Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have a great pleasure to address this outstanding audience. I believe we are sharing the deep interest in the future of NATO Alliance and transatlantic relations.
I would also like to thank our longstanding cooperation partners – Latvian Transatlantic Organization and Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany – for organizing the third annual international conference on topical international security issues. The role of NATO in the Post-Saddam world certainly is of interest and importance to both the Alliance as whole, and Latvia, in particular, as our country soon becomes a full pledged member of NATO.
Since the end of the Cold War many have questioned the future of the Atlantic Alliance. We have leafed bleak predictions on the end of NATO. They have never materialized. Since the doubts were raised about NATO’s relevance in the post-Cold War world the Alliance has proved to be instrumental in ending conflicts and ensuring lasting peace in the Balkans. NATO was able to build true partnerships with the former adversaries. It has expanded zone of stability and common values through two enlargements and more countries are knocking at NATO’s doors. NATO has convincingly proved its capacity to change and to respond to the new challenges is ever increasing.
The continued transformation and development of NATO’s role in the future is essential for Latvia. Last November in Prague a new transatlantic consensus was reached on the largest ever expansion of the Alliance. Latvia is among the seven new invitees and for the first time in history our country will have firm and reliable security guarantees.
Latvia and Europe needs Alliance that is united, efficient, able to make decisions and act. Latvia is deeply interested to strengthen transatlantic link between both shores of the ocean and stress the necessity of NATO’s unity. Only by being together Europe and North America will be prepared to face new security challenges.
Today terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are the biggest challenges for the international community. Contrary to the clearly defined security threats twenty, thirty or forty years ago, nowadays they are dispersed and it is hard to predict the place and time of the strike. What is more important, these new security risks and threats have no borders and they can emanate from beyond the Euro-Atlantic area.
To those, who questioned the need for Latvia’s engagement in the global fight against terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the answer is - the world has become a smaller place and all countries are interlinked. The modern terrorists attack in most unpredictable and unexpected places. Latvia cannot stay aside.
It is only natural that in changing circumstances we question the traditional symbols of international security. The new security environment has largely changed the ways we view the world and our security. The confirmations of that search are altered political and military doctrines of many states and international security institutions including NATO itself and the EU. While the Atlantic Alliance was created mainly for collective defence, fight against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction requires new approach in order to deal with them. It is important that the both sides of the Atlantic have common understanding of NATO’s mission to go outside of our national borders, outside of NATO’s original territory – prepared to go to places where the threats are coming from. Otherwise it might be too late.
And we see this change happening – although not without difficulty. The Alliance has gradually overcome the disagreements that appeared during the Iraq crisis in Spring 2003 and is committed to tackle the security challenges wherever they arise. In August 2003, NATO took over the command of International Security Assistance Force – ISAF in Afghanistan. It is the first time in the history of Alliance, when NATO operates outside Euro – Atlantic area. Mission in Afghanistan is not an easy task and it is a real challenge for the Alliance, but NATO members have agreed to take responsibility for ISAF for longer term.
The Alliance’s support for Polish NATO lead Multinational Division in Iraq also confirms that NATO is ready to contribute to crisis management and fight against terrorism by stabilizing a nation devastated by Saddam Hussein’s destructive dictatorship. The Atlantic Alliance supports Polish forces by providing intelligence, logistics expertise, movement co-ordination, force generation and secure communication and it will continue to review NATO’s contribution on a regular basis.
Some weeks ago I visited Iraq and found there is still a lot of uncertainty about the future of Iraq and it is important that we continue strengthening democracy and rule of law in the reconstruction process of Iraq. I think you will all agree that continuous terrorist attacks on the people of Iraq and coalition forces is the evidence that stabilizing and transforming this country has to be a priority to international community.
Stabilization of Iraq is an opportunity to overcome the differences of opinions in the past and look forward to concrete actions and solutions. NATO’s as well as individual NATO country and Partner nation support is an important step in this direction. Last week in Madrid we also saw the willingness and commitment of international community to work together. The donors’ conference in Madrid was a success.
Latvia’s humanitarian and military contribution is the most important of all our commitments after our country regained independence. We have sent to Iraq the largest peacekeeping force in our history, we are ready to share knowledge and experience of transition process from totalitarian regime to democracy. Latvia’s experience of totalitarian system and oppression has not been a theoretical one. Our experience is a practical one and we know how to rebuild the rule of law, how to establish democracy, how to make functioning economy and how to create a civil society in the country. That is why Latvia so deeply understands the difficulties Iraq is facing today and why Latvia is committed to support their restoration of freedom.
And there are other challenges in this region that influence regional, continental and global security. The discussion on eventual NATO involvement in the Middle East has already started.
Today’s new challenges require strong readiness to act and to contribute to the stability in the world. The decisions made last year in Prague regarding the creation of a new NATO Response Force and its official launch earlier this month is important step in the direction of strengthening NATO’s ability to act quickly in response to the most demanding threats to international security in distant parts of the world – the world that now has become the Post- Saddam world.
European countries have to honour their military and financial commitments to Prague Capabilities and NATO Reaction Force initiatives. This will send a clear message that Europe together with US is ready to face new security challenges and therefore the changes in NATO.
There is no doubt that we will face challenges and crises in the years to come both for NATO and for Latvia. You surely will discuss more of that in today’s sessions. But it is of utmost importance that we continue to address them timely. Security is not given for granted. And NATO will stay effective only if it be able to respond effectively to those challenges and crises.
I wish you all today a fruitful discussion and hope that together we will deepen understanding of the future of the Alliance. Thank you.