Mr Secretary General,

This is a summit where political cooperation is at the centre, demonstrating the broad political approach of the Alliance.

It also demonstrates our outreach both to old and new partners. This goes for Central-Asia and Caucasus as well as for the countries in the broader Middle East.

This summit should send a strong signal of unity between Europe and North America. Joint efforts are essential for meeting the new security threats.

The threats from weapons of mass destruction and from terrorism are global in nature. We must meet them through the Alliance. And we must meet them in close co-operation with the United Nations and the European Union.

We must be prepared to make use of NATO when and where it is necessary. The continued transformation of the Alliance is vital in this regard. We therefore need more relevant and available forces, and an increased capacity for support operations. And today we are taking new steps in this direction.

Our first priority must be to make Afghanistan a success. To do this, we have to match our political decisions with resources on the ground. The Afghan people need our long-term support. Norway’s approach to Afghanistan is comprehensive and has a long-term focus on both improved security and development.

NATO still has an important role to play in the Balkans. SFOR has been a success in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the situation in Kosovo is precarious. We cannot allow Kosovo to relapse into ethnic violence. There is a need for new political engagement and commitment in Kosovo.

NATO must continue to engage partners. We should strengthen our co-operation with Russia. This is in our interest and in Russia’s. We must also send a clear signal to President Kuchma tomorrow concerning what is required in order for Ukraine to become closer to NATO. We expect shared standards, principles and ideals from our close partners.

And we should continue to enhance our relations with the countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia, based on the fundamental values of the Alliance.

It is essential that neither human rights nor international humanitarian law are violated in the fight against terrorism. To do otherwise would be to betray our values and destroy our credibility.

Norway welcomes the establishment of a more ambitious framework for the Mediterranean Dialogue. We are prepared to join a new, joint Allied approach for co-operation with the nations of the broader Middle East and North Africa. A comprehensive approach that includes development, education, culture, human rights and inter-religious dialogue is required. In this endeavour close contact with the EU and G8 in order to secure a broad approach to the region is needed.

We need time to develop this new initiative. It must be done together with the countries concerned, including the Palestinian Authority. Although NATO will focus on security issues, we must not lose sight of our main objective: to further peace, democracy and human rights.

President Eisenhower stated:

“Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.”

This is just as true today as it was almost 40 years ago. Let us keep it in mind when facing the challenges ahead.

Thank you.