Check Against Delivery

"Regional Dimensions of NATO’s Partnership after Prague"
Opening Statement by
Mr. Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of Norway

Budapest 9 October 2002

Mr. President,

Your Majesty,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the last Years, cooperation between Norway and Hungary has increased significantly. Through NATO, Norway and Hungary now work together as equal partners in promoting peace and stability. When Hungary joins the EU, the European Economic Area will bring us closer together as partners in trade and economy. These institutional frameworks reinforce the long-standing ties between Norway and Hungary.

We both contribute significantly to NATO’s efforts to bring peace and stability to the Balkans. We are both participating actively in the fight against international terrorism.

We will stand by our NATO commitments as we did when we invoked Article 5 following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington last year, and we will continue to do so in the future.

Mr. President,

Your Majesty,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are all profoundly concerned about the present situation concerning Iraq. Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery constitute a major challenge to the international community.

Over the last twelve years Iraq has ignored numerous UN Security Council resolutions demanding abolition of programs for development of weapons of mass destruction and destruction of existing stocks. The Iraqi regime has already used these weapons against their own people and against neighbouring countries. We can not exclude that the regime would once again be prepared to use such weapons. Iraq’s possession of these weapons poses a threat to regional and international stability.

There is an urgent need to establish the full status of potential Iraqi programmes for weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. This can only be done if the UN inspectors are allowed unfettered access, including to the so-called presidential sites. Iraq must now comply with the demands of the international community.

The inspections are not an end in themselves. They are a means for the international community to satisfy itself that Iraq does not possess weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery.

The United Nations Security Council should adopt a new and unambiguous resolution that leaves no doubt about the sincerity of the International Community in this matter. Any action against Iraq should be firmly anchored in the Security Council and in international law.

International terrorism is an appalling reminder that the global security landscape has undergone dramatic changes. We all have to meet the new challenges and threats facing us.

More than ever these threats underline the need to maintain and strengthen the special transatlantic relationship. For more than fifty years US involvement in Europe has been vital to this continent.

Both Norway and Hungary give the highest priority to further strengthening the close relations across the Atlantic. This will be reconfirmed at the NATO Summit in Prague next month.

The NATO Summit will also reach out to new members. The NATO-membership of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland has demonstrated the value of enlarging the group of countries sharing the same basic values. Norway is in favour of a broad and robust enlargement. In this way the alliance will continue to promote increased security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. The enlargement will also strengthen relations with our North American allies.

Norway will continue supporting the aspirant countries in the interim period before formal accession. At the same time we need to further strengthen our political and military cooperation with other partners.

At the Prague Summit we should also reconfirm that NATO’s door remains open. The membership action plan will continue, in order to prepare for future rounds of enlargement.

The adoption at the Prague Summit of a comprehensive action plan for combating international terrorism by allies and partners, will be a major achievement. Only through joint action on issues such as border security, and increased control and cooperation on arms exports will we be able to put in place effective measures.

We should all work towards achieving a more equal burden sharing across the Atlantic. We must develop capabilities as a response to the new asymmetrical threat posed by, inter alia, international terrorism. This is a key element in maintaining NATO as the primary security and defence organisation. We all have to contribute in this regard.

Europe has to take on a bigger share of our common commitments. We are pleased to see that this view is generally accepted in the Alliance. Now it must be turned into reality to the fullest extent possible.

By adapting its defence forces and increasing the defence budget, Norway is making a substantial contribution to this end. This is also why we are actively contributing to the European Union’s ambitious efforts to strengthen European security and defence policy - by providing civilian and military resources.

Norway’s contribution to the fight against international terrorism is substantial. Our Special Forces have played an important role in our common fight in Afghanistan. We are now continuing our involvement through the deployment of six F-16 jet fighters. A stable security situation is a prerequisite for a successful rebuilding of the Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF are therefore essential contributions to create a better life for the people of Afghanistan. Security and rebuilding go hand in hand. Without Humanitarian Assistance and a determined international effort in rebuilding, there can be no lasting peace and security in Afghanistan either. We are contributing towards that through the international Afghanistan Support Group, which this year is chaired by Norway.

Our experiences in fighting terrorism shows that it is important that NATO has the capacity to act rapidly and efficiently in crisis situations. This is why we support the proposal for the establishment of a rapid response force. This is in the interest of all allies.

European security is indivisible.

A genuine partnership with Russia is therefore in our common interest. The development of the new NATO-Russia relationship is promising. The NATO-Russia Council is an important tool for strengthening stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic area.

We have presented to our Russian partners specific ideas regarding the involvement of the NATO-Russia Council in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We believe the Council could contribute through strengthening of its role in issues related to nuclear safety and export control.

The efforts of the international community in the Western Balkans were crucial to put an end to hostilities and ethnic cleansing.

But we all know that peace is more than merely the absence of war. This is why we must remain in the Balkans until this important part of Europe is firmly integrated into the European community of democratic and pluralist societies.

Norway is actively supporting the international community’s efforts to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans. This year we are spending 100 million EUROs in support of these aims. Developments in this region are promising. But there is still a need for continued international engagement and presence in order to achieve lasting stability, and to support political and economic reforms.

Norway will continue supporting the efforts of NATO, the OSCE and the European Union for peace and security in the Western Balkans.

We will also be working to strengthen international efforts for security and stability in other regions such as the Caucasus and Central Asia. By doing this we will reinforce already existing national efforts. A multilateral approach is important. We are exploring the possibilities of working together with the United Nations, the OSCE and the European Union in these regions.

Mr. President,

Your Majesty,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are experiencing a historic year. What we are seeing today, no one would have believed just some 10 years ago. Both the EU and NATO are taking decisive steps to include new members. New relations are being built and new challenges are ahead of us, not least in the field of security policy.

We must meet these challenges with determination and realism.

We must act together to provide security and stability for present and future generations.

We have clearly demonstrated our common resolve in the aftermath of last year’s tragic events. By remaining united we will succeed.

I wish you a successful Seminar.

Thank you.