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