|
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>Lazar Kitanoski</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" BGPROPERTIES="FIXED">
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">Security
for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Balkans</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+2">Minister
of Defense of Macedonia Dr. Lazar Kitanoski</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"> </FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">DIFFICULTIES THAT
ENDANGER SECURITY IN THE</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">SOUTHERN EUROPEAN
REGION</FONT></FONT></B> </CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Owing to a number of
historical and political factors, security in the southern part of the
Balkan Peninsula, including my country, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, is very complex. One of the main problems concerning security
in this region is that some of the inhabitants believe that democracy
means freedom under law only for those of their own ethnicity. The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, however, ever since its birth as a
parliamentary democracy, has offered the benefits of this way of life to
all segments of its population.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Another problem hampering
security in the Southern European area is that most of the countries in
the region are encountering difficulties--political, social, and
economic--as they make the transition to a democratic society. Reforms are
being carried out at a variety of speeds, and in certain areas democracy
is not yet deeply entrenched. There is noticeable hesitation in
integrating economic, political, and security policies, including free and
fair elections, human rights reforms, minority rights, and European and
international standards.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Still another problem that
threatens peace and stability is the implementation of the Dayton
Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Kosovo issue, the escalation of
the situation in Albania, and the difficulties that continue as a result
of the region's geostrategic significance and historical legacy also
create conditions that can cause instability.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The Southern Balkans,
therefore, present a serious and significant concern to peace and
stability in Europe, as well as a great challenge to the international
community. Complete European stability is possible only by integrating
this region with the European security structures.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"> </FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">CONTRIBUTIONS OF
THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<CENTER><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">TO SECURITY AND
STABILITY</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia plays an important role in the Southern Balkan area
both through its democratic and economic development as well as through
its active contribution to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
My country is firmly on the road to constructing a Western-style model of
parliamentary democracy as well as to active participation in European and
Euro-Atlantic economic, political, and security associations. We are
determined to join these organizations, and there is a national consensus
to do so. We wish to become members of NATO and the European Union, just
as we are members of the United Nations, OSCE, the Council of Europe, and
other international groups.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We are currently a
candidate for non-permanent membership in the U.N. Security Council, in
which we would like to contribute extensively to peace and stability
throughout the world.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia actively works with its neighbors to bring stability
to the region. Our policy is to resolve issues with neighbors by peaceful
means, developing political solutions through dialogue and fairness.
Through this good-neighbor policy and internal ethnic tolerance, my
country has become a model for problem solving in the region as well as a
cornerstone of stability.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Since it gained its
independence, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has undertaken
reform measures aimed at promoting peace and stability, though they have
sometimes required a high social and economic cost. Because we are aware
of the inefficiency and irrationality of an isolated defense system, we
have built our defense strategy to operate within a collective-security
system and with the intent of becoming interoperable with NATO.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Working With EAPC and
UNPREDEP</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We also wish to contribute
to the expansion of the security zone in the Balkans within the framework
of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), in its role of enabling
political and military cooperation between NATO and Partner countries.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Within the EAPC, the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will do its utmost to deepen
relations with the Alliance. We see our work with this organization as a
way to bring peace and stability to our region, and agree that EAPC
members should primarily be producers of stability rather than only
consumers.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We also believe that the
UNPREDEP mission, the first preventive deployment of peacekeeping forces,
has been one of the most successful peacekeeping missions undertaken by
the international community. Because of this extraordinary success in
promoting peace and stability regionwide, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia strongly believes that the UNPREDEP mandate should be extended
beyond November 1997. However, if an extension is not secured, another
form of international assistance must be pursued, for example, the
initiative proposed at the EAPC Defense Ministers' meeting in Brussels.
This initiative called for the establishment of a permanent training
center for EAPC peacekeeping operations, to be located in my country. The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's UNPREDEP experience, plus the
experiences and knowledge acquired by other countries that participated in
this mission, would contribute to the successful functioning of such a
center. My country is also capable of providing the high-quality
infrastructure and facilities that would be necessary for the center.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The SFOR mandate in Bosnia
and Herzegovina should not be limited by a specific deadline, but rather
tied to the achievement of the mission's goals, that is, peace and
stability in the region. However, if it is decided that SFOR forces should
leave Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that they should continue to be
stationed in the region, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is
prepared to offer its hospitality. We have the infrastructure, the
training centers, and the desire to enable these troops to continue the
significant, positive role they play in the Balkan region.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The presence of EAPC
troops in this area will contribute to the enhancement of NATO's southern
flank, an important goal since the Balkans may face an increase in the
number of generators of instability. Such a troop presence would also aid
in the integration of the Balkans and other Southeastern European regions
into European processes, which we believe is the only way to achieve
lasting stability, peace, and prosperity on the Continent. We will be
watching closely to see if declarations of integration turn into practical
activities in that direction. But we believe that together we can
determine possible sources of instability as well as develop courses of
preventive action.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
IN ALBANIA</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">There is no doubt that we
are all concerned about the crisis in Albania. Deepening of this crisis
could lead to a point at which problems would be impossible to overcome,
and could cause instability to spill over into neighboring countries and
beyond. The international community needs to do whatever it can to restore
and enhance democracy in Albania, as well as educate those who are not
sufficiently concerned with the crisis. All measures possible must be
taken to maintain the integrity of the Republic of Albania, to enhance its
democratic processes, and to prevent possible conflict between the
northern and southern parts of this country.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">CONDITIONS FOR
SECURING PEACE</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I would like to reiterate
that respecting the Balkan States' borders is a basic requirement for
preserving stability in the region. This is the most significant sign for
recognizing the friends of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and
of the Balkans. No Balkan border has ever been changed without resulting
in security consequences on the Continent.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Cooperative Efforts</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">To secure true peace and
stability, it will be necessary for all countries in the region,
particularly EAPC member-countries, to actively participate in initiatives
and various forms of cooperation in the spirit of PFP principles. Such
cooperation, involving dialogue, confidence building, and
interoperability, will also help applicant countries meet the requirements
for NATO membership, a goal the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has
been intensively working toward for the last several years. We are on our
way to achieving that goal, and have already completed the transformation
of our armed forces to meet NATO standards and enable interoperability
with PFP member-countries.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We also have established
successful military cooperation within the PFP framework with other
countries in our region. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia troops have
participated side by side in several Alliance-sponsored exercises with
troops from the Republics of Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and
Romania, as well as with forces from the U.S., Italy, and Turkey. One of
these exercises, "RESCUER '97," was held in our country this
year, and involved observers from the Republics of Hungary and Poland. We
have also initiated a major, joint regional exercise to be held in 1998
that would include troops from neighboring countries, EAPC
member-countries, and the U.S., Italy, and Turkey. This exercise should
enhance trust and confidence in the Southern European region.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">FUTURE EXPECTATIONS</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We expect that the
Alliance will commit to keeping the door open for any European state that
is capable of meeting the membership criteria and that is eager to
contribute to common security on the Continent. We believe that
enlargement is a process, and is not yet over. I sincerely congratulate
those countries that have received support for NATO accession. I encourage
those involved with future enlargement to pay close attention to regional
balance and to provide countries from the Southern European region with
the opportunity to contribute to peace and stability and to military and
political cooperation within the NATO framework.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="KITANO.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> <BR> </P>
</BODY>
</HTML>