Address by DR Dimitrij Rupel at the Public Presentation of Opinions on "Slovenia Before the NATO Summit Meeting in Prague"
At the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, 16 January 2002
Photo: BOBO |
Mr President, Mr Prime Minister, Mr President of the National
Assembly, distinguished deputies and colleagues,
I.
Slovenia's membership of the North Atlantic Alliance depends on:
- the will or preparedness of Slovenia and
- the will or preparedness of the 19 Nato member states
Our will or preparedness depends on the will and preparedness of
our government, the National Assembly, the electorate and public
opinion. The will or preparedness of the 19 countries, in particular
the US, depends on numerous factors, including the general
international situation, concrete defence and political interests and,
last but not least, the balance of power in the US Senate. After all,
Slovenia's membership in NATO depends on 67 senators voting in
Washington.
Some of these conditions can be controlled, others not. We can make
inferences about, presume or guess the will or preparedness of
others. It is clear that others (19 countries, governments,
parliaments, etc.) will not have the will and will not be ready to
admit Slovenia to NATO if Slovenia does not express its will and
preparedness for NATO membership in a convincing manner. NATO can
decide on our membership only if we show firm determination.
On the one hand there is political will and on the other, technical
preparedness. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot evaluate the
technical preparedness of the Slovenian armed forces or the
appropriateness of our defence plans. My colleague Grizold will
address this topic. But we can participate in the debate on the
political will for Slovenia's membership of NATO; we can speak about
the importance of NATO for us and for today's situation in the world;
and if we establish that "subjective" conditions for our
candidacy exist, we can speak about "objective"
possibilities for its success. But we can be mistaken. Here, today, at
the National Assembly we have to establish and confirm that we want to
be candidates; NATO will decide if we are good and suitable
candidates.
I have to talk about these (in fact self-evident) matters since a
number of doubts and reservations have been voiced in this regard. I
cannot say that these doubts and reservations have shaken anyone's
confidence. Perhaps they caused (and they might have tried to cause)
confusion, which has been expressed in various rumours and erroneous
suppositions. There were some wrong conclusions to the effect that
NATO is forcing membership upon us. The mistaken belief was maintained
that membership of NATO depends mainly on our decision.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far presumed that these
suppositions and doubts are imaginary and false. The decisions and
documents of the National Assembly have been decisive for us, and they
place membership of NATO among Slovenia's foreign policy priorities.
In recent months we have received information from friends abroad
who are under the impression that we are not investing sincere and
decisive effort in gaining membership of NATO. In addition to certain
technical deficiencies, some of them expressed criticism concerning
our NATO candidature, i.e. that we were too reserved, ignorant and
even "self-sufficient". We meet with this criticism at a
time when our drawing closer to Euro-Atlantic organisations is
approaching the decisive stage, and when the Prague Summit, at which
new NATO members will be determined, is drawing ever closer.
I dare say that powerful circles in NATO are today keeping an eye
on our National Assembly.
Nothing is wrong with care, prudence and realism. However, we have
to finish the tasks we have already taken up in the fight for a free
and democratic state. We have to fulfil the goals we set ourselves
when we first defined Slovenia's national interest.
II.
A decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the European Union and
NATO have started to expand. The expansion is linked to the spread of
democracy, human rights, the rule of law, free enterprise, etc. The
process has not been developing fast enough: many doubts and
hesitations have been expressed by the present members. I am convinced
that part of the problems caused in Slovenia regarding NATO are linked
to the slowness of the enlargement processes. Slovenia believed that
it would be invited to join NATO back in 1997.
The process of NATO enlargement gained fresh impetus on September
11 last year when the fight against terrorism was placed at the top of
the foreign and defence policy agendas of all European countries and
the US. What happened was, in a way, logical; but it would probably
not have happened had it not been for terrorism. Solidarity between
the West and the East was declared, particularly between Russia and
some Islamic states. These changes have an influence on NATO too,
although it would be an exaggeration to say that this is
"another", "unknown" NATO. The entire modern and
freedom-loving world has found itself within NATO and its vicinity.
Slovenia in all certainty belongs to this world. Affiliation to this
world is the basic component and substance of Slovenia's national
interest.
Slovenia's national interest could be described as Slovenia's equal
participation in European or Euro-Atlantic political, economic,
defence and cultural processes. This is a community of countries
sharing the same values, including democracy, the rule of law,
protection of the rights of individuals and the dignity of nations, a
market economy, a policy of peace and international solidarity. The
citizens of Slovenia also want a free, safe and prosperous material
and cultural life.
I am convinced that Slovenia can best fulfil and protect its
national interests within Euro-Atlantic organisations.
The decision on joining NATO has been reached voluntarily. Nobody
forced us to join NATO; we are entering NATO of our own free will. We
will join NATO because we see many advantages of membership of this
organisation - an organisation that includes the most important and
most influential countries in the world. The most important reason is
the guarantee of the highest possible level of national security.
This is especially important in times when we face international
terrorist threats. We need effective protection from attacks with
biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. The European Union is
proceeding apace with the setting-up of security structures; however,
these do not suffice for a comprehensive and effective guarantee of
security to its members. With its state-of-the-art military
technology, NATO is by far the best security framework.
In the aggravated security and political situation, Slovenia has to
strengthen its defence, for which relatively large funds are
required. However, the development of defence capabilities will cost
less if we develop them jointly within the North Atlantic Alliance,
where obligations are divided between members in a spirit of
partnership. Our own defence capabilities will thus be strengthened,
and we can count on the growth of our military industry.
In addition to the highest possible level of security, NATO
membership also brings many other advantages. A safe and stable
environment is a prerequisite for smooth economic, social and cultural
development. NATO membership will enable Slovenia to participate
equally in scientific, technological and information flows in the most
developed part of the world. Owing to the low risk related to foreign
direct investment, Slovenia's international economic cooperation will
be fostered.
Other Central and East European countries, with which we share the
same interests and traditional friendly relations, have decided to
become Nato members. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have
succeeded in joining NATO, while other candidates of the "Vilnius
Group" still wait for the invitation. Croatia is among them and
it would be unusual if our southern neighbour became a NATO member and
Slovenia was left out as a small isolated island. The "valley of
peace" about which some are thinking is not a realistic option
for Slovenia. Slovenia is too involved in international flows, and we
are surrounded by countries with the same ambitions; rejecting
accession to Euro-Atlantic structures could therefore cause isolation.
NATO is an organisation that advocates a market economy, democracy
and the rule of law. It promotes the values on which our country is
based. Membership of NATO will guarantee us security and will have a
favourable influence on Slovenia's internal stability. The majority of
Slovenes are certainly aware of this. We are here today to convince
them in their belief. At the same time, we wish to show our friends
abroad that their criticism concerning our
"self-sufficiency" does not correspond to the facts as they
are and that we will further endeavour to join Euro-Atlantic
structures. We also wish to state clearly that we will not join NATO
in order to enjoy a "free ride". We take the North Atlantic
Alliance extremely seriously and will fulfil our share of obligations
with responsibility.
We should not be afraid of a referendum. For Slovenes, the
referendum is a tried and tested form for verifying the strategic
decisions of the nation. Slovenes properly assessed the situation in
1990 when they opted for an independent state at the plebiscite. I
believe they will also be able to make the right decision now when we
stand on the threshold of joining the Euro-Atlantic structures. This
step will guarantee the achievements of our independence and a secure
place in the club of Western developed countries.
The task of Slovenia's politicians is to enable a proper,
democratic and critical exchange of opinions on joining NATO among the
Slovene public. Deputies in the National Assembly have made an
important step forward with the organisation of today's presentation
of opinions.
Thank you.
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