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<TITLE>Polish Foreign Minister Dariusz Rosati ...The New Security
Architecture in Europe: A Polish View</TITLE>
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<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+4">The New Security Architecture in Europe:</FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+4">A Polish View</FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT SIZE="+3">Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Dariusz Rosati</FONT></CENTER>
<P>Throughout the history of our continent, popes and emperors,
philosophers and dictators have dreamt about a united Europe. Our
generation has been offered a real opportunity to make this dream a
reality. We will do it, however, not by creating a pan-European empire or
by pursuing Utopian ideologies, but by building a true community of
nations culturally diverse but united in their commitment to the basic
values of peace, democracy, and respect for human rights. </P>
<P>This will by no means be an easy task. The heritage of Europe's
turbulent and often tragic history has not yet been overcome; the conflict
in the former Yugoslavia is a most painful reminder of this truth. Yet, we
have no choice but to hope that a community of nations can be achieved and
spare no effort to do it. Europe cannot afford another war-either hot or
cold. </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">EXTENDING NATO TO CENTRAL</FONT></B></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">AND EASTERN EUROPE</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>Satisfying the security needs of the Central and Eastern European
nations stands out among the critical tasks facing today's Europe. For
most of modern history these countries have been pawns on the chessboard
of European power politics. The bill for their weakness and isolation has
been high, and has been paid by all of Europe. Locarno, Munich, and Yalta
all demonstrated that security and prosperity in the West cannot be bought
at the expense of the "other Europe." </P>
<P>We have learned this lesson well. It is clear that Central and Eastern
Europe can no longer be considered a "grey zone," cannot be left
outside of European security institutions. It is also clear that Poland's
political and cultural development, its economic prosperity, and,
ultimately, its military security depend on rebuilding and cementing its
ties with the West-the cradle of our culture and statehood. Poland will
feel fully secure only as an integral and indispensable element of the
European family of nations, whose cultural roots, values, and aspirations
we share. This is the main reason why political, declarative guarantees of
security are of no interest to us-they simply fail to provide what we are
looking for. </P>
<P>For us, NATO enlargement means much more than extending security
guarantees to new nations. In Poland's view, enlargement is the only
realistic way to build a new, effective security architecture for Europe
and to overcome the divisions of the continent. </P>
<P>The sense of security and fulfillment of national aspirations that
enlargement will give new members will also help develop their
constructive and fear-free cooperation with Russia. Thus, enlargement will
not isolate our great neighbor. On the contrary, it will forge stronger
bonds of cooperation between Russia and its western neighbors and between
Russia and NATO as a whole. </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">INCREASING NATO-RUSSIA AND</FONT></B></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">NATO-UKRAINE COOPERATION</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>Poland has been watching with satisfaction the development of NATO's
dialogue with Russia, and hopes to see it intensified in the coming
months. Russia's contribution to IFOR illustrates the potential of the
Alliance's strategic partnership with this country. For example, we expect
Russia's cooperative experience in the name of peace in Europe will help
to eliminate the remnants of its Cold-War perception of NATO as an
anti-Russia war machine, a perception that still lingers among the Russian
political and military elite. We believe that when this occurs, Russia,
with its great culture and material potential, will be able to contribute
better to the common goal of lasting peace and stability on our continent.
</P>
<P>Poland includes Russia among our most important political and economic
partners. And we welcome Russia's growing interest in developing closer
relations with Poland and other Central European states. A recent visit to
Poland by Mr. Primakov and a visit to Moscow by President Kwasniewski have
helped to strengthen our bilateral ties. We are determined to develop
dialogue and cooperation with Russia, but this does not change our
position regarding our membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. </P>
<P>In Poland's view, the development of cooperation between NATO and Russia
ought to be accompanied by a similar development of cooperation and a
cementing of ties with Ukraine. When he visited Kiev last April, Secretary
General Solana rightly emphasized the key role of an independent Ukraine
in the European security system. It is therefore Poland's intention to
develop intensive and comprehensive cooperation with Ukraine, including in
the military sphere. While Poland and Ukraine share a difficult and often
violent past, both are now striving to establish close and friendly ties
between themselves and with the new Russia in the interest of all of
Europe. </P>
<P>The <I>Study on NATO Enlargement</I> ended the beginning stage of
preparations for enlargement and paved the way for the December 1995 North
Atlantic Council decision to open an intensified dialogue on enlargement
with interested Partner countries. Poland welcomed this initiative and
hopes that by the end of this year it will have prepared a solid ground
for final decisions regarding our membership in the Alliance. We expect
these decisions to be in accordance with our wish to become a full-fledged
member of NATO, enjoying all the rights and taking on all the
responsibilities, including those related to our membership in NATO's
military structures. </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT SIZE="+1">CONCLUDING REMARKS</FONT></B></CENTER>
<P>Security is much more than military alliance. It is also universal
adherence to values such as democracy and respect of human rights. Since
we are once again an independent and sovereign republic, Poland's
geopolitical location, our historical experience, and our national
interest will determine the guiding principles and directions of our
foreign and security policies. </P>
<P>We have accomplished a great deal since 1989. We have established good
relations with all our neighbors, based on bilateral treaties. We have
become active members in regional cooperative arrangements, including
CEFTA, the Central European Initiative, and the Council of the Baltic Sea
States. We support the missions of the Council of Europe and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. And we are determined
to continue our efforts to fulfill our agenda by becoming members of NATO,
the European Union, and the Western European Union. </P>
<P>All of us who are gathered here have a sense of the great historical
significance of the decisions facing us now. Let us not miss the
opportunities that lie before us, and let us do our best to assure that
the Workshop contributes to our common goals. </P>
<P><A HREF="Rosati.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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