Panel Discussion on NATO Enlargement: New Opportunities and a New Environment for Security
Cyrus Salimi-Asl, Eric Wrasse und Gereon Schuch
Introductory Statement of President Parvanov
02-10-2002 09:30 |
Brussels
Dear Viscount Davignon,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Please allow me first to express my appreciation to the organizers of this
highly representative Forum and to thank all of you for having made the time,
despite this early hour, to participate in this panel. I am confident that
this panel will enable us to exchange thoughts about our shared vision for
the future of Europe, NATO’s enlargement and the adapting of the Alliance
to the new challenges in international security at the beginning of the 21st
century.
A few weeks before the historic NATO Summit in Prague, the subject at the
center of our attention today is particularly timely. There are a number of
reasons that make this summit historic.
First, in the Czech capital, NATO will set its new agenda for years to come.
Combating terrorism will no doubt rank high on this agenda. Second, Prague
is expected to reach a decision on the Alliance’s enlargement and on the inclusion
of new candidate countries in the security system, which has provided reliable
protection for democratic states for more than 50 years.
Bulgaria makes no secret of its positive expectations from the Prague Summit.
We are confident that we have done a good job, especially in the past year
and a half or so. Our confidence draws from the many meetings we have had
with our counterparts and high-level representatives of NATO member countries
and the positive evaluations given by the Alliance experts as well as by the
member countries that inspected our country last year.
Our confidence is based on concrete facts and arguments. First, Bulgaria has
been politically and financially stable for years; it is a country that shares
the principles and values of the democratic world. You have all seen that
notwithstanding the changes in government, Bulgaria’s strategic orientation
remains unchanged.
Second, the functioning ethnic policy model has set an example for all South
East European countries, and I would even say, not only for South East Europe.
Today, representatives of the Bulgarian ethnic minorities are involved in
all areas of governance – Parliament, central government, President’s administration
and local government authorities.
Third, we have undertaken a robust military reform to establish a modern and
capable army ready to assume the responsibilities ensuing from membership
in the Alliance.
Bulgaria has made its irreversible choice to pursue a Euro-Atlantic orientation.
This is a choice supported by all major political parties. Parliament has
reached full consensus on this. Also, this is a choice supported by the majority
of Bulgarian citizens. I dare say that this is among the highest levels of
public support registered in any candidate country.
Let me note also something I believe is particularly important: Bulgaria has
proved that it can generate stability and security with respect to its neighbors.
Looking back over the past century, we can see that today we enjoy the best
of relations with our neighboring countries, some of which are represented
at this forum. And I believe they will agree with this in making their remarks.
In the aftermath of the carnage of September 11, the international security
agenda has seen a dramatic change. The world came to realize that whatever
the military power of any one country, it cannot stand up against terrorism
alone. Terrorism has many faces. As Professor Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize Laureate,
appositely remarked, terrorism is the reverse side of globalism. Therefore,
we need to counteract it globally, worldwide, with determination and persistence.
September 11 has brought about a complete reinvention of the sense of threat
and security, posing new challenges for the North Atlantic Treaty. It is now
evident that the space of security, the Euro-Atlantic area, needs to expand,
encompassing more countries that share the principles and values of democracy.
Effectively, this will put a squeeze on the manoeuvering ground for terrorist
organizations and mafia-type structures. It has also become clear that the
armed forces of NATO members and candidate countries need to adapt to this
new environment, modernize and be prepared for effective action against terror
and related asymmetrical threats such as drug trafficing, organized crime,
illicit arms trade and human trafficing, illegal trade in dual use goods and
technologies. This is the only way to ensure that the democratic world will
be in a position to counteract decisively international terrorism.
That is why Bulgaria believes that a robust and regionally balanced NATO enlargement
to include the seven most advanced candidate countries is the right way to
go and the most proper response to the new threats.
As a potential NATO member, my country intends not only to draw on security
but to generate security. Accepting Bulgaria, and Romania – I am referring
to the Balkan region – and then, of the other candidate countries – not much
later, will strengthen NATO both politically and in a military perspective.
The acceptance of our two candidate countries will consolidate NATO’s southern
flank, it will strengthen the stability and security of South East Europe
and add clear, strategic advantages for NATO. In such a case, the Alliance
will enjoy much better opportunities to control any processes of crisis in
the Western Balkans, it will enjoy an enhanced capacity to project stability
onto the Black Sea region and the Caucasus. On a military scale, the modernized
armed forces of the two countries, their reformed security services, will
increase NATO’s capacity to stand against the threats of the new century.
Bulgaria has already identified some of its specific capabilities, some of
its comparative advantages that could be taken into account in the process
of NATO military planning. Some of these capabilities have already been tested.
I mean the logistic support provided during the operations Determined Force
and Enduring Freedom, to name just a few.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to emphasize particularly that despite the enormous difficulties
our country has had to shoulder in social terms, Bulgaria allocates 3.1 %
of its gross domestic product to defense outlays. I believe this might be
one of the highest rates in defense spending among candidate countries and
perhaps among many Alliance members. Our goal is to accelerate the establishment
of military forces that are adequate to the new realities.
Having said that, I would like to note that in the last year our country has
more than doubled its participation in SFOR and KFOR, and has sent a military
unit to Afghanistan, thus proving in deed our solidarity with the global antiterrorist
coalition.
Ladies and gentlemen, to receive an invitation for accession to NATO in Prague
will be a crucial moment in the development of Bulgaria and its inclusion
in the Euro-Atlantic democratic community. This invitation will be the real
result of our efforts over the past 12 years to build a democratic state and
a market economy.
At the same time, we are realistic, and we recognize that many problems are
still to be addressed. We are also aware that our admission to NATO membership
will mark the beginning of a new stage of a more active adaptation to comply
with the requirements for full membership in political, economic and military
aspects. In other words, we do not assume that the process of our integration
into NATO ends in Prague. We believe that this invitation will indeed be only
the beginning of a new, even more difficult stage, and we have mobilized our
morale, our political and economic efforts to this end.
On a political scale, after Prague, Bulgaria and Romania have, and will continue
to have, an important role to play for the stabilization and inclusion of
the Western Balkan countries into the system of Euro-Atlantic values. On more
than one occasion we have declared our definite support for these countries
to join the Alliance. I am repeating this once again because, to me, the membership
of not only Bulgaria and Romania, but also of Macedonia and Albania, of the
other neighbors, will represent yet another very important investment in the
peace and security of the whole Euro-Atlantic area. An investment better to
none, for Europe and the democratic world to make.
As I noted earlier, the role of our countries in projecting security and stability
to the Black Sea region and the Caucasus would be equally important. This
means, above all, to promote cooperation with the countries from the Black
Sea region, including in the fields of policy, economy and infrastructure,
among security services, in combating terrorism, in the face of new threats
and challenges.
On an economic scale, Bulgaria will continue its comprehensive reforms towards
establishing a functioning and competitive market economy. Our Number One
objective is to achieve high economic growth while maintaining financial stability,
which we have already achieved. This is the only way to solve the burning
problems facing our nation, and not only our nation – the problems of unemployment
and poverty. Higher economic growth will help curb and eradicate corruption
and crime, to step up the reform in the military forces, and reinforce democratic
values in Bulgaria. I am confident that fulfillment of the European criteria
and standards along with the expected invitation in Prague will speed up Bulgaria’s
accession to the other organization of the democratic world – the European
Union.
On a military scale, Bulgaria will continue to press with reform in all of
its aspects. We are resolved to further develop our military capabilities,
in order to assume the whole range of obligations of an ally, including those
under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. We recognize that to ensure the
success of the reform, we need to maintain defense spending at relatively
high levels; this will, on the one hand, cushion the social repercussions
of military personnel cuts, while on the other hand sustain the modernization
of armed forces. We support the idea of specialization of military capabilities
of both members and candidate countries, thus boosting the efficiency of the
Alliance after the robust enlargement under the formula of the new Seven as
well.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to assure you that whatever the decisions to be taken in Prague,
the Republic of Bulgaria will not waiver in its strategic choice and will
continue to act as a de facto ally of NATO. We have proved that in the most
challenging times for NATO during the past several years, including after
the tragedy of 9/11/2001.
In conclusion, I would like to wish this forum success with its work. May
I avail of this opportunity to invite all participants in this distinguished
event to attend the functions within the Europalia – Bulgaria Culture Festival
opening here in Brussels tomorrow. The festival provides an opportunity to
gain an insight into the European and Christian roots of Bulgarian culture
and our historical heritage of more than 1300 years. I hope that you will
be able to enjoy the Bulgarian talent embodied in the chefs-d’oeuvre of Bulgarian
art and experience the magic of Bulgarian voices.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Quelle: http://www.president.bg/en/news.php?id=27&st=0
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