Remarks by the Secretary General at the EU-Western Balkans Summit
Thessaloniki, 21 June 2003
NATO
Let me begin by thanking the Greek Presidency for the invitation to this
Summit. It is an important
step in the evolution of the Western Balkans, and that evolution is key to the
future security and stability of our continent.
The deliberations here today will help the Western Balkan countries move
beyond stabilisation and reconstruction, to sustainable security, prosperity and
integration into European structures.
That goal, which even a few years ago seemed unattainable, is becoming a
closer reality.
But we are not there yet. I
therefore have two messages to begin this discussion, based on my own hands-on
experience over the past four years.
One message for the region and one for EU
leaders.
First, everyone in the Western Balkans must keep in mind that this
success did not come about by chance.
It is the result of economic, political, judicial and military reforms in
each of the countries represented here today. These reforms that have often been slow,
frequently controversial, and almost always difficult. But they are reforms which have
delivered results.
So my message, as the leader of the Military Alliance which brought peace
to Bosnia-Herzegovina, ended ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, helped prevent civil
war in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia[1] and continues to deploy
more than 30,000 troops across the region, is that these reforms must
continue. Because the pace at which
Western Balkan countries move towards Europe - and NATO - will depend
fundamentally on each country's performance in implementing genuine permanent
reforms. And that lies in your own
hands.
Success is not going to be easy.
There is still much to do to build enduring democracies, to root out
crime and corruption, and to establish the rule of law. You must also comply fully, and
not selectively, with your international obligations, including towards the
International Criminal Tribunal.
You must do much more to promote ethnic tolerance. And you must cooperate regionally, for
example by implementing the Common Platform agreed at the recent Ohrid
Conference.
The requirements are no surprise.
But there simply must be more progress in meeting them if there is to be
self-sustaining peace, progress and prosperity in this
region.
My second message is to the European Union leaders, all of whom are
either NATO members or Partners.
NATO is committed to helping
achieve the goal of a more secure, a more prosperous and more integrated Western
Balkans. We will stay for as long
as we are needed. This not simply a
question of sending troops to ensure stability but of providing expert
assistance, building true partnerships and holding out the prospect of eventual
Alliance membership
Fundamental to this is effective cooperation with the international
organisations working towards our common goal - especially the European
Union.
Javier Solana and I have been a good team on the ground. The Berlin Plus arrangements translated
this practice into theory, and Operation Concordia in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, put the theory back into
practice.
These are the first essential building blocks of the strategic
partnership between NATO and the EU to which you are all committed, in the
Western Balkans and more generally.
My message is that with these foundations in place, it is now up to
all of the members of NATO and the EU to work together to move from ad hoc
cooperation towards a genuine common strategy, so that we can work seamlessly
together from capitals, through Brussels, out to the
region.
If we can achieve this - not the most difficult challenge on your
collective agendas - I am confident that we will, together with the people
and governments of the Western Balkans, soon see the day when this region enjoys
the peace, security and prosperity it deserves and which the rest of Western
Europe takes for granted. Today's
Summit shows us we are on the right path.
