30th ANNIVERSARYof the

ATLANTIC ALLIANCE

4th April. 1979

SPEECHESN A T O Headquarters

Brussels

_

30 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y O F T H E A T L A N T I C A L L I A N C E

S P E E C H E S

Contents

P a g e N o s .

C e r e m o n y in the M a in C o u r t y a r d , N ATO H e a d q u a r te r s .

- A d d r e s s by D r . J o s e p h M :A .H . L u n s ,S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l . 1 - 2

II . C o m m e m o r a t iv e S e s s io n o f the N orth A t la n t ic C ouncil .

- S p e e c h by D r . Jo s e p h M. A . H. L u n s ,S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l . 3 - 6

- S p e e c h b y the Dean o f the C o uncil ,A m b a s s a d o r F . C a ta la n o di M e l i l l i . 7 - 9

- M e s s a g e r e a d on b e h a l f o f the P r e s i d e n t d ’honneur of the C o u n c il ,D r . D av id Owen. 10

- A d d r e s s b y the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of theH ost C o u n try , A m b a s s a d o r C o nstant S c h u u r m a n s . 11 - 12

I .

A d d r e s s b y D r . J o s e p h M. A . H. L u n s , S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l o f N A T O ,

a t a c e r e m o n y h eld in the M ain C o u r t y a r d at N A T O H e a d q u a r t e r s ,

on 4 th A p r i l , 1979.

A d d r e s s b y D r . J o s e p h M . A . H. L u n s , S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l

T o d a y the N o rth A t la n t ic T r e a t y i s th i r ty y e a r s o ld. T h a n ks to i t , E u r o p e h a s known p e a c e through ou t th e s e th i r ty y e a r s . T h is p e r io d h a s e n ab led the m e m b e r c o u n tr ie s of the A l l i a n c e to d e v e lo p and s t ren g th en th e ir s o c i e t i e s and e c o n o m ie s behind the s h ie ld of a c o m m o n d e fe n c e s y s t e m . T h e in d iv id u a l i ty o f e ac h o f ou r n ation s h a s thus b e e n a b le to f lo u r i s h within the f r a m e w o r k o f f r e e l y c h o se n d e m o c r a t ic in s t i tu t io n s w ithout any co u n try h a v in g to f e a r o u ts id e t h r e a t s o r p r e s s u r e s to a l t e r the c o u r s e it had e le c te d to fo l lo w .

H o w e v e r , in r e c a l l i n g the a c h ie v e m e n t s o f ou r A l l i a n c e and what it m e a n s in t e r m s o f f i f t e e n - n a t io n c o - o p e r a t io n and s o l i d a r i t y , w e m u s t not f o r g e t that behind a l l the o r g a n iz a t io n a l , m i l i t a r y and o th er m a c h in e r y c o m p o s in g the N orth A t la n t ic T r e a t y d e f e n s iv e s y s t e m th e re a r e m e n and w o m e n , the c i t iz e n s o f ou r f i f t e e n c o u n t r i e s , who h a v e m a d e p o s s ib le a l l th e se a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s du r in g the p a s t th i r ty y e a r s .

I should t h e r e f o r e l ik e to take th is o p p o rtunity to p ay t r ib u te in p a r t i c u l a r to the s o l d i e r s , s a i l o r s , a i r m e n and w o m e n ’ s f o r c e s w ho, on both s id e s o f the A t la n t ic , f o r m p a r t o f N A T O ’ s in t e g r a te d m i l i t a r y s y s t e m and on whom d epend s the a r d u o u s , d em an d in g and often th a n k le s s ta s k o f g iv in g ta n g ib le e x p r e s s i o n to ou r co n c e p t o f d e f e n s iv e s o l id a r i t y . United b e f o r e us today stand the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the A r m e d F o r c e s of the N A T O m e m b e r c o u n t r ie s . T h e y a r e h e r e to c o m m e m o r a t e w ith us the th i r ty y e a r s of p e a c e m a d e p o s s ib le b y th e ir e f f o r t s . T h e s e cont ingents r e p r e s e n t h u n d re d s of th o u san d s o f c o m p a t r io t s in u n i fo rm who h a v e s e r v e d and w i l l continue to s e r v e the m u tu a l d e fe n c e of the c o u n tr ie s of the A l l i a n c e .

A ro u n d th is C o ur d ’honneur today a r e a l s o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f the d e le g a t io n s o f the 15 c o u n tr ie s of the A l l i a n c e and m e m b e r s of the In te rn a t io n a l , C i v i l and M i l i t a r y S t a f f s , w ithout w h o s e d evoted w o r k the b e s t p la n s that can be d e v is e d would h a v e no s u b s ta n c e . B eh in d the a r m e d f o r c e s w h o s e v i g i l a n c e c o n t in u es to a s s u r e our s a fe ty a r e the p e r s o n n e l o f the su p p o r t s e r v i c e s , the w o rk in g m en and w o m e n in f a c t o r i e s that p ro d u c e the m a t e r i a l th rough w h ich they d i s c h a r g e th e i r ta s k . A l l th e s e add up to m a n y m i l l io n s o f p e o p le , w ithout whom the N o r th A t la n t ic T r e a t y w ou ld be m e a n in g le s s . It i s a l l th e s e c i t iz e n s of our c o u n tr ie s that a r e the s u b s ta n c e , the s in e w on the b a r e b o n es o f the p la n s la id down b y the fo u n d e rs o f N A T O .

N A T O i s a f r e e a s s o c ia t i o n o f s o v e r e ig n d e m o c r a t ic s ta te s w h o se g o v e r n m e n t s a r e e le c t e d through the f r e e in s t i tu t io n s w h ich a r e c h e r i s h e d by a l l o f u s . Without the b r o a d su p p o r t o f the c i t iz e n s o f our c o u n tr ie s N A T O cou ld not continue to e x i s t . We who w o r k at N A T O H e a d q u a r t e r s a r e c o n s ta n t ly e n c o u r ag e d by the d e m o n st ra t io n o f supp ort and u n d e rs ta n d in g in m e m b e r s ta t e s fo r w h at the N o r th A t la n t ic T r e a t y O rg a n iz a t io n s tan d s fo r .

It i s f i t t ing that on th is o c c a s io n w e think a g a in ab o u t th e s e th in g s , about the s o c i e t i e s w h ich w e r e p r e s e n t . S o c ie t i e s o f f r e e c i t iz e n s who a r e d e t e r m in e d to s a fe g u a r d t h e i r f r e e d o m , know ing the h igh c o s t of doing so.

Th e o rg a n iz a t io n w h ich h a s e v o lv e d o v e r th e s e th i r ty y e a r s i s fu l ly equipped and r e a d y fo r the t a s k not on ly of continuing to a s s u r e an a d eq uate d e fe n c e , bu t a l s o of fu l f i l l in g the d y n a m ic r o le o f c o n sta n t ly se e k in g new m e c h a n i s m s and new d ia lo g u e s to b r in g about a b e t te r a t m o s p h e r e b e tw e e n E a s t and W e st , a c l im a t e in w h ic h th e re m ig h t no lo n g e r be the n e ed to spend so m u ch o f ou r r e s o u r c e s on the n e c e s s i t i e s o f d e fe n c e . A c l im a t e in w h ich w e can bu ild c o n s t r u c t iv e r e la t io n s h ip s b e tw e e n the p e o p le s of a l l the c o u n tr ie s o f E u ro p e .F o r it i s p e o p le , the c i t iz e n s o f a l l our c o u n t r i e s , that a r e the m e a s u r e of ou r e f f o r t s . It i s the w o r k , the e f f o r t s , the new and im a g in a t iv e th inking o f ou r c o u n try m e n and w o m e n , un h in d ered b y the c o n s t r a in t s o f a u t h o r i t a r ia n i s m , w h ich h a v e b e en the m a in s t r e n g th of N A T O d uring th e s e th i r ty y e a r s and w h ich w i l l be the m a j o r f o r c e behind the d i s c h a r g e of the d i f f ic u l t t a s k s a l iead in the y e a r s to c o m e .

N ote : P a r t s o f this s p e e c h w e re d e l i v e r e d in Fr en ch .

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C om m o r a t i v e S e s s io n of

T h e N orth A t la n t ic Coun c i l

on 4 th A p r i l , 1979

S p e e ch by D r . Jo s e p h M. A . H. L u n s , S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l

T h e p r e s e n t m e e t in g o f the N orth A t la n t ic C o u n c i l i s be in g held to c o m m e m o r a t e the th ir t ie th a n n i v e r s a r y of the s ig n in g o f the N o rth A t la n t ic T r e a t y . T h e w o r ld today i s v e r y d i f fe r e n t f r o m the one w e knew th ir ty y e a r s ago . In 1949 th o se now fo r m in g the m a j o r i t y o f the popu lat ion o f our f i f t e e n c o u n tr ie s had not ye t b e en b o rn . N e v e r t h e l e s s , th is c o n c i s e d ocu m en t, w ith i t s p e r f e c t l y e x p l ic i t p r e a m b le and fo u rte en p a r a g r a p h s h a s stood the te s t of t im e . T h is , I th ink, t e s t i f i e s to the w is d o m o f i t s a u th o rs and th e ir p e r s p i c a c i t y in looking beyond the im m e d ia t e m i l i t a r y r e q u ir e m e n t s of the t im e .

S in c e then m a n y f r e s h id e a s and new m a c h in e r y h ave p r o g r e s s i v e l y e v o lv e d to m e e t a new s ta te of a f f a i r s c r e a t e d by the g r o w in g in te rd e p e n d e n c e of c o u n tr ie s . H o w e v e r , th e s e d e v e lo p m e n ts h a ve tak en p la c e a g a in s t a b a c k g ro u n d o f c e r t a in c o n s t a n ts , s o m e p o s i t iv e , so m e n e g a t iv e .

A s r e g a r d s E a s t / W e s t r e l a t io n s , a d e f in ite change h a s o c c u r r e d , S t a l in i s t h o s t i l i t y and e x p a n s io n is m in E u ro p e h av in g g iv e n w a y to a m u ch m o r e c o m p le x s ituat io n . T o d a y , c o - o p e r a t io n , o r at l e a s t d i s c u s s i o n , with the E a s t i s p o s s ib le in m a n y a r e a s . T h e S o v ie t Union and i t s a l l i e s h a v e m a n i fe s t e d the d e s i r e - one m ig h t e ven s a y the need - to c o - o p e r a t e with the in d u s t r ia l iz e d c o u n tr ie s of the W est . H o w e v e r , th e re i s s t i l l e v e r y r e a s o n to d i s t r u s t the e x p a n s io n is t d e s ig n s of the S o v ie t Union, not on ly in E u r o p e but throughout the w o r ld . T h i r t y y e a r s l a t e r , the p e o p le s o f the A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e a r e s t i l l w o r r i e d about the r e a l a im s of the S o v ie t Union and the a l l ia n c e s y s te m it h as b u i lt up aro u n d it.

The notion o f c o - o p e r a t io n b etw een W e s te r n c o u n t r ie s , b o rn o f the jo in t v i c t o r y o v e r f a s c i s m , h as a l s o ga ined ground. It h a s been the d r i v i n g - f o r c e behind a w hole s e r i e s of c o - o p e r a t iv e in s t i tu t io n s .In N A T O , the m e th o d s and p r o c e d u r e s of c o n su lta t io n and c o - o p e r a t io n h a v e d ev e lo p e d o v e r the y e a r s to b e c o m e , in sp ite o f o c c a s io n a l d i f f i ­c u l t i e s , a p e r m a n e n t and, I think, i r r e v e r s i b l e p r o c e s s , the ro o ts of w h ich a r e to be found in the p r a c t i c e s e m p lo y e d b y the W e s te rn c o u n tr ie s , both in s id e and ou ts id e N A T O , in th e ir m u tu a l r e la t io n s .

Th e p a r t n e r s h ip w h ich h as g ro w n up b etw een the two s id e s o f the A t la n t ic and w hich i s em bo d ied in N ATO i s one o f the g r e a t h i s t o r i c a l d e v e lo p m e n ts of the tw entieth c e n tu ry . T h e se t r a n s a t la n t ic t i e s go d eep , and the im b a la n c e of p o w e r and in f lu e n ce that e x is te d im m e d ia t e ly fo l lo w in g the w a r h as changed d r a m a t i c a l l y in f a v o u r of

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g r e a t e r e q u a lity and d e e p e r m u tu a l r e s p e c t . T h is h a s not c o m e about a s a r e s u l t o f a w e a k e n in g of the N orth A m e r i c a n A l l i e s but a s a r e s u l t of a s tren g th en in g of the E u ro p e a n o n e s . We cannot, h o w e v e r , ig n o r e that E u r o p e ’ s p o s t - w a r e co n o m ic r e c o v e r y w a s s p a r k e d o f f b y a unique g e s t u r e - the M a r s h a l l P la n - w h ich w e l l i l l u s t r a t e d the p o l i t i c a l a c u m e n of the T r u m a n A d m in is t r a t io n .

T h e d e v e lo p m e n t of the m a c h in e r y fo r c o n su lta t io n and c o - o p e r a t io n in it s v a r i o us f o r m s b e a r s w i t n e s s to the im a g in a t iv e n e s s and p e r s p i c a c i t y of the A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e . T h u s , the m i l i t a r y r a m p a r t th row n up to s te m the tide o f S o v ie t e x p a n s io n is m h a s b e en g r a d u a l ly t r a n s f o r m e d into an o r g a n iz a t io n w ith an im p o rta n t and, I w ould v e n tu re to s a y , e s s e n t i a l p o l i t i c a l d im e n s io n . The c o m b in a t io n o f i t s b a s i c d e f e n s iv e m i s s i o n and a d yn a m ic p o l i t i c a l function m e a n s that the A l l i a n c e h a s at i t s d i s p o s a l a p o w e r fu l tool fo r ta c k l in g the f o r m id a b le t a s k s b e f o r e it . D ur in g the l a s t ten y e a r s w e h ave w i t n e s s e d the s t a r t of th r e e d ia lo g u e s o r n e g o t ia t io n s that h a v e g r e a t r e p e r c u s s i o n s fo r the fu tu re . Th e i n t e r - A l l i e d c o n s u lta t iv e m a c h in e r y i s e s s e n t i a l fo r each o f them .

Th e S A L T p r o c e s s , begun in the seco n d h a l f of the S ix t i e s , i s continuing a long l in e s that h a v e been extended b y d i s c u s s i o n s b e tw e e n the two s id e s - the United S ta te s and the S o v ie t Union - s in c e the in i t ia l g o a ls w e r e f ix e d . With the ex p an s io n o f th e ir s c o p e , the n e go tia t ion s in c r e a s i n g l y in v o lv e the v i t a l i n t e r e s t s of a l l m e m b e r s o f the A l l i a n c e .N ew p r o c e d u r e s h a v e to b e d ev e lo p e d and ap p lie d to e n s u r e that the i n t e r e s t s of a l l the A l l i e s a r e taken into e ven g r e a t e r ac co u n t a s the d ia lo g u e p r o c e e d s . T h e r e i s e v e r y r e a s o n to b e l i e v e that, a lthough d i f f ic u l t , th is im p o r ta n t and c o n s t r u c t iv e p r o c e s s w i l l continue and be p r o f i t a b le to us a l l .

Th e seco n d m a j o r s e r i e s of n e g o t ia t io n s m a y b r in g about s ig n i f ic a n t c h a n g e s in the m i l i t a r y s ituat io n in E u ro p e - I r e f e r , of c o u r s e , to the ta lk s on M utu al and B a la n c e d F o r c e R e d u ct io n s be ing h eld in V ie n n a . T h e s e t a lk s , w h ich a r e the o u tcom e o f an id e a put f o r w a r d by the A l l i a n c e in R e y k j a v ik in 1968, h a v e now been going on f o r so m e f iv e y e a r s . I f , a s w e hope, they le a d to an a g r e e m e n t , i t w i l l h a v e d i r e c t and in d i r e c t e f fe c t s of a p o s i t iv e kind on the su b seq u e n t c o u r s e of E a s t / W e s t r e l a t io n s . The E a s t e r n p o s it io n s a r e s t i l l m a r k e d b y o v e r ­r ig id i t y and b y a p e r s i s t e n t d e s i r e to ga in the up per hand. H o w e v e r , should t h e r e be a b re a k th ro u g h , the M B F R p r o c e s s could f u r t h e r a r a p p r o c h e m e n t b e tw e e n the two b lo c s . The r e s u l ta n t n a r r o w in g of the s p l i t in our continent w ould b e of im p o r t a n c e not only fo r E u r o p e but a l s o fo r the w o r ld a s a w hole .

The th ird g r e a t d ia log ue of our t im e in w h ich m e m b e r s of the A lta n t ic A l l i a n c e a r e p la y in g a v i t a l p a r t i s the p r o c e s s in it ia ted by the s ig n in g o f the H e ls in k i F i n a l A c t in 1975. With the s y s t e m of r e v i e w c o n f e r e n c e s and e x p e r t m e e t i n g s , too, i t i s to be hoped that in the long run i f not in the im m e d ia t e fu tu re a c l im a t e of r e a l detente w i l l one day p r e v a i l in o u r , a t p r e s e n t , th o ro u gh ly d iv id e d E u ro p e .

-4 -

T h e A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e i s f i r m l y c o m m itte d to the m a n y - f a c e t te d p r o c e s s that h a s c o m e to be known a s d etente , a lthough the w o rd c a m e r e l a t i v e l y la te into N A T O ’ s v o c a b u l a r y . It o c c u r s f i r s t in the J u n e 1967 com m u n iq u e. B u t the c on cep t of s e e k in g a b e t t e r a tm o s p h e r e in E a s t / W e s t r e la t io n s and so lu t io n s to p r o b le m s by p e a c e fu l m e a n s g o e s b a c k to the e a r l y d a y s of the o r g a n iz a t io n .I quote a t y p ic a l p a s s a g e f r o m the D e c la r a t io n i s s u e d b y the A l l i a n c e as f a r b a c k a s D e c e m b e r 1957 : “ We s e e k an end to w o r ld te n s io n , and intend to p ro m o te p e a c e , e co n o m ic p r o s p e r i t y and s o c ia l p r o g r e s s throughout the w o r l d ” . The A l l i a n c e s e e s the d etente p r o c e s s a s the e s s e n t i a l c o r o l l a r y of i t s d e fe n c e p o s tu r e . S t r e s s on d e f e n s iv e p r e p a r e d n e s s a lo n e i s in c o m p le t e , ju s t a s r e l i a n c e on a p o l ic y of d etente a lo n e w ithout m ain ta in in g a c r e d ib le d e fe n c e w ould b e fo o lh a rd y u n d e r the c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e f a c e today.

U n fo rtu n a te ly , the detente p r o c e s s to w h ich the A l l i a n c e i s c o m m itte d m e a n s d i f fe re n t th ings in E a s t and W e st . F o r the W est it m e a n s a b r e a k in g down o f a r t i f i c i a l and b u r e a u c r a t i c b a r r i e r s th ro u g h ­out the w h ole f ie ld o f hum an c o n ta c ts and t r a d e and e co n o m ic r e la t io n s .It m e a n s the r e m o v a l of o b s t a c le s in a c l im a t e of s t a b i l i ty in p o l i t i c a l r e la t io n s h ip s w h e r e the u s e o f f o r c e to s o lv e p r o b le m s h as b e en e xc lu d ed . F o r the E a s t , it h a s a m o r e l im it e d m e a n in g in the s e n s e of what the S o v ie t s c a l l “ p e a c e f u l c o e x i s t e n c e " without any abating o f the id e o lo g ic a l o f f e n s iv e on th e ir p a r t .

T h e A l l i a n c e h a s a g r e a t d e a l of u n f in ish e d w o r k b e f o r e it.It h a s ta k en us th i r ty y e a r s to c o m e to the point w h e r e w e can d i s c e r n a c e r t a in p r o m i s e o f a m o r e p e a c e f u l , a m o r e s ta b le w o r ld w ithout, h o w e v e r , a s y e t b e in g a b le to s a y that the r e s u l t s a r e n e a r at hand.T h e A l l i a n c e h a s , h o w e v e r , p r o v e d d uring the th ir ty y e a r s of i t s e x is te n c e that it can b r in g to g e th e r and c o n c e n tra te the f o r w a r d - lo o k in g thinking of 15 n a t io n s . It h a s p r o v e d a g a in and a g a in that it can adapt i t s e l f to new c i r c u m s t a n c e s and new op p o rtu n it ie s .

P r e d ic t i n g w hat the fu tu re w i l l hold i s not a p a r t i c u l a r l y f r u i t fu l u n d e rta k in g e s p e c i a l l y in to d a y ’ s w o r ld w h e r e e v e n ts c ro w d one upon the o ther w ith g r e a t f o r c e and f re q u e n c y . E v e n in the fe w m on ths of 1979 that h a v e so f a r run th e ir c o u r s e , the c r u s h of d i s t u r b a n c e s , a l l of w h ic h h a v e im p l i c a t io n s to a g r e a t e r or l e s s e r d e g r e e fo r the m e m b e r s of the A l l i a n c e , h a v e p ro d u c e d new c h a l le n g e s a s w e l l a s new d a n g e r s . In such c i r c u m s t a n c e s , the opportun ity to e x ch a n g e v i e w s , pool in fo r m a t io n and c o m e to co m m o n p e r c e p t io n s , a p r o c e s s fo r w hich the N orth A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e i s e m in en t ly s u i t a b le , r e p r e s e n t s a m o s t im p o rta n t a s s e t f o r the A l l i a n c e g o v e rn m e n t s .

It i s not on ly a m a t t e r o f good lu c k that our t h i r t y - y e a r old A l l i a n c e con t in ues to d ev e lo p i t s e l f a s a fo ru m fo r m e e t in g the c h a l le n g e s o f the f u t u r e , nor that it d o e s so w ith a v ig o u r not often s ee n in hum an

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g ro u p in g s of such a g e . It i s r a t h e r the m a t u r e r e a l i z a t io n o f our g o v e rn m e n t s that they h a ve in the A l l i a n c e som eth in g o f in e s t im a b le v a lu e . N A T O is an e x p r e s s io n o f the in te rd e p e n d e n c e that i s the in e s c a p a b le c o n c lu s io n of our t im e s . It a l s o r e p r e s e n t s the re c o g n it io n of the s t re n g th g iv e n to each one of our c o u n tr ie s th rough a com m on h e r i t a g e , b a s e d on t ru e d e m o c r a c y and f r e e in st itu tio n s through w hich our p eo p le can e x p r e s s t h e m s e lv e s . Our c i t iz e n s h a v e m a d e the c h o ic e , c o n s ta n t ly , and indeed v e r y r e c e n t ly r e a f f i r m e d , that they v a lu e the a s s o c ia t i o n o f th e s e 15 nations o f o u rs a s an en h an cem en t of the in d iv id u a l s t r e n g th s of th e ir c o u n tr ie s and a s a fo c u s fo r ac t io n in the d i f f ic u l t w o r k of im p r o v in g cond itions in the w o r ld in w h ich w e m u s t l i v e and w ant to l iv e .

Our p e o p le s , through th e ir e le c te d g o v e r n m e n t s , h a v e a l s o continued to opt fo r the d i f f ic u lt ch o ic e of spending the n e c e s s a r y funds fo r d e fe n c e . E v e n with a l l the other d e s i r a b l e s o c ia l and e co n o m ic g o a ls on w h ich a n a t io n ’ s in c o m e c an be spent, th e re i s an u n d e rs ta n d in g that in th is f a s t ch an g in g , d a n g e ro u s w o r ld , the r e q u ir e m e n t s of an ad equate d e fe n c e r e m a in n e c e s s a r y . I am c on v in ced that the A l l i a n c e i s fu l ly c a p a b le of f u l f i l l in g the a s p i r a t io n s of i t s c i t iz e n s . Th e th i r ty y e a r s of the A l l i a n c e ’ s e x i s t e n c e h ave f i r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d N A T O a s the m o s t im p o rta n t in s t ru m e n t fo r p e a c e and s t a b i l i t y of the W e s te rn w o r ld .I h a v e no doubt that fo r the f o r e s e e a b l e fu tu re it w i l l r e m a i n so.

B e f o r e con c lu d in g , I should l ik e to s a y a few w o rd s about ou r h o st c o u n try , B e l g i u m . S in ce the Second W o rld W a r , B e lg i u m , m o r e than m an y o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , h as u n d e rs to o d that the fate o f n a t io n s , both g r e a t and s m a l l , of n e c e s s i t y depends on c o - o p e r a t io n and c o n c e r te d e f fo r t .B e lg i u m h as w h o le h e a r t e d ly e sp o u se d the id e a of E u ro p e a n unity and of c o - o p e r a t io n w ith N orth A m e r i c a and with our A l l ia n c e . P u r s u i t o f this c l e a r - s i g h t e d p o l ic y h as not b e en without so m e d i f f i c u l t ie s of adaptat ion .B u t th e re i s no doubt that a p o l ic y b a s e d on a b ro a d and g e n e r o u s v i s io n i s the one b e s t su ited to ou r t i m e s . On th is o c c a s io n , m a y I th e r e fo r e thank His M a je s t y , the K in g o f the B e l g i a n s , and h is G o v e rn m e n t fo r the h o s p ita l i t y shown to us d uring th e se l a s t e le v e n y e a r s and e x p r e s s m y f i r m co n v ic t io n that B e l g i u m ’ s fa i th in the A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e w i l l p r o v e a s u n sh a k a b le in the fu tu re a s it h a s b e e n in the p a s t .

/Vote : P a rt s o f this speech were d e l i v e r e d in Fren ch .

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S p e e c h b y the D e an , A m b a s s a d o r F . C a ta la n o di M e l i l l i (Italy)

T h e A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e w a s c r e a t e d in 1949, at an e x t r e m e ly d i f f ic u l t p e r io d in in te rn a t io n a l r e l a t io n s , w ith the fu n d am e n ta l a im o f g u a ra n te e in g the s e c u r i t y o f i t s E u r o p e a n and N o rth A m e r i c a n m e m b e r s and of p r e s e r v i n g w o r ld p e a c e .

H is to r y i s g a th e r in g sp eed . S in c e 1949 e v e n ts w ith f a r - re a c h in g im p l i c a t io n s h a v e w ro u gh t g r e a t c h an g e s on the in te rn a t io n a l s c e n e : the c o u n tr ie s of W e s t e r n E u ro p e h ave r i s e n a g a in f r o m the ru in s o f w a r and d ev e lo p e d th e ir e co n o m ic and s o c ia l s y s t e m s to l e v e l s n e v e r b e fo r e a c h ie v e d . The A t la n t ic a r e a a s a w h ole h a s known a p e r io d of p r o s p e r i t y , d e m o c r a t ic g row th and s o c ia l p r o g r e s s w h ich has no p r e c e d e n t in h i s t o r y . M e a n w h i le the n e w ly - in d e p e n d e n t c o u n tr ie s o r th o se w h ich w e r e on the f r in g e s o f the in te rn a t io n a l c o m m u n ity h ave now jo in e d it in e v e r i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r and a r e a c q u i r in g e v e r i n c r e a s i n g a u th o r ity . In A s i a , J a p a n h as r e s u m e d a p o l i t i c a l and e co n o m ic p o s it io n c o m m e n s u r a t e w ith i t s in f lu e n c e and s ta tu re .Within the S o c i a l i s t w o r ld , th e re h a v e been s ig n s of d i f f e r e n c e s and c o n f l ic t in g te n d e n c ie s .

In a n u tsh e l l , w e a r e fa c e d b y p r o b le m s o f i n c r e a s in gc o m p le x i t y .

Y e t the ebb and f lo w o f e ve n ts and the changing s ituat io n n o tw ith stan d in g , th e re h a s b e e n no w e a k e n in g o f the e s s e n t i a l rô le o f the A l l i a n c e a s an in s t r u m e n t fo r s e c u r i t y and p e a c e w ith in the c o n text o f E a s t / W e s t r e la t io n s w h ich , fo r th e ir p a r t a r e s t i l l o f c e n tr a l im p o r t a n c e to the conduct of w o r ld a f f a i r s .

We h a v e none o f us fo rg o tte n the v i c i s s i t u d e s w h ich h ave b e s e t th e s e r e la t io n s in the p a s t th ir ty y e a r s . A s f a r a s I am c o n c e rn e d , th e re i s no doubt at a l l that w ithout the s e c u r i t y p ro v id e d b y the A l l i a n c e , the e v e n ts o f the im m e d ia t e p o s t - w a r y e a r s would h a v e been f a r m o r e d r a m a t ic and t r a u m a t ic f o r i t s m e m b e r s . It can l ik e w is e be c la im e d that w ithout the A l l i a n c e the o th er s id e would not g r a d u a l ly h a v e r e a l i s e d that détente w a s a v a l id option o r , a s we m u s t hope, the on ly p o s s ib le option. It i s , m o r e o v e r , m y b e l i e f that it would b e d i f f ic u l t and p e r h a p s d a n g e ro u s fo r any of us to se t out s e p a r a t e ly on the ro a d to d eten te , w ithout the s e c u r i t y and c o h e s io n a f fo r d e d by the A l l i a n c e ,

D u r in g the d i f fe r e n t p h a s e s w h ich h ave m a r k e d the w o r ld p o l i t i c a l s itu at io n in g e n e r a l and E a s t / W e s t r e la t io n s in p a r t i c u l a r , the a r e a c o v e r e d b y the A l l i a n c e - w h ich in the p a s t h as been the th e a tre of c r u e l c o n f l ic t s - h a s b e c o m e a m a j o r f a c t o r fo r s ta b i l i ty , c o - o p e r a t io n and p e a c e in in te rn a t io n a l r e la t io n s a s a w hole . T h u s , t h i r t y y e a r s a f t e r the s ign in g of the W ashington T r e a t y it can be sa id , w ith l e g i t im a t e p r id e , that the A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e h as fu l ly and fa i th fu l ly c a r r i e d out the t a s k s it s e t i t s e l f .

I h a v e ju s t r e f e r r e d to the A t la n t ic a r e a a s one of u n p re c ed e n te d e c o n o m ic , s o c ia l and c i v i l p r o g r e s s . I would add that it i s a l s o a v a s t a r e a w h e r e d e m o c r a c y , f r e e d o m and deep and genuine r e s p e c t fo r hum an r ig h ts p r e v a i l . We s h a r e a c o m m o n fa ith in our p r in c ip le s and a c o m m o n d e te rm in a t io n to defend them and, though fu l ly and q u ie t ly a w a r e o f th e ir m e a n in g and i r r e p l a c e a b l e w o rth , w e do not s e t out to m a k e c o n v e r t s o r to en gage in p o le m ic s .

T o g e th e r w ith the n e ed s of our co m m o n s e c u r i t y , it i s th is v i s io n o f th ings w h ic h b in ds us to ge th e r and w h ich h a s p ro m p te d our c o u n tr ie s to d ev e lo p and im p r o v e on the f o r m s of c o - o p e ra t io n and p o l i t i c a l c o n su lta t io n b y w hich w e s e t g r e a t s to r e .

Th e A l l i a n c e h as not s u f f e r e d the fa te of other c o m p a r a b le p a c t s w h ich w e r e fo r m e d in the f a c e of an o u ts id e th r e a t , but w hich w e r e then a l lo w e d to la p s e o r w e r e abandoned b e c a u s e of d i f f ic u l t ie s and d iv e r g e n c ie s ; th is i s due, in m y opinion, to the c l e a r - s i g h t e d n e s s o f th o se who w e r e ab le to in c o r p o r a t e in the W ashington T r e a t y a d im e n s io n w h ich went beyond the p u r e ly m i l i t a r y and o f th o se who su b se q u e n tly w e r e a b le to a d ju s t the m a c h in e r y and r u le s of the A l l ia n c e to the ch an g in g r e q u ir e m e n t s of an in te rn a t io n a l s itu at io n , w h ich bro ught out the v a lu e of e x te n s iv e and f a r - r a n g i n g p o l i t i c a l c o n su lta t io n .

L ik e a l l l iv in g th in g s , the w o r ld h as b e c o m e a m o r e c o m p le x p la c e .

New p r o b le m s h ave e m e r g e d , e n m e sh e d and l inked with one a n o th er in w a y s w h ich could h a r d ly h ave been f o r e s e e n th i r ty y e a r s a go . T h is b e in g s o , the p ro m p t e xch an ge of in fo rm a t io n and a s s e s s m e n t s , the p oo ling o f id e a s , the s e a r c h - when n e c e s s a r y - fo r c o n c e r t e d v ie w s a r e both le g i t im a t e and n e c e s s a r y to an A l l ia n c e w hich d oes not w ish to b e , cannot b e , a m e r e in s t ru m e n t of m i l i t a r y s e c u r i t y . We a l l know the l im it s of A t la n t ic p o l i t i c a l c o n su lta t io n . We a l l know that the A l l i a n c e i s not, and d oes not w is h to b e , a s u p r a - n a t io n a l body, that i t d oes not w is h to a c t a s a m o n o l ith ic f o r c e v i s - à - v i s the ou ts id e w o r ld and i t s own m e m b e r s . We a l l know what i s m e a n t by f r e e , equa l and s o v e r e ig n c o u n tr ie s and a r e a l l a w a r e of the r e c i p r o c a l r e s p e c t which m u s t be shown in ta c k l in g i s s u e s a r i s i n g out of nation a l v ie w s and i n t e r e s t s w hich do not a lw a y s , o r n e c e s s a r i l y , c o n v e r g e . L i k e w i s e , w e a r e a l l a w a r e that it i s in our com m on in t e r e s t to c a p i t a l iz e on the a s s e t s r e p r e s e n t e d b y the ra n g e of p o s i t io n s , m eth o d s and p o s s ib i l i t i e s o f m e m b e r c o u n tr ie s . B u t w e m u s t a l s o a d m it that without f r a n k p o l i t i c a l co n su lta t io n , in the c o u r s e of w h ich e ac h m e m b e r coun try c an put f o r w a r d i t s own v ie w s and l e a r n those of the o t h e r s , a fund am enta l d im e n s io n o f the A l l i a n c e w ould be lo s t and A t la n t ic s o l id a r i t y , so n e c e s s a r y to the c o m m o n i n t e r e s t , would b e w o rth v e r y l i t t le .

T h e A l l i a n c e h as a c h ie v e d i t s a im without in any w a y lo s in g i t s r e l e v a n c e .

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In d i f f ic u l t t i m e s , when w o r ld a f f a i r s a r e b e c o m in g in c r e a s i n g l y c o m p le x and when new p r o b le m s a r e a p p e a r in g w h ile the o ld e r on es s u b s i s t , the A l l i a n c e s t i l l h a s i t s p a r t to p la y , n a m e ly , to s a fe g u a r d the s e c u r i t y o f i t s m e m b e r s and to co n tr ib u te to the c r e a t io n o f a p e a c e fu l c l im a t e throughout the w o r ld .

T h i s , I b e l i e v e , i s the m e s s a g e , the im a g e w h ich w e m u s t ge t a c r o s s to d ay , th ir ty y e a r s a f t e r the s ign in g of the W ashington T r e a t y , to the w o r ld at la!rge and, ab o v e a l l , to the g e n e r a l public in our own c o u n t r ie s : the i m a g e i s o f f i f te en d e m o c r a t ic c o u n tr ie s l in k e d b y a co m m o n d e s i r e to l i v e in p e a c e , r e s p e c t f u l of o th e r s but in s i s t in g on r e s p e c t f o r th e ir own r i g h t s , f r e e d o m s and p r i n c i p l e s , p r o s p e r o u s but not e g o c e n t r ic , s t r o n g but not a g g r e s s i v e , e v e r open, on the c o n t r a r y , to d i s c u s s i o n w ith a l l o th er c o u n tr ie s and r e a d y in an a t m o s p h e r e o f s e c u r i t y and s o l id a r i t y to t r e a d the path of p e a c e .

N ote : The a b o v e s p e e c h w a s d e l iv e r e d in F ren ch .

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M e s s a g e r e a d on b e h a l f of the P r é s i d e n t d ’honneur o f the C o u n c i l , the R t . Hon. D r . D a v id Owen, S e c r e t a r y o f S ta te

fo r F o r e i g n and C o m m o n w ea lth A f f a i r s of the United K ingd om r e a d b y S i r Jo h n K i l l i c k , (K C M G ),

P e r m a n e n t R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the United K in g d o m

D e a r M r . S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l ,

T h i r t y y e a r s ago the N o rth A t la n t ic T r e a t y w a s s ign e d in W ashington and the N orth A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e c a m e into b e in g .

T h o s e th i r ty y e a r s h a ve se e n g r e a t c h a n g e s in m o s t p a r t s of the w o r ld , o ften a c c o m p a n ie d b y u n r e s t , v io le n c e and s u f fe r in g .B u t w ith in the N orth A t la n t ic a r e a th ey h a ve be en , to a d e g r e e a lm o s t u n p re c e d e n te d in our h i s t o r y , y e a r s of p e a c e , in w h ich the v a lu e s w e s h a r e - d e m o c r a c y , in d iv id u a l l ib e r t y and the ru le of law - h ave f lo u r i s h e d and h a v e sunk th e ir ro o ts d e e p e r into ou r s o c ie t i e s . T h e s e y e a r s h a v e s e e n the A l l i a n c e b ro a d e n i t s f i e ld of a c t iv i t y beyond d e fe n ce to the a c t iv e and in t e n s iv e s e a r c h fo r a s a f e r and m o r e s ta b le r e la t io n ­ship w ith ou r E a s t e r n n e ig h b o u rs . N A TO r e m a i n s not only the in d i s p e n s a b le b a s i s of ou r s e c u r i t y , but the e s s e n t i a l p la t fo r m fo r our e f f o r t s o v e r the w h ole f ie ld of d eten te , inc lud in g i t s hum an d im en s io n , a s w e l l a s the c r u c i a l a r e a of a r m s c o n tro l and d is a r m a m e n t .

Th e c h a l le n g e s fa c in g N A T O , both m i l i t a r y and p o l i t ic a l , show no s ig n of d im in ish in g . A t l a s t y e a r ’ s W ashington S u m m it the A l l i a n c e d e m o n s t r a te d that it h a s the w i l l to m e e t the d em an d s of e f f e c t iv e d e fe n c e in the 1980s. T h is i s e s s e n t i a l but it i s not enough by i t s e l f . We a l s o h a v e to f a c e the c h a l le n g e of what i s c a l le d b y so m e the “ id e o lo g ic a l s t r u g g l e ” , but what w e p r e f e r to r e g a r d a s p e a c e fu l c o m p e t it io n and in t e r p la y o f id e a s w ith in the f r a m e w o r k of détente .Our s u c c e s s w i l l depend on the v ig o u r of our d e m o c r a t ic in s t i tu t io n s , the h ea lth of our e co n o m ic and s o c ia l s y s t e m s , and the extent to w hich w e continue to w o r k and c o n su lt to g e th e r , a s A l l i e s and a s p a r t n e r s . N A T O h a s the f l e x ib i l i t y and the s t r e n g th of p u rp o s e to m e e t a l l of th e se c h a l le n g e s and I can co n f id e n tly w is h it a fu tu re w o rth y o f i t s p as t .

F i n a l l y , I am s u r e that a l l m y N A T O c o l le a g u e s would w is h m e , a s th is y e a r ’ s H o n o ra ry P r e s i d e n t of the N orth A t la n t ic C o uncil , not to l e t th is o c c a s io n p a s s w ithout p ay in g a t r ib u te to you p e r s o n a l l y , M r . S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l , and to y o u r s ta f f . We a l l a p p r e c ia t e how m u ch w e owe to the d ed ica t io n and s k i l l w h ich you b r in g to y o u r ta s k , on w h ic h the e f f e c t i v e n e s s and sm ooth running of the A l l i a n c e so g r e a t ly depend. Our thanks a r e due a l s o to the B e lg i a n G o v e rn m e n t fo r the g e n e r o s i t y and h o s p ita l i t y w h ich th ey continue to show to the A l l ia n c e .

D A VID OW EN

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A d d r e s s b y the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the h o st c o u n try (B e lg iu m ) A m b a s s a d o r Constant S ch u u r m a n s

T h e th ir t ie th A n n i v e r s a r y o f the A t la n t ic A l l i a n c e p r o v id e s an op p ortun ity to r e f l e c t on the co m m o n d e s t in y o f the f i f te e n m e m b e r c o u n tr ie s .

T h e l e s s o n s o f the p a s t h ave m a d e th e s e c o u n tr ie s a c u te ly a w a r e o f th e i r c o m m o n c iv i l iz a t io n , w h ich i s founded on r e s p e c t fo r in d iv id u a l l ib e r t y , d e m o c r a c y and the ru le of la w , and h a v e c a u s e d them to jo in to g e th e r to s a fe g u a r d m o r e e f f e c t i v e ly the id e a ls they s h a r e .

In the P r e a m b l e to the N orth A t la n t ic T r e a t y , the A l l i e s p r o c la im e d th e i r r e s o l v e to p ro m o te p e a c e and w e l l - b e in g am ong th e ir p e o p le s .

Th e A l l i a n c e h as s u c c e s s f u l l y a d ju s te d to the often ra p id and s o m e t im e s r a d i c a l c h a n g e s that h a v e o c c u r r e d in in te rn a t io n a l r e l a t io n s , but w ithout e v e r lo s in g s igh t of i t s b a s i c o b je c t iv e s . T h is s t r e n g th of p u r p o s e h a s p r e s e r v e d and v i t a l i s e d the b a s ic s o l id a r i t y o f i t s m e m b e r s .

Th e q u e st fo r p e a c e and s e c u r i t y — a im s which the A l l ia n c e w a s set up to a c h ie v e —h a s found p r a c t i c a l e x p r e s s i o n in the twofold c o n c e p t o f d e fe n c e and detente .

T h e A l l i a n c e h a s not a l lo w e d i t s e l f to g iv e w a y to f e a r and h as r e c o g n iz e d the c h a n g e s that h a v e o c c u r r e d in the in te rn a t io n a l s ituation s in c e i t s in cep t io n . It h as tu rn e d to good acco u n t the tr e n d s that h ave e m e r g e d in the E a s t and h a s e m b a r k e d on the p r o c e s s of détente in an e n e r g e t i c , a lb e i t c a u t io u s s p i r i t . It h as f re q u e n t ly taken the in i t ia t iv e in the a r m s c o n tro l s p h e r e . T hro ugh out th e s e e f f o r t s , i t h a s su c c e e d e d in evad in g the p i t f a l l s both of undue o p t im ism and of d i s t r u s t .

W hile a v a i l in g t h e m s e lv e s of e v e r y opportunity to im p r o v e r e la t io n s w ith the E a s t , the A l l i e s h ave none the l e s s continued to look to th e ir own s e c u r i t y . A t no point h a v e they g iv e n w a y to the i l lu s io n that it i s enough to d e s i r e p e a c e fo r i t to be a c h ie v e d , nor h ave they e v e r lo w e r e d th e ir g u a rd , w h a te v e r m ig h t be the h op es of detente.

On th is A n n i v e r s a r y , i t i s r ig h t and f itt ing that w e should thus p a y tr ib u te to the q u a l i t ie s and s u c c e s s e s o f the A l l ia n c e .

B u t th e s e s u c c e s s e s m a k e a dem and on us fo r the fu ture .J u s t a s w e owe our p a s t and p r e s e n t a c h ie v e m e n ts to A l l i e d s o l id a r i t y , so th is s a m e s o l id a r i t y i s v i t a l i f w e a r e to m e e t the c h a l le n g e s of to m o rr o w .

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T h e A l l i e s ’ p r im e duty i s s t i l l to s t r i v e u n r e m it t in g ly to p r e s e r v e and d ev e lo p the m a n y t i e s that unite th em . It i s the co m m o n i n t e r e s t that m u s t p r e v a i l .

B u t s o l id a r i t y am ong f r e e and s o v e r e ig n A l l i e s p r e s u p p o s e s c o n s u lta t io n s and a f r a n k and continuing d ia lo g u e .

T h e s c o p e , g r a v i t y and v a r i e t y o f the m a n y p r o b le m s that now h a v e to b e f a c e d th r o ughout the w o r ld a r e such that c o n s u lta t io n s a r e to d ay m o r e n e c e s s a r y than e v e r fo r a l l the m e m b e r c o u n tr ie s .

T h e v a lu e , and p e r h a p s e ven the d e c i s i v e n e s s , o f the A l l i a n c e ’ s c o n tr ib u tio n to p e a c e and in te rn a t io n a l u n d e rs ta n d in g w i l l depend on the exten t to w h ic h i t s m e m b e r s h ave jo in t ly and a c c u r a t e ly d i s c e r n e d the r e a l i t i e s w ith w h ic h they a r e co n fro n te d . T h e d e c i s io n s taken b y the A l l i e d c o u n tr ie s w i l l a f f e c t the fu tu re of h u m an ity not only in the p o l i t i c a l and m i l i t a r y s p h e r e s ; they m u s t c o n c e rn th e m s e lv e s w ith m u c h m o r e than th is and d e a l w ith e c o n o m ic , te c h n o lo g ic a l and s c ie n t i f i c i s s u e s . W e r e th ey to do o t h e r w is e , the A l l i a n c e would u l t im a t e ly f a i l in i t s p r i m a r y ta s k w hich i s , and m u s t continue to be , the p r e s e r v a t i o n o f ou r p e o p l e s ’ p e a c e and w e l l - b e in g .

It i s s o m e t im e s s a id that th i r ty y e a r s a r e the span of a g e n e ra t io n . A s the A l l i a n c e c e l e b r a t e s th is A n n i v e r s a r y , B e lg i u m , a s N A T O ’ s h o st c o u n try , w i s h e s to e x p r e s s i t s co n f id e n ce that it w i l l continue to w o r k fo r the a c h ie v e m e n t of i t s o b je c t iv e s .

N o te : The a b o v e s p e e c h w a s d e l iv e r e d in F ren ch .

IN FORMAT I O N DIRECTORATE

NATO - 1110 BRUSSELS

BELGIUM