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<TITLE>Algirdas Saudargas</TITLE>
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<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">The
Case for Lithuanian Membership in NATO</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+2">Foreign
Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Saudargas</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">LITHUANIA'S CURRENT
STATUS</FONT></FONT></B></H4> </CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Since NATO declared itself
open to enlargement, giving Central and Eastern European countries hope of
rejoining the family they truly belong to, Lithuania has gone through
great transformations and witnessed some remarkable achievements. Our wish
to join NATO and our willingness to become a well-prepared partner has
driven the process of reform.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The present picture of the
Baltic region differs dramatically from that of the Cold War period.
Despite positive improvements in regional security, new risks and
challenges have emerged, including illegal migration, international
terrorism, and difficulties resulting from the transitional period Baltic
countries are going through as they continue to advance their statehood.
As security challenges emerge, the universal principles of the OSCE, the
obligations of Council of Europe membership, regional cooperation among
the Baltic Sea countries, and the work of the European Commission become
increasingly important. Of equal importance to Eastern and Central
European states, including Lithuania, as well as to NATO member-countries,
is the North Atlantic Alliance.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">NATO's decision to enlarge
demonstrates the understanding of member-countries that their security is
inseparably linked to the security of Eastern and Central Europe. As such,
it is not relevant to discuss Baltic region security and Northern European
security separately from pan-European security. The issue of security in
the Baltic region, in my view, has been wrongly framed.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Lithuania is on an equal
footing with other Central European countries and we seek recognition of
this fact by our friends in the West. There is only one kind of security
that matters--shared European security--just as there is only one
direction for the Alliance--to consolidate the democratic reforms,
stability, security, and prosperity of all Eastern and Central European
countries, including those in the Baltic region.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">LITHUANIA AS A
RELIABLE MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">When we reach the year
1999, it will be almost a decade after the restoration of the three Baltic
States' independence and the beginning of the transformation process that
dramatically changed the landscape of Central European security. I state
now that the Baltic States aspire to join NATO and that ten years is
enough time to get this started.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">For Lithuania, joining
NATO means taking part in the reunification of Europe, replacing
instability with stability, ensuring the continuity of reforms, and
becoming inseparably allied to countries that share the common values of
democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. But we do not seek to
join NATO with empty arms. We are fully aware of the risks and obligations
that come with membership in NATO. We have evaluated carefully the role
that Lithuania could play. Our official application for Lithuanian
membership in NATO, made on January 4, 1994, asserted that Lithuania
adheres to the values and commitments of the Alliance and seeks to
contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Lithuania wants to join
the Alliance as a reliable partner, one able to defend its own territory
as well as enrich the Alliance's stabilizing potential. The law passed on
December 19, 1996, concerning the basis of national security, provides
that Lithuania's national security system be developed as part of a common
European security and transatlantic defense system. The law also states
that Lithuanian national security, which is to be guaranteed through a
total and unconditional defense, seeks to contribute to the stability of
the region.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">PREPARATIONS FOR
MEMBERSHIP IN NATO AND EU</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Since the restoration of
independence in 1990, Lithuania has been steadily moving toward readiness
to join NATO. We have become one of the most active participants in the
PFP program. We are also ready to become even more active in an enhanced
Partnership program. The participation of Lithuanian troops in IFOR and
SFOR missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina illustrates our continuing efforts
in ensuring security and stability in Europe.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Lithuania has also become
aware of the obligations to the Alliance through Lithuania-NATO 16 + 1
meetings as well as through participation in Partnership for Peace, the
Planning and Review Process (PARP), joint exercises, peacekeeping
operations, and training. Lithuania joined PARP in 1995, and constantly
fulfills its obligations in the sphere of interoperability. We have
developed our armed forces in accordance with requirements identified
jointly with NATO and follow NATO defense-planning standards.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Each month brings us more
good news on the economic development front and on preparations for
membership in another key European institution--the European Union. During
the first half of 1997, Lithuania's new Conservative-Christian-Democrat
government has provided us with good results through determination and
commitment. Lithuania is one of the few Central European countries whose
main macroeconomic indicators have been steadily growing since 1993.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">In 1996, our GDP growth
registered 3.6%; it is expected to grow 5% in 1997. Lithuania's inflation
rate has been one of the lowest among Central European countries at 13.1%,
and from May 1996 to May 1997 was only 7.3%. Our budget deficit has been
2.3% of GDP and is predicted to drop to 1.9% during 1997. Public debt was
15.2% of GDP, and foreign investments increased by 50% in 1996, amounting
to almost $600 million. The second stage of privatization is underway, a
period during which major communication, transport, and energy enterprises
will be privatized. The 1997 Fraser Institute Annual Report on economic
freedom worldwide noted Lithuania's significant achievements in developing
a market economy and ranked Lithuania second highest among the countries
of Central Eastern Europe.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Development of the
Lithuanian legal system continues to be a vital component of our
preaccession strategy and demonstrates that European integration involves
issues of domestic politics. A National Harmonization Program is currently
underway in Lithuania, and 40% of the EC directives contained in the White
Book are covered by Lithuanian law as of May 1997.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">THE NEED TO END
APPLICANT-COUNTRY UNCERTAINTY</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">All of these steps
indicate that we are ready to start negotiations to accede into the
European Union, in which membership is of the same importance to us as
membership in NATO. Because we are aware of NATO's dedication to
objectivity and to the enhancement of stability in Europe, we also
anticipate that the Madrid decisions on enlargement will mitigate the
uncertainty now prevailing in Europe. While making decisions is often
difficult, and a frequent decision is to delay decisions, we know that
NATO will decide in Madrid which countries will be invited to start
accession negotiations.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We also count on decisions
being made to provide an institutionally supported venue for the remaining
applicant countries to ready themselves and, through continuing individual
16 + 1 dialogues, to prove their readiness for NATO membership. In that
way the second round of enlargement could start either before or at the
same time as the first new states are admitted into the Alliance.
Continued internal and external NATO transformation without a clear route
for applicant country membership would cause not only a major setback for
the declared policy of "security for all" but would also have
unpredictable consequences for the reform process in the Baltic States.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">CONCLUDING REMARKS</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">How NATO responds to the
strong desire of Lithuania and other Eastern and Central European
countries to become members will define developments in Europe for years
to come. Difficult decisions, political courage, and generosity will be
called for. At stake is not only our countries' destinies, but also an
historic opportunity to end the uncertainty that for centuries has been so
common throughout Europe.</FONT></FONT> </P>
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