|
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>Prime Minister Václav Klaus</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" BGPROPERTIES="FIXED">
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">Czech
Entry into NATO</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+2">Prime
Minister of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus</FONT></FONT></FONT>
</CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">It has been stressed many
times that the Czech Republic considers entry into NATO as one of the main
pillars of its foreign policy. This is a logical outcome of the
post-November 1989 developments in my country. For us, entry into NATO has
no alternative.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The Czech Republic has
taken many steps forward over the last seven years of our radical
transformation to make such an historic move possible. These steps have
been taken both in the broader field of political, social, and economic
development and in the narrower field of army and defense matters.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">NATO ENLARGEMENT AND
TRANSATLANTIC COOPERATION</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We all know that the
enlargement of NATO is not an isolated event. It is an integral part of
the whole post-Communist era, and we must look at it with a broad
perspective. We know that the post-Communist world has made a visible move
forward. But we must continue. To think that the collapse of communism and
its probable definitive end is a final victory would be very costly. There
are new dangers all around us, new blind alleys, new attempts to create "brave
new worlds" based on promising rhetoric and good intentions, but also
on improper ambitions and false assumptions about human behavior. I hope
we are all aware of that, and that we realize that no one can go ahead
alone. We need international cooperation, we need transatlantic
cooperation in many fields, particularly security.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The idea of cooperation
between Europe and North America was born at the end of World War II. The
tragic experience of our fathers and grandfathers with fascist
dictatorships, communism, and the devastating war, coupled with their
resolution not to go through it again, led to many post-war activities and
to the formation of several international organizations, including NATO.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">For decades after these
developments, transatlantic cooperation was kept together by an imminent
Communist threat, and some of us, subconsciously, accepted the idea that
NATO is an anti-communist bloc and nothing else. With the end of
communism, the common enemy disappeared, and some of us seemed to be at a
loss as to what to fight for. I have never had such a problem.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">For me, the transatlantic
community has never been connected solely by one past enemy. It has deeper
roots and a stronger basis. It was based on ideas, not on enemies. It was
connected with the tradition of freedom, democracy, and a market economy,
a common cultural heritage that we are obliged to keep alive for future
generations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">FACILITATING
EAST-WEST RELATIONS</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The Madrid Summit will be
an historic turning point. The international setting following this summit
will not be the same. The old split between East and West, which has been
weakened by the 1989 collapse of communism and by the dissolution of the
Warsaw Pact, will be overcome definitively. We are looking forward to it.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We also appreciate that
the agreement between NATO and Russia was signed before the Madrid Summit.
On the one hand, we are convinced that NATO enlargement is exclusively an
issue between NATO and potential new members. On the other hand, we know
that the NATO-Russia Agreement is a way in which to facilitate the
enlargement process.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">CZECH ENTRY INTO NATO</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The Czech Republic is also
pleased by the recent words of various world leaders, especially those of
the President of the United States, which indicated that the Czech
Republic has a good chance to be among the first candidates for NATO
enlargement. We take this as an acknowledgment of our post-November 1989
developments, and of our political and economic stability.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We are aware of all the
consequences of future membership in the Alliance. We also know that we
must accelerate our preparations in many fields before entry. We do not
wish to have a "free ride," but wish to be full members, equal
partners; we don't only want to get but to give as well. We are prepared
to complete the transformation of the Czech army, and to guarantee its
future development.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I am convinced that there
is strong support for membership in NATO in all parts of Czech society.
There is, of course, the standard political dispute between the government
coalition and the opposition, a situation, as in other free countries,
where the opposition tries to complicate matters for the government and to
get some political advantages. I know, however, that there is no real
opposition to NATO membership in this country. For most Czechs, entry into
NATO represents the final step from the past to the future. We are looking
into that future with optimism and confidence, and with the expectation of
future cooperation.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="KLAUS_97.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>