No. 4. (20/02/98) Javier Solana's address to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag

The NATO Secretary General has dealt with the extension of NATO and the experience he has gained during his visits to the Central and East European region. In his view it has been the Polish President who has expressed the simplest and most convincing way to him why his country has attempted to get into NATO. Just because the present members do not want to leave it.
The return of the countries of the region into Europe will reach its final stage with their NATO and EU membership. These organizations have expanded not only the security and economic welfare of their member countries but have assisted Europe to go beyond its own self destructive past. Their presence remind us of one of the most important lessons the 20th century has presented, the fact that European unity and North-American commitment is indispensable. Through unity the vicious circle of distrust and competition can break up on the Continent. And together with North-America it is easier to face challenges of a wider world. The aim of the two institutions is to create the conditions of permanent stability and recovery in the Euro-Atlantic region.
It is a righteous ambition and election by the three invited countries to participate in this large-scale program. The East has to get the same chances Western Europe received after 1945. Only in a strategic environment built upon genuine cooperation can the extension become a natural and organic part of the Euro-Atlantic integration the basis of which has been created. Canada and Denmark have already voted for an extended NATO. Their self trust may serve as inspiration for the others. The new members will become members of a new NATO.
In the new NATO the European Allies will have a more dominant role. The Alliance has already built close relations with almost all the countries of the Euro-Atlantic region and Russia. The joining of a new and democratic Russia to Europe is a historical opportunity that must be exploited. A greater NATO and Russia are doomed to cooperate.
The future NATO members shall be prepared to jointly take new responsibilities and to accept obligations and costs. They are ready to do that and are aware of the fact that they will have to face various tasks. They have to carry on with modernizing the armed forces and ensure democratic control thereof. NATO provides a solid framework for long term restructuring which is also the less expensive solution. There is no reason whatsoever that would require huge amounts to be spent on defense. The most important aim is interoperability, communication and, if required, provision of reserves between armed forces. There is no intention to risk economic reforms through overspending in defense. The extension of the NATO is rather a process than a single event. The first new members will not be the last ones.
The extension of the NATO and the EU is a strategic requirement. This is an investment into a Europe in which peace and security is continuous. After the united Germany the task is to reunite Europe for which the Secretary General has requested assistance from the politicians of the Bundestag.

No. 4. (20/02/98) 2 Javier Solana's address to the 34th Security Policy Conference

In the NATO Secretary General's opinion we are getting close to the end of the post cold war era which will be replaced by a new strategic consensus the major element of which is a new Transatlantic Agreement between Europe and North-America.
Provided that the transatlantic relations will continue to be healthy in the long run, this new agreement shall record that Europe is prepared and able to divide responsibility. The NATO in its own authority has set to work to prepare this through the implementation of European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI), a new commanding system, the establishment of the Mixed composition Common Joint Temporary Formation (CJTF) and more stronger West European Union (WEU) and NATO relations. The conditions are readily available for Europe to play a security role more in accordance with its economic strength. A stronger Europe will more consequently contribute to the European security and will be a more attractive partner for North-America with regard to global issues.
A stronger Europe will also constitute a less fragmented defense basis. Within NATO the transatlantic dialogue to be developed on the allocation of technology may help to prevent the growing technological gap.
This Europe is not the strategic force yet it intends to become and not the global partner the US. would like to see it. In this respect Europe has much to do. In this regard European integration is important both for Europe's own identity and the new transatlantic relation.
The second element of the new strategic consensus is the involvement of Russia into the process. The new political system of relations allows closer military relations. Senior level military meetings are regularly held. Cooperation has been developing with respect to environment issues related to defense. The new NATO Science for Peace Programme has been launched with the participation of 1,500 Russian scientists. Some meetings have already been held on arms related cooperation.
The third main element of consensus is the development of a system, which contain international organizations, in which each organization work on achieving mutual strategic aims. A good example for that is Bosnia- Herzegovina but cooperation between existing organizations is not sufficient, they shall be open to new members as well.
There is much to be done and especially in Bosnia all the circumstances of renewed mission has to be cleared. The main lesson here has been that results can be achieved only through united action and not just by the coalition of the those whose intention is to participate. Action based upon solidarity shall be the rule and the exception which is the basis of success in the treatment of problems of the 21st century.
Security requires proper resources, it also has to be part of the wider strategic consensus.

No. 4. (20/02/98) -3. Javier Solana on the future of Bosnia Hercegovina

Since December 1997 it had been the first visit the Secretary General paid to Sarajevo where at the press conference held on January 30 he dealt with the future of Bosnia Herzegovina. In his view important events took place the previous year and the trend of development coincided with the contents of the Dayton Agreement.
During his negotiations with the 3 member Presidency in Bosnia he pointed out that in 1998 democratization had to become reality and the refugees' home coming would also have to be realized.
He called the attention of the members of the Presidency that there were still too many weapons in the hands of private persons, therefore in agreement with the Presidency he would set a deadline for the termination of their possession, and their transfer to the SFOR troops. Its was a common interest to establish a more secure environment in the country. The other factor that they attributed major importance to was the existence of the Standing Committee on Military Matters. The Committee guaranteed maintaining contact between the members states of Bosnia Herzegovina, the Alliance and the SFOR member states.
In Javier Solana 's view his meeting with the opposition parties was also quite instructive since they had their own position in democratic society. Every time he would visit Bosnia he would want to meet their representatives.
The NATO Secretary General expressed his hope that in 1998 development would continue towards peace, democracy and a multi-national society which was desired by the majority of the population of the country.