Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

NATO: Speech By NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen At The

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • NATO: Speech By NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen At The

    SPEECH BY NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN AT THE YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN YEREVAN, ARMENIA

    NATO HQ
    Sept 6 2012

    Rector Simonyan,
    Ladies and gentlemen,
    Dear friends,

    Thank you, Rector Simonyan, for that kind introduction. It is indeed
    a great to be in Armenia. I am also happy to see a lot of young
    people and students in the audience. I always enjoy talking to young
    people. And it is an honour to do so at Yerevan State University.

    This is a prestigious institution. Armenian presidents, poets, and
    philosophers studied in these halls. And I am certain that many of
    Armenia's future leaders are sitting here in the audience this morning.

    I studied economics. And I have always been enormously impressed by
    the incredible potential of this country and this region. We all know
    that centuries ago, this was one of the richest regions in the world.

    And I believe that it can achieve that distinction once again.

    This is particularly important for you, the young people of this
    country. You must live in the future that you inherit. But you can
    also help create the future that you desire.

    My message to you today is that only cooperation, dialogue, and
    compromise can build the stability and security that prosperity
    requires.

    The organisation that I represent, NATO, is proof that this formula
    works. And through our partnership with Armenia, we want to contribute
    to building stability and security in this region too.

    In my remarks today, I want to cover three key points. First, I
    would like to tell you a bit about NATO. Second, I will explain how
    NATO and Armenia are working together today and describe some of the
    support NATO is providing your country. And third, I want to look at
    how Armenia, and this region, can reach their true potential. And I
    would also like to express my views on the Safarov issue.

    So, first, NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is unique, both
    an international political alliance and a military alliance. Two of our
    Allies - the United States and Canada - come from North America. The
    other 26 Allies come from Europe.

    All Allies, on both sides of the Atlantic, have undertaken a solemn
    commitment. They have agreed that in the event of an attack on the
    territory or population of one Ally, then all the others will come to
    that country's help, according to the principle "all for one, and one
    for all." It is a group of like-minded democracies who are willing,
    able and ready to defend each other come what may - which is all the
    more important during times of uncertainty.

    But NATO is more than just a collective defence Alliance. It is also
    a political Alliance united by common beliefs and principles. All
    Allies share the same fundamental values of liberty, democracy,
    the rule of law, and respect for human rights. And the Allies are
    prepared to act to defend these values whenever necessary.

    We see that commitment today in many places around the globe, where
    we have operations under the mandate of the United Nations. In
    Afghanistan, where we are working to make sure that the country
    can never again be a safe haven for terrorists. In Kosovo, where we
    continue to help provide a safe environment for all communities. In
    the Indian Ocean where we help to ensure free passage for ships facing
    the threat of piracy. And last year over Libya, where we prevented
    a massacre and helped protect civilians from attack.

    In everything we do - politically and operationally - we have found
    that the keys to success are consensus and cooperation. Some Allies
    are large, like the United States. Others are smaller, like my own
    country, Denmark. But every decision in NATO is taken by consensus.

    This means that all Allies, regardless of their size, must agree. And
    it means all Allies have an equal voice.

    >>From time to time, we do have disagreements. But we work through
    them like true friends. We talk - a lot. Eventually, we compromise. And
    we come to an agreement that all of us can live with. It's not always
    easy. But we do it every day.

    And it's a virtuous circle. Cooperation requires dialogue. Dialogue
    brings compromise. Compromise permits cooperation. And cooperation
    enhances our security.

    It is this approach that has made NATO the most successful Alliance
    in history. But of course, we do not live in history. We must face
    the threats of the future, not the past. Our times are changing. Our
    challenges are changing. And NATO is constantly changing to meet them.

    Over the past two decades, we have come to understand that the simple
    physical defence of our populations and territories is not enough.

    Tanks massed on borders can no longer guarantee our security. New
    threats are too complex, too interconnected, and too unpredictable.

    They require a different approach.

    Challenges like terrorism, cyber warfare, or the proliferation of
    weapons of mass destruction cannot be confronted by any one army,
    any one country, or even NATO acting alone. They require teamwork
    across borders, across regions, and even across cultures.

    That's why achieving security in the 21st century must be a truly
    cooperative endeavour. We need partners - here, in this region,
    and across the world - partners who share our values and our desire
    for security.

    Your efforts to work towards improved democracy, fair elections and
    a free media are welcome. They are good for Armenia. And they lay
    the foundation for an even stronger partnership with NATO.

    And that leads me to the second point I want to make today - how NATO
    and Armenia are working together.

    Armenia has been an important NATO partner for many years. Your
    country's contributions to our operations in both Kosovo and
    Afghanistan are significant -- and highly valued.

    In Afghanistan, you are part of a NATO-led coalition of 50 nations,
    one quarter of the countries of the world. To ensure that Afghanistan
    will never again provide a safe haven for terrorists who threaten
    our nations. I have visited Afghanistan many times, and I have seen
    the tremendous job that your service personnel are doing.

    I know the challenges, and I have seen with my own eyes the significant
    progress we are making across the country. By the end of 2014, we
    will complete our current combat mission there. But our commitment
    to Afghanistan will continue. After 2014, we will start a new mission
    to train, advice and assist the Afghan security forces.

    And I very much hope that Armenia will be part of that support.

    Your country's contributions to NATO-led operations mean that Armenian
    troops have received valuable training and peacekeeping experience.

    This is an important part of developing your country's own peacekeeping
    capabilities, both at home and abroad. NATO is providing significant
    support to help you build-up these capabilities.

    We are also assisting Armenia in other areas, such as border security,
    defence reform, and cyber security. This makes Armenia stronger,
    safer, and better able to contribute to security elsewhere.

    But our partnership also makes sense for Armenians here at home. One
    important priority in our partnership has been civil defence and
    disaster response. We all know that earthquakes are a recurrent danger
    here in this region; this country has suffered terribly. The quake in
    1988 killed more than forty-five thousand people. So we are providing
    training to help Armenian rescuers strengthen their capabilities in
    search and rescue.

    These are just some examples of what we do together. And we do it in
    full respect of Armenia's balanced foreign and security policy. To put
    it more clearly, we see no contradiction between good NATO-Armenia
    relations, and good relations with Russia. It can work. It does
    work. And by the way, it works for NATO too - we have a deep, well
    developed relationship with Russia as well. Because we believe that,
    at this time in European history, we can have a virtuous circle. All
    countries can put the past to rest, and move forward. And that the
    whole continent would benefit as a result.

    This leads me to my third and final point - how Armenia, and this
    region, can reach their full potential. A potential of open borders.

    Increased investment. Extra trade opportunities for your industrial
    and agricultural products. Better job opportunities. Strengthened
    regional political and economic cooperation. Enhanced stability and
    security. And greater prosperity.

    We know what is holding back this potential. Unresolved conflicts.

    Closed borders. Minefields. Trenches. Closed airspace. This region has
    more barriers to cooperation between neighbours than almost anywhere
    in the world. We need to break down those old barriers of mistrust.

    And we must build up new bridges of regional reconciliation.

    A crucial step has to be finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
    conflict.

    Two things are clear. First, there is no military solution. And second,
    the only way forward is through dialogue, compromise, and cooperation.

    NATO as an organisation is not involved directly in finding a solution
    to this conflict. Nor do we take sides. But we will continue to
    support the Minsk process and efforts towards a peaceful settlement.

    I am deeply concerned by the Azerbaijani decision to pardon the
    Azerbaijani army officer Safarov. The act he committed in 2004 was
    a terrible crime that should not be glorified. The pardon damages
    trust and does not contribute to the peace process. There must be no
    return to conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Tensions in this
    region must be reduced, and concrete steps must be taken to promote
    regional cooperation and reconciliation.

    Dear friends,

    The Caucasus region has great potential. Armenia has great potential.

    And our NATO-Armenia partnership has great potential, as well.

    The countries of this region have been locked in conflict for too
    long. It is time to build peace. Let us seize this moment to create
    the stability, the security, and the prosperity that Armenia deserves,
    that this region deserves, and that you deserve.

    Some people wish it will happen. Some people think it can happen.

    You can make it happen.

    Thank you very much.

    http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/opinions_89730.htm




    From: A. Papazian
Working...
X