Statement by Kristiina Ojuland at the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Vilnius 10 group
Mrs. Kristiina Ojuland, Foreign Minister of Estonia
8 March, 2002, Skopje, Macedonia
Mr. President
Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Please allow me to first of all thank the Authorities of the Republic of Macedonia for the excellent preparations that have been made to ensure the success of this important meeting. I believe that today’s discussions will open up new tangible prospects for partner states’ contributions to strengthen our joint fight against terrorism and give to all V group countries the clear vision of further preparations during the months to come.
The terrorist acts of September 11 demonstrated explicitly that we have entered a new era of asymmetric threats, and an era of changing paradigms in security thinking. Although, this group as the NATO candidate countries is very much aware of the traditional security challenges. For us the new challenge is that traditional and new risks may occur simultaneously.
Terrorism; international organised crime and money laundering; illicit trafficking in drugs, arms, and human beings; high level corruption; massive illegal immigration and similar risks - have all had a major impact on our common security. These, what were formerly classified as soft security threats, have now become as serious as military, or hard security risks. As a result, we need to consider the meaning of the notion "security" as an essentially wider concept than before the events of September 11.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
The common efforts to rein in and eliminate the existing terrorist network require intensive co-operation between the member states as well as candidates of NATO. Cooperation with the United Nations, the European Union and other relevant, international political, economic and monetary institutions is another priority. The main challenge is how to implement the already existing co-operation plans and measures in an effective manner, and to avoid duplication between the various organizations and structures. In other words, the operative word in all action plans, and plans of action, must be "action".
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
NATO is definitely one of the most important and relevant international institutions to meet the challenges presented by the changing international security situation. In this connection, I would like to mention three very essential spheres of co-operation which are also under discussion at NATO: exchange of information, co-operation for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and Civil Emergency Planning. Together with close civilian-military co-operation, encompassing intelligence, economics, finance, consular activities, border security – these are key elements for effectively combating both terrorism, and its sponsors.
NATO is not transforming into the organisation focused only on fighting the international terrorism. But already the fact that NATO has taken this task abord, and that the candidates have included also this aspect into their preparations, increases the overall security. The task of combating terrorism does not and should not change the essence of NATO. It will remain the Alliance of nations sharing common democratic values and a provider of hard security in the Euro-Atlantic area.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
In conclusion, I would like to stress two points:
first,
NATO’s capablity to ensure international security will increase with the enlargement, as new members make their appropriate contributions to this co-operative effort. Estonia, like all other Vilnius group countries, is prepared to contribute to the organisation’s efficiency in combating international terrorism.
And secondly,
The process of integrating our contributions should go hand in hand with conceptual and institutional changes within the Alliance. These questions are part of the debate about “new NATO” which, as we know, is gaining momentum within the Euro-Atlantic community. Many answers, I am convinced, can be found already before the Prague summit.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
8 March, 2002, Skopje, Macedonia
Mr. President
Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Please allow me to first of all thank the Authorities of the Republic of Macedonia for the excellent preparations that have been made to ensure the success of this important meeting. I believe that today’s discussions will open up new tangible prospects for partner states’ contributions to strengthen our joint fight against terrorism and give to all V group countries the clear vision of further preparations during the months to come.
The terrorist acts of September 11 demonstrated explicitly that we have entered a new era of asymmetric threats, and an era of changing paradigms in security thinking. Although, this group as the NATO candidate countries is very much aware of the traditional security challenges. For us the new challenge is that traditional and new risks may occur simultaneously.
Terrorism; international organised crime and money laundering; illicit trafficking in drugs, arms, and human beings; high level corruption; massive illegal immigration and similar risks - have all had a major impact on our common security. These, what were formerly classified as soft security threats, have now become as serious as military, or hard security risks. As a result, we need to consider the meaning of the notion "security" as an essentially wider concept than before the events of September 11.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
The common efforts to rein in and eliminate the existing terrorist network require intensive co-operation between the member states as well as candidates of NATO. Cooperation with the United Nations, the European Union and other relevant, international political, economic and monetary institutions is another priority. The main challenge is how to implement the already existing co-operation plans and measures in an effective manner, and to avoid duplication between the various organizations and structures. In other words, the operative word in all action plans, and plans of action, must be "action".
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
NATO is definitely one of the most important and relevant international institutions to meet the challenges presented by the changing international security situation. In this connection, I would like to mention three very essential spheres of co-operation which are also under discussion at NATO: exchange of information, co-operation for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and Civil Emergency Planning. Together with close civilian-military co-operation, encompassing intelligence, economics, finance, consular activities, border security – these are key elements for effectively combating both terrorism, and its sponsors.
NATO is not transforming into the organisation focused only on fighting the international terrorism. But already the fact that NATO has taken this task abord, and that the candidates have included also this aspect into their preparations, increases the overall security. The task of combating terrorism does not and should not change the essence of NATO. It will remain the Alliance of nations sharing common democratic values and a provider of hard security in the Euro-Atlantic area.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
In conclusion, I would like to stress two points:
first,
NATO’s capablity to ensure international security will increase with the enlargement, as new members make their appropriate contributions to this co-operative effort. Estonia, like all other Vilnius group countries, is prepared to contribute to the organisation’s efficiency in combating international terrorism.
And secondly,
The process of integrating our contributions should go hand in hand with conceptual and institutional changes within the Alliance. These questions are part of the debate about “new NATO” which, as we know, is gaining momentum within the Euro-Atlantic community. Many answers, I am convinced, can be found already before the Prague summit.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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