26 September 1997
(Secretary says "We want the peace to endure") (1350) New York -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke before the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council meeting September 26, saying, "For the first time in history, the great European and Atlantic powers do not view one another as potential adversaries. For the first time in history, the small powers are secure enough and free enough to shape their destiny." The secretary acknowledged that many Russians doubt their country can build a relationship of trust with NATO and said, "Let me say that I do not expect these meetings to change that perception overnight. I do not expect Russia to suddenly fall in love with NATO." She said, however, that she believes "we have come a long way toward building that kind of understanding in Bosnia. History will record that when NATO first suited up for action, it did so with, not against, Russia.... "Some people wonder why," she said, "in this time of relative peace in Europe, we are so focused on security. The answer is, we want the peace to endure. We want to get our security arrangements right so that in the future we will not have to worry so much about security -- so that we will be able to get on with the business of expanding opportunity and prosperity." Albright declared that if the Council makes good use of its opportunities, "NATO and Russia will have a partnership that will enable us to do great things together. And that is surely in our common interest. "This is where we will consult on our military strategies, defense policies and peacekeeping, where we will take practical steps to prevent nuclear proliferation and to reduce the threat posed by chemical and biological weapons. This is where we can improve the way we work together when NATO and Russian troops serve in complex missions such as SFOR," the secretary said. Following is the text of the secretary of state's remarks: (Begin text) REMARKS BY U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT NATO-RUSSIA PERMANENT JOINT COUNCIL MEETING United Nations New York, New York September 26, 1997 Mr. Secretary-General, Foreign Minister Primakov, distinguished colleagues: It gives me great pleasure to join you in marking the formal beginning of NATO's new and historic partnership with Russia. Let me just say a few words about our purpose in this Permanent Joint Council and about our work ahead. Let me also welcome you all to New York, the city that never sleeps -- except, perhaps, when the UNGA is in session. We are here because each of us has recognized a few undeniable and hopeful facts: We know Europe is changing; Russia is changing; NATO is changing. We understand that the process of integration in Europe should take us as far as the frontiers of freedom will reach. We believe that the quest for security in Europe is not, and never should have been, a zero-sum game, in which one nation's gain is another's loss. Four months ago in Paris, our leaders agreed to proceed from those facts to build a fundamentally different relationship between NATO and Russia. Today, that relationship comes out of the starting gate. At moments such as this, we usually fall back on the cliche that confrontation has given way to cooperation, and we remind ourselves that the Cold War is truly and utterly behind us. In fact, the transformation we have seen is much deeper than that. For the first time in history, the great European and Atlantic powers do not view one another as potential adversaries. For the first time in history, the small powers are secure enough and free enough to shape their destiny. Some people wonder why, in this time of relative peace in Europe, we are so focused on security. The answer is, we want the peace to endure. We want to get our security arrangements right so that in the future we will not have to worry so much about security -- so that we will be able to get on with the business of expanding opportunity and prosperity. This Council is one of the arrangements we must get right. If we make good use of it, NATO and Russia will have a partnership that will enable us to do great things together. And that is surely in our common interest. This is where we will consult on our military strategies, defense policies and peacekeeping, where we will take practical steps to prevent nuclear proliferation and to reduce the threat posed by chemical and biological weapons. This is where we can improve the way we work together when NATO and Russian troops serve in complex missions such as SFOR. Of course, we will not always agree on everything. And of course, that is another reason we created this Council: to build trust through regular dialogue and increased transparency. I know many Russians express doubt that their country can build a relationship of trust with NATO. Let me say that I do not expect these meetings to change that perception overnight. I do not expect Russia to suddenly fall in love with NATO. My own only slightly tongue in cheek hope is that Russia will come to be bored with NATO. In other words, I hope and expect that Russia will come to know the real NATO for what it is: As neither a threat to Russia, nor as the answer to Russia's most pressing dilemmas, but simply as an institution that can help Russia become more integrated with the European mainstream. I think we have come a long way toward building that kind of understanding in Bosnia. History will record that when NATO first suited up for action, it did so with, not against, Russia. Let me say on behalf of all my NATO colleagues that Russia's contribution to the SFOR mission has been indispensable. At the same time, our joint effort in Bosnia is more than a test of our cooperation, more than a test of process. It is a test of principles. Our goal is not just to work together, but to work together so that future aggression is deterred, justice is done and a united Bosnia can take its place in an undivided Europe. Our commitment to even-handedness requires us to judge each party in Bosnia according to the same, objective standard: how they are advancing these goals of the Dayton Agreement. That is why I am pleased our consultations this week have been serious, substantive, and successful and that we agree on the need to implement the requirements of Dayton with renewed vigor in the months ahead. Our discussions about Bosnia in particular, and peacekeeping in general, are only a beginning. We have a framework for partnership; now we must finish filling in the details. This must include taking the steps we have already pledged to take. We look forward to welcoming a Russian military representative to NATO. We need to create liaison missions in each other's major military commands. NATO needs to open an information center in Moscow. We are ready to do all these things; let's get them done by December, so that we can move on to a more ambitious agenda for the future. Let me also stress that the NATO-Russia Founding Act encourages closer Russian cooperation with NATO in the Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. The most fundamental decisions that involve cooperation between NATO and non-member countries are going to be taken in the EAPC, with all our partners present. This November, the EAPC will be meeting to discuss stability in Southeastern Europe, and we will have a good occasion to think together about how to take full advantage of this essential forum. The United States looks forward to exploring all these opportunities with Russia and with our allies in NATO. We are gratified that this process has begun, and I thank you for the opportunity to express my country's views and to hear yours. (End text)