|
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/97Book/ |
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/4.03 (Macintosh; U; 68K) [Netscape]">
<TITLE>Havel</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" BGPROPERTIES="FIXED">
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">Remarks
at the Opening of the XIVth NATO Workshop</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+2">President
of the Czech Republic Václav Havel</FONT></FONT></FONT> </CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I still remember the 13th
NATO Workshop that was held in Warsaw, where I was also present. It was
there that I invited you to come to Prague to this 14th Workshop. I am
very happy that this event is taking place, and that it is taking place
here, and that you all have been able to come. I should like to promise
you all that we will do everything in our power to make this event a
success.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Also, I would like to use
this opportunity to convey here the wish of Mr. Solana, who telephoned me
and asked me to tell you that he is here with you in spirit.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Warsaw reminds me of
another event. It was the very last meeting of the Warsaw Pact, of the
Warsaw Pact Treaty, that was held here at the Prague Castle, and as the
Czechoslovak President at that time, I had the honor of announcing to the
world that the Warsaw Treaty Pact had just been dissolved. From the first
moment after the fall of communism, it was clear that the Warsaw Pact as a
powerful tool of hegemonic powers, had to be dissolved, and we did much to
assure that this would happen. At the same time, it was very important to
start conceiving of a new system of collective security for this continent
of Europe. Soon, it became obvious that there was only one way of meeting
this goal. It would not have been reasonable to start building a new
security system from scratch. It was obvious that we should rely on the
existing alliance, that is, on NATO, which is probably the most
effectively functioning defense collective in today's world.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">It is not by chance that
the new democracies in Europe, all the newly emerged European countries
that shook off communism, are now striving to become members of NATO. They
realize that this is the very best tool for a collective European defense,
for the defense of democratic values of states under the rule of law, and
for the achievements of civilization and the traditions of the
Euro-Atlantic area that are the Alliance.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">And I think it is
absolutely wonderful that this is something that not only these new
democracies have realized, but also that NATO has realized, and has
decided to open itself to the outside world. And, I think that the whole
process of this event, in fact, has a very symbolic value because it is
being held at the time when this opening up is becoming a reality, that
is, two weeks before the Madrid Summit.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I think that it is clear
to everybody that this new opening up of NATO means also a new chapter for
the history of this Alliance. NATO will no longer be here simply to deter
communism nor to defend Western democracies against the possibility of
communist expansion from the East. It will be joined by all
democracies---at least I hope that it will be joined by all
democracies---one day, that are situated in this Euro-Atlantic area; and
it will help them also, and they will help NATO, to face the whole
spectrum or range of threats, be they regional conflicts, local conflicts,
or all sorts of different assaults from any corner of the world.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I would like to say one
thing: that is, that it is obvious to all those who are prudent that not
all candidate countries can be accepted by NATO at the same time. That
could mean a collapse of the Alliance. The enlargement process
should be implemented step by step. It should be gradual because
individual countries are ready to join the Alliance at different times.
However, we should add one thing. That is, it is in the spirit of the
Washington Treaty that the Alliance should be open to everybody. There
should be no discrimination involved. No countries should be excluded.
They should all be given the same hope that, whenever conditions are
given, they can be accepted as a member of the Alliance.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I think that it would be
truly wonderful if this idea could also be voiced at the Madrid Summit
because this would then add to the logic of this enlargement process, and
would also, perhaps, set a timetable. It should also explain why some
countries will be accepted sooner and some later.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">My last remark concerns
something else. When President Clinton was here in Prague a couple of
years ago, to inform us about the then-prepared program, Partnership for
Peace program, we all agreed that we wanted to become members of NATO, and
we also made it quite clear that this should be done against the backdrop
of a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, the Russian
Federation being a very important power in the Euro-Asian region.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">It is very important that
this is exactly what is happening now. This process of enlargement is
being pursued against the backdrop of the fundamental charter that was
signed recently with the Russian Federation, and also the agreement
between NATO and Ukraine that has recently been initialed.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">What is at stake now is
that this idea of collective European defense should be explained to all
citizens. I do not mean by this just the citizens of the Czech Republic,
but also to the citizens of all the candidate countries, the citizens of
Western Europe, and also the citizens of the United States. We should all
do everything in our power to pursue this goal of building up this
collective security and defense system. It is very important, as I said,
to explain to our citizens, especially to those who still have their
doubts, that defense is important because, unfortunately, there are still
threats to fundamental democratic freedoms.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="HAVEL97.HTM">Go
to top of Page</A></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="workshop97.htm">Return
to Prague '97</A></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="../index.html">Return
to Home Page</A></FONT></FONT> </P>
</BODY>
</HTML>