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<TITLE>Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus's Speech to XVth NATO Workshop Discussing the Continuing Enlargement of NATO</TITLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="6" FACE="Palatino">New
Challenges to European Security and NATO </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="4" FACE="Palatino">President
of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Not so long
ago, for a number of European states, my country was probably just a small
piece of land behind the Iron Curtain on the northwestern fringe of the
Continent. Today, Lithuania is part of a united Europe that already
considers the Singing Revolution as a piece of the past. In the
context of all these changes, I would like to share Lithuania’s
vision for Europe and some possible ways of contributing to its further
prosperity. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>THE
BALTIC SEA REGION</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">With the end
of the Cold War, new challenges and threats have emerged in Europe and
particularly in the Baltic Sea region, which we consider to be an
inseparable part of the Continent. Those of us who live in the
region have always been Europeans who, however, against our will, were cut
off from Europe for 50 years. Now, since our return, we seek to
consolidate our place in the European community by joining the ongoing
integration process that is enabling development of a free economy and
social well being. I am therefore convinced that we are united not
only in our wish to integrate, but also in our determination to combat the
common challenges and threats ahead of us. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">We live in a
rather secure Baltic Sea region, created by ourselves and with the
assistance of supporting states and modeled after a system based on
genuine values, such as democracy, a free market, the rule of law, and
individual freedom. We have been driven by the goal of becoming a
full member of the Euro-Atlantic community and its principal organizations—the
European Union and NATO—which cherish and protect these values.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Not all
regions, regrettably, can boast of stability today. Conflicts that
have flared up in Southeastern Europe have proved the rightness of the
long-standing argument that crises have no respect for borders. But
such challenges have actually united us, because it is only through joint
efforts that we can effectively combat cross-national threats. Our
goal is to create a safe and secure environment for all states. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>THE
NEW NATO</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Europe has
built a network of interrelated and complementary institutions of
cooperation. Nobody would argue, however, that NATO, which had
ensured the security of the Allies throughout the Cold War and
successfully continues its efforts in this direction today, performs the
leading role in the field of international security. The Alliance,
on the other hand, is faced with the necessity to adapt to the changing
environment by designing mechanisms that will break the old psychological
stereotypes, invigorate cooperation among partners, open the door to new
members, and provide for an effective fight against the new challenges.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">NATO has
proved its ability to resort to decisive action, for instance, by
effectively and successfully stopping the bloodshed in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. At the same time, the Alliance has demonstrated
flexibility by assuming the crucial task of ensuring peace outside its
area, in addition to its commitment to collective defense under Article 5.
It is an essential step which confirms both the willingness and the
ability of NATO member-states to address the problems endangering the
integrity and security of Europe, not only by concerted political measures
but also by military instruments. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">All of us
today are concerned with the developments in Kosovo. They are a potential
new source of discord in Europe. Lithuania welcomes the decisions of
the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance that encourage the
conflicting sides to search for compromise. The main task of the
Alliance, however, is to be always ready to address the causes of conflict
and eliminate their consequences. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">With great
attention, we are following the Strategic Concept review process that was
adopted by NATO eight years ago. On the one hand, the Alliance must
adapt to the new realities of European security policy because today NATO
is the only organization able to sustain a strong U.S. commitment to
Europe and, along with other European institutions, to react to new
challenges of either regional or European concern. On the other
hand, the greatest challenge to NATO lies in its ability to retain its
essential dimension—the commitment to collective defense enshrined in
Article 5. This is the main reason why NATO members, despite the
changes that have occurred on the Continent, continue to work to maintain
the North Atlantic Alliance. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">The creation
of a common secure transatlantic area for all is feasible through the use
of instruments designed to enlarge the circle of cooperating partners and
involve them on a larger scale into multilateral projects, linking them at
the same time by the bonds of common values that prevent sudden political
changes. These instruments would include the Partnership for Peace
cooperation program, consultations in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council, a joint program with Russia under the Permanent Joint Council,
the NATO-Ukraine Commission, and the Mediterranean dialogue. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>LITHUANIA’S
CONTRIBUTIONS TO A STABLE EUROPE</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Lithuania
has been a NATO Partner since 1994. We support the concept of
indivisible European security and, since the restoration of the
independent State of Lithuania, have been contributing to its creation.
We are ready to support new NATO missions, not only because we are
aware of our responsibilities on our way to membership, but primarily
because we understand the universal nature of the new challenges and have
experience that could prove beneficial in ensuring stability throughout
Europe. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>Good-Neighbor
Policy</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">How has
Lithuania contributed to the enhancement of stability and prosperity in
Europe and the transatlantic area? First, by promoting and
strengthening good relations with its neighbors. For example, our
relationship with Russia is a constructive one. On his recent visit
to Vilnius, Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeniy Primakov confirmed that
Russia is satisfied with the development of its bilateral relations with
Lithuania, and considers Lithuania a very important partner. We are
always engaged with our neighbors in a wide range of common issues that
may lead to intensified relations in a variety of fields. Most
important, in this case, are mutual respect and adherence to international
law and international commitments. In addition, successful
cooperation between our countries is facilitating the development of
democratic reforms in Russia and helping to breach old, often
psychological, barriers. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Lithuania’s
desire to join NATO and its positive relations with Russia are, in our
view, complementary processes and are not developing at the other’s
expense. We believe that in the years to come Russia will recognize
that the membership of Lithuania and the other Baltic States in the North
Atlantic Alliance will be advantageous because it will extend the zone of
security and stability and provide yet another incentive for stable and
mature relations between neighbors. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our
membership in NATO, I am convinced, would not impede the development of
bilateral relations between Lithuania and Russia. On the contrary,
it would upgrade both their quality and purpose. Security is our
shared interest and a starting point for cooperation. Just as NATO
and Lithuania do, Russia should contribute seriously to security and
stability in Europe. Intensified NATO-Russia relations should become
a cornerstone of the new comprehensive European security architecture.
As a member of NATO, Lithuania could contribute to strengthening
these relations, a point that makes a strong argument for Lithuanian
membership in the Alliance. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>Reliable
Defense Forces</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our second
contribution to strengthening transatlantic security is the building of a
reliable and compatible defense force capable of defending our country,
ensuring our national security, and contributing to crisis management in
Europe. Lithuania’s rapid economic development, increasing
foreign investments, and growing competitiveness in the world market have
allowed us to increase defense spending, modernize our armed forces, and
seek interoperability with NATO. Our defense spending has increased
significantly to 1.5 percent of GDP in 1998, and should reach 2.0 percent
by the year 2000 and 2.5 percent by 2005. These larger funds have
enabled us to acquire strategic equipment such as anti-tank anti-air
weapons, communication systems, and transport vehicles. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>Crisis
Prevention and Peacekeeping</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our third
contribution is to crisis prevention and peacekeeping missions in Europe.
We were among the first to join the Partnership for Peace program
and to decide, together with Denmark, to send our soldiers on a
peacekeeping mission to Bosnia—a mission which subsequently grew into
a most successful operation of the new NATO. We also provided
humanitarian aid and financial assistance to Bosnia. Together with
Latvia and Estonia and with the assistance of other countries we have also
formed BALTBAT, a joint peacekeeping battalion from the Baltic States that
has a planned mission this year. Additionally, our police forces
participated in a mission in Croatia and are scheduled to leave for
Albania to participate in the Western European Union MAPE mission. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our
cooperation with Latvia and Estonia has grown, with the assistance of
other BALTSEA countries, beyond the Baltic peacekeeping battalion project.
Today, there is a long list of trilateral projects beginning with “B”
that are either underway or being developed. These include BALTRON,
a mine-sweeping squadron aimed at producing a cleaner and more secure
Baltic Sea; the air surveillance system BALTNET; and the Baltic Defense
College, which will train our officers according to NATO standards.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our enhanced
relations with our strategic partner Poland are also not confined to
declarations. This year, we will complete the establishment of the
joint Lithuanian-Polish peacekeeping battalion LITPOLBAT, which we expect
to be a significant contribution to European security. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>Strong
European and North Atlantic Relations</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our fourth
contribution is our growing relationship with EU and NATO member-states.
Integrating the partners with both the European Union and NATO, I
maintain, will contribute greatly to the further development and
strengthening of mutual relations. I do believe that cooperation
between all the states of the region and EU and NATO countries will result
in peace in the Baltic Sea area. EU’s enlargement, plus NATO’s
open-door policy and the support of both of these organizations, have
already helped us achieve remarkable stability in the region. We are
pleased that our efforts to that end were noted in the Madrid Declaration.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">NATO
Secretary General Javier Solana, who visited Vilnius in June, gave a
positive assessment of Lithuania’s efforts to integrate with the
Alliance, increase its defense budget, participate actively in crisis
prevention and peacekeeping operations, and maintain exemplary relations
with neighbors. These contributions form the bedrock of our strategy
to enhance stability and security in the region and to integrate with
Euro-Atlantic structures. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">NATO
member-states have made the first step by opening the door to the first
three new members. We welcome the decision made at the Madrid Summit to
invite the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join the Alliance.
With their admission, NATO’s security zone will draw closer to
our borders, and our security will only increase. The enlargement of
the Alliance is an inseparable element of the new security environment
advocated by NATO. The prospect of membership has already had a
major impact on the scope of cooperation among the states that wish to
join and are ready to assume responsibilities. This prospect is
helping to overcome internal constraints, continue political, democratic,
and economic reforms, and enable armed forces to meet NATO standards.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>CONTINUING
ENLARGEMENT</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Today, four
years after the start of the enlargement process, I believe that the
Alliance should continue to expand for the very same reason it decided to
enlarge in 1994. It is said that prevention is the best form of
crisis management. By inviting new members, the Alliance will boost
prevention by enhancing the European zone of stability and security.
As part of the Alliance, I am certain that a secure and stable
Baltic region will contribute even more actively to the ongoing process in
Europe. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">In the near
future the Alliance will successfully conclude the first round of
enlargement. But the process of enlargement should continue. We
hope that at the Washington Summit the leaders of NATO member-states will
not only announce the admittance of new members and approve a new
Strategic Concept, but will also reinforce NATO’s commitment to the
open-door policy. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">We also hope
that preparations for the Washington Summit will include assessing the
progress made by aspiring states, including Lithuania, and their
contributions to enhancing stability. We support the aspiration of
Romania and Slovenia, and hope that the next phase of NATO enlargement
will include Romania, Slovenia, and Lithuania, as well as other Baltic
States. This step would ensure a balanced Alliance expansion in both
Northern and Southern Europe.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>MOVING
AHEAD</B></FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Having lived
a major part of my adult life in the United States, I believe that NATO,
as President Clinton said, “… can do for Europe’s East what
it did for Europe’s West: prevent a return to local rivalries,
strengthen democracy against future threats, and create the conditions for
prosperity to flourish.” Present-day reality demands that we
open ourselves to the world and that we broaden the conventional
perception of Europe as a security zone that ends at the boundaries of
Western Europe. We must work together to meet the new challenges.
Time does not stand still and we must begin now so that we do not
remain living in the past. </FONT> </P>
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