mention this to you because success in Bosnia took cooperation by many
elements of our Alliance. Clearly our commanders on the ground and the
troops played a key role, but so did our political and military
authorities who had the courage to provide clear and timely guidance. So
did the SHAPE staff and Major Subordinate Commanders (MSCs) who initially
generated, balanced, and deployed the force from over 30 countries and
deployed it during the worst winter in recent years into the most
difficult terrain in Europe. And so did our Partners who joined us in this
historic endeavor. It was a team effort. And several members of that team,
including my deputy SACEUR and the three major subordinate commanders,
will share their thoughts in remarks that follow. I am extremely proud of
them. </P>
<P>If we are to succeed in the final six months of this operation, that
team effort must continue. We have a great challenge ahead of us as we
make the transition from primary military tasks to support for civilian
agencies. Included in that challenge will be finding a way to stay within
mission guidance and be proactive in our support of civilian agencies. But
we must find a way to do so. Clearly there will be risks for our troops.
But we must take risks for peace. To accomplish only our military tasks
and not the civilian tasks set out in the Dayton Peace Agreement would
lead to overall mission failure. We need the same zeal we demonstrated on
December 20 last year--the same focus, the same commitment. The people of
Bosnia deserve a chance to breathe free air in a multicultural,
multiethnic state called Bosnia-Herzegovina. Clearly the parties
themselves bear the primary responsibility for complying with the Dayton
Peace Agreement, but IFOR must continue to be the catalyst for compliance
during the next six months of the mission. I know it will be. </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE: BUILDING EURO-ATLANTIC
SOLIDARITY</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>Partnership for Peace is playing a major role in creating a new security
relationship in Europe. Twenty-seven nations have now joined the PFP
program; 20 have liaison officers at my headquarters in Mons, Belgium; and
12 have forces with us in Bosnia. There are 43 flags arranged
alphabetically, from Albania to Uzbekistan, in the Partnership
Coordination Cell building at Mons. Clearly we have now put theory into
practice. This is the new Europe. This is the opportunity we have for the
future. </P>
<P>As I said last year in Dresden, the aim of PFP is to have NATO and its
Partners work together to develop common standards, common procedures, and
common doctrine. In 1994, the first year of PFP, we held four exercises,
the first of which was held here in Poland. Eleven exercises were held in
1995 and ten in 1996, including two in the United States. That work is now
paying off in IFOR in Bosnia. </P>
<P>But we are not just exercising together; we are also developing trust
and confidence in one another, particularly between the militaries of NATO
and our Partner nations. I felt that trust and confidence throughout the
Workshop. We are more than just partners, we are friends. And it is this
friendship that is so important in the new NATO and the new Europe as we
approach the next century. </P>
<P>We will continue to develop PFP with our Partners and I urge a
discussion on how we see this initiative at the two-year mark and on what
the way is ahead. Clearly enlargement is on the minds of many nations. But
as we discuss enlargement let us not forget the continuing contribution
PFP has made and will continue to make in creating a more secure and
stable Europe. </P>
<P>As a final note to my thoughts on Partnership for Peace, let me mention
Russia. As you know, Russia is a signatory to the Framework Document for
PFP, and is playing an important role in Bosnia. I have a three-star
colonel-general as my deputy for Russian forces. We have worked out
procedures and principles between NATO and Russia, and Russian and NATO
troops are operating well together in Bosnia. We need to continue to
nurture this relationship--especially now--reducing the suspicion and
building the trust, confidence, and respect so essential to both entities.
</P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">ADAPTING MULTINATIONAL STRUCTURES</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>For the past few years, SHAPE and Allied Command Europe have been, and
will continue to be, at the forefront of adaptation. But as we adapt we
must not forget the glue that holds us together--the integrated
multinational structures, the transatlantic link, the shared values and
ideals. And as we adapt, NATO must remain cognizant of its wider role--as
a rock of stability in a still unstable, uncertain world. </P>
<P>What an historic opportunity we have to build a Europe whole and free!
To finish the work begun by General Marshall nearly 50 years ago. And to
do so not by building walls or isolating any country, but rather by
building bridges between us, including our neighbors to the east and to
the south. Indeed, many of the Mediterranean nations have joined us in
Bosnia. Much is being learned now in our IFOR deployment. We have
established a Lessons Learned Group, and those lessons will be applied to
the military advice we give on adaptation. Clearly we want structures and
commands that reflect current political realities, but we also want
structures and commands that can achieve success across the entire
spectrum of conflicts and challenges facing us in the 21st century. Again,
I urge your attention to this important topic. </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">THE ROLE OF INDUSTRY IN THE NEW SECURITY
ENVIRONMENT</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>Those of you in industry have a unique and important role to play in the
new NATO and the new Europe. As I said last year in Dresden, we need your
ideas, your energy, your imagination, and your technology. As we get
smaller in force structure, we must get more capable, and this means
continuing to develop and procure technology not only at the high end of
the spectrum but also at the lower end. Operation Joint Endeavour has
demonstrated the need for such technology. </P>
<P>Clearly the future of this Alliance is in multinational operations. But
we have yet to come to grips with such challenges as multinational
communications, multinational logistics, and multinational intelligence
requirements. If the multinational commander is to succeed in the crises
or conflicts of the next century, he or she is going to need the best
tools to get the job done. And that includes Alliance Ground Surveillance
System and Theater Missile Defense. It also includes a CJTF Headquarters
with a multinational force that is able to do all the things we expect a
national headquarters to do--only better. So I urge our friends in
industry to work with us in designing systems that will assist us in our
endeavors as the Alliance and its Partners approach the 21st century. </P>
<P>To those from the nations of the Alliance, let me also say that we must
match requirements with resources. Those resources include force structure
and infrastructure, as well as modernization and capability packages. </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">LOOKING AHEAD</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>The Workshop is taking place at an historic time in one of the great
capitals of Europe. I wish to again thank our host, President Kwasniewski,
and the Polish government for their hospitality and for their friendship.
I am optimistic for the future and indeed excited at the possible outcomes
the Workshop promises. As we go forward, I believe we can work together to
shape a new Alliance and a new Europe, where hope, peace, freedom, and
prosperity for our nations are all possible, where the dignity and worth
of the individual is respected and protected, and where dialogue and
cooperation replace conflict and fear. I am thankful that you all have
joined us in Warsaw. You give hope to our children and grandchildren for a
better world. </P>
<P><A HREF="Joulwan.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>
</BODY>
</HTML>