REMARKS BY MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND
AT THE SUMMIT OF THE EURO-ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL
Washington, DC, April 25, 1999

Half a century ago, the willingness of the United States to engage itself, through the Marshall Plan and then NATO, in the security of Europe, gave Europeans confidence in the future. This support helped to set in motion a development which for over five decades has brought unprecedented prosperity and stability to the Western part of our continent. We the Nordic countries greatly benefited from the Transatlantic link, and by our own policies contributed to stability in Northern Europe.

NATO’s mere existence in the past fifty years has helped to preserve peace in Europe. It continues to provide for the collective defence of its members and to project stability far beyond its borders.

Today, democracy, rule of law and market economy are advancing in Central and Eastern Europe. The European Union and NATO are in the forefront of that great endeavour. The open-door policy of the Alliance is in compliance with every country's right freely to choose the means by which it safeguards its security.

The Alliance’s role is changing. It is increasingly an organisation for crisis management and political consultations. Finland appreciates the contribution of NATO to the international security order based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The cooperative relationship between NATO and Russia must be further developed, in spite of the current difficulties.

During its presidency of the European Union later this year Finland is prepared to explore ways and means to develop the Union's crisis management capacity on the basis of the Amsterdam treaty.

The combination of bilateral and multilateral efforts centred on the PfP and the EAPC is a good example of cooperation which responds to the needs of an evolving security environment. Partners contribute to the NATO-led military crisis management and appreciate being included in the planning and decision-making of operations.

In Kosovo the basic values of the Euro-Atlantic Community are in danger. Violations of human rights are no longer an internal affair of states. The international community must be able to act accordingly. We deplore that the situation has led to the use of force. The responsibility lies with the Yugoslav leadership.

When the conflict is over, broad cooperation is needed in order to promote peace and prosperity in South-eastern Europe.

NATO at 50 is being challenged. The enduring security, stability and prosperity of Europe depends on the unqualified respect for the basic values that are shared by the Euro-Atlantic community of countries. Finland is ready to do its part in our common efforts.

As a Karelian by birth, I belong to the Finns who were displaced as a result of World War II. As a consequence, I and people of my generation want to build an undivided Europe and work for peaceful solutions. These Summits pave the way for this.