Intervention in closed session at NATO Summit 1997

Mr. Secretary General,

Norway strongly supports accepting new members to the Alliance. We see it as a right of democratic states in Europe to aspire for NATO membership. At the same time, NATO should welcome new members in such a way that these members can be properly integrated and that the Alliance can live up to its obligations - military as well as political.

Against this background, we have favoured a limited first round of enlargement. But let us not confuse the terms. Limited does not mean minor. By including Poland, Hungary and the Checz Republic into the framework of the Washington Treaty we are taking on a major responsibility.

A successful first round of enlargement is vital for making our open door message credible. Those invited today must not be the last. In 1999 - 50 years after the signing of the Washington Treaty, it could be time to review the process of enlargement. In the meantime - and beyond - the candidates as well as the remaining partners should be offered a substantial dialogue aimed at strengthening their involvement.

When it comes to future rounds of enlargement, we feel that this is not the time to name names, nor to set specific dates. All democratic countries have equal rights to become members of NATO. No country or group of countries should be placed in a specific category for geographic reasons.

Norway believes that the door should remain open to the applicant countries in South Eastern Europe as well as to present and future candidates in Northern Europe.

But let me make one point clear: If we are to name names, we should name all existing candidates - or none. Naming just a few may leave the rest in a grey zone.

Let me conclude by making a specific remark about the Baltic states. We support the efforts and aspirations of the Baltic states to join NATO as full members. We believe that the Baltic states have made good progress towards that goal and that they will continue to do so. Their security - as our security - should be ensured within a broader European and Euro-Atlantic framework. We should work hard, bilaterally and multilaterally, for their continued integration.