07 November 2001
Text: NATO's Rizzo at Warsaw Conference on Combating Terrorism
(Regional initiative will help present united front, he says) (1190)
"Almost every government in the world is determined to work with the
United States to combat the scourge of terrorism," NATO Deputy
Secretary General Minuto Rizzo told the Warsaw Conference on Combating
Terrorism November 6.
Indeed, the notion of security itself has changed over the past seven
weeks, Rizzo told the conference's participants -- a mix of NATO
members and non-members from Central and Eastern Europe.
"Today we acknowledge that the attacks against the United States were
attacks on the lives of all our citizens. On the health of all our
economies. On all our freedom to travel. On all our freedom to
communicate. On all our values. On all our ways of life. So this is
not just a struggle for the US. It is a struggle for all of us," he
said.
NATO is not only open to cooperation with non-member countries "but
determined to develop" such cooperation, Rizzo said, adding: "Our
security depends on it."
He said the Warsaw Action Plan developed by the conference "reflects
that this war will be fought on many fronts and that the campaign
against terrorism requires us all to act."
Decisions agreed to by conference participants "will advance the
international effort as nations take action against money laundering,
increase their intelligence and information sharing, agree on measures
to promote tolerance, and exchange experiences in training
anti-terrorist units," Rizzo said.
"By working towards common goals and complementing each other,
individual nations, regional initiatives such as yours, and
international institutions will all help the international community
present a united political, legal, military and economic front against
the threat of terrorism."
Following is the text:
(begin text)
NATO Speeches
Warsaw
November 6, 2001
WARSAW CONFERENCE ON COMBATING TERRORISM
Intervention by Ambassador Minuto Rizzo, NATO Deputy Secretary General
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me start by thanking President Kwasniewski for his initiative in
organising this conference. I am pleased to represent NATO at this
timely meeting, and appreciate the opportunity to say a few words on
behalf of the Organisation.
Security, the issue on which NATO focuses, has changed over the past
seven weeks. At the same time, the fight against terrorism will not
distract NATO from pursuing enlargement and the MAP process with
vigour.
President Bush has said that on September 11th, "night fell on a
different world." And he was right. Not only the United States was
affected by the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The
entire planet has been affected.
Today we acknowledge that the attacks against the United States were
attacks on the lives of all our citizens. On the health of all our
economies. On all our freedom to travel. On all our freedom to
communicate. On all our values. On all our ways of life. So this is
not just a struggle for the US. It is a struggle for all of us.
We must therefore turn our sights to the challenge of terrorism. We
must defeat it - as comprehensively as fascism was defeated; as
thoroughly as slavery was defeated. That is the challenge that we face
together. And all of us, nations and international institutions, are
rising to this challenge.
NATO plays an important role in this context. Indeed, one very
encouraging result of the tragic events of September 11th has been a
total affirmation that Europe and North America remain what they have
been for over five decades: a rock-solid community of shared values.
The most obvious demonstration of that solidarity has been NATO's
decision, on September 12th, to invoke Article 5 of its founding
treaty, and declare the attack against the United States as an attack
against all 19 NATO members.
Allies have subsequently taken a number of measures, individually and
collectively, to implement Article 5 and support the US-led military
operations. These measures include, among others, deploying elements
of NATO's Airborne Early Warning Force - NATO AWACS - to the
continental US and deploying a NATO Naval Force to the Eastern
Mediterranean.
The Alliance, of course, is not acting alone in supporting the US-led
campaign. Almost every government in the world is determined to work
with the United States to combat the scourge of terrorism. And NATO,
working with its Partners, is helping to build that coalition.
Within hours of the historic decision to invoke Article 5, NATO's 27
Partners in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council joined the Allies in
condemning the attacks as an attack on our common values, and pledged
to undertake all efforts needed to fight terrorism. A robust
statement, indeed.
The speed with which NATO's Partners expressed their solidarity
illustrates just how much success the Alliance has had over the past
decade in fostering a new, co-operative security culture in Europe.
The value of that effort is apparent now, in this time of need.
NATO is keen to build on this solidarity, on this common sense of
purpose, and to translate it into concrete action. We have begun work
to determine how best the Alliance can continue to adapt itself to be
prepared to defend against terrorism. Indeed, the events of September
11 give new meaning to Allies' commitment under Article 3 of the
Washington Treaty to "maintain and develop their individual and
collective capacity to resist armed attack".
The countries gathered here today are crucial to the international
campaign against terrorism. Several of you are members of NATO. Others
may soon join the Alliance. All recognise the wealth of experience and
expertise accumulated in NATO, and the benefits of working together
with the Alliance. As we develop NATO's capabilities to defend against
terrorism, we are not only open to such co-operation, but determined
to develop it. Our security depends on it.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Suppressing terrorism is a daunting challenge. One which requires
extensive co-operation and co-ordination, both bilaterally and through
multilateral channels.
Closer institutional co-operation features prominently among the
principles that have inspired your Declaration and Action Plan.
Several of today's concrete proposals will make a valuable
contribution to the common fight against terrorism.
The Warsaw Action Plan reflects that this war will be fought on many
fronts and that the campaign against terrorism requires us all to act.
Accordingly, NATO forces in the Balkans have worked closely with host
government authorities to take action against international terrorist
cells. These efforts have successfully disrupted terrorist networks in
the Balkans - including those connected to al-Qaida.
Thus, the battles will not just take place in Afghanistan. Rather
decisions agreed today will advance the international effort as
nations take action against money laundering, increase their
intelligence and information sharing, agree on measures to promote
tolerance, and exchange experiences in training anti-terrorist units.
NATO strongly welcomes these steps you are taking today.
By working towards common goals and complementing each other,
individual nations, regional initiatives such as yours, and
international institutions will all help the international community
present a united political, legal, military and economic front against
the threat of terrorism. That is the only way forward, and the best
prescription for success.
Thank you.
(end text)
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