EUROPE IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania, delivered this speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., on October 21st, 1998.

Europe is an unfinished business. Appraising the recent political developments on the European continent, one has to admit that this statement particularly applies to Lithuania and the other Baltic States. During her post-Madrid trip to Vilnius in 1997, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright clearly stated that Europe is not secure unless the Baltic States are secure. I do endorse a reciprocal link here, as we, the Balts, can build our security only within a stable and open European environment.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt has once labeled the Baltic States as a litmus test for European security, Western determination and Russian position. At that time, it was very much related to Russian troops still present in Estonia and Latvia. Today the situation is very much different. However, today we still find ourselves in the center of political debate among major powers.

The ongoing NATO enlargement and invitation of the three applicant countries to join the Alliance have advanced the "unfinished European business" closer to its completion. Yet the process should continue further and must not be exchanged for a tempting complacency with current achievements. The case brings to mind the choice of a wise businessman to invest instead of consuming his short-term profits. A series of summits planned for the next year will have much to do with running the European security business in a positive direction – NATO and the U.S. – EU [European Union] summits, just to mention a few. Should they fix the agenda, it would guarantee an eventual return in terms of stability, prosperity and development.

On the other hand, we do acknowledge that the package of the next year summits and new treaties should map the Alliance’s path towards the new century without depriving the organization of its flexibility to move forward and to accommodate to present day realities. The enlargement has to affirm its process-prone nature, which would be of benefit to all countries involved, the Baltic States among them.

Regions and countries are diverse, and perhaps the Alliance’s future decisions on NATO expansion will be driven by different arguments. We claim therefore that the two-dimensional Northern-Southern expansion balances out the differences. Lithuania and Slovenia, the two countries representing the northern and southern flanks of the enlargement areas, share an important principal feature. They are two small, non-problematic applicants who make apparently a minor difference to the Alliance to incorporate them, but who make an essential difference tot he countries still on the waiting list to start negotiations on NATO membership.

You may possibly ask: how does Lithuania perceive itself in the current Euro-Atlantic context? What role will it play on the grand Euro-Atlantic chessboard? Lithuania faces the task to become part of a broader regional and international agenda, which I would call as determining our survival. Only the acquired quality of active and responsible participation in the global community affairs will help us voice our problems. I believe there is little argument for NATO to exclude securing parts of Europe, which through practical preparation and good neighborly relations have coped with their problems.

There is no doubt that co-existence of nations and effective co-operation among neighboring countries has a great influence on the security and stability in our continent. Being fully aware of the importance of successful development of bilateral relations, Lithuania pays a particular attention to maintaining a constructive and continuous dialogue with all its neighbors.

Mr. Brzezinski claims that "European security is the basis for European reconciliation", and vice versa. I should stress that we feel very much the same way. The unprecedented Lithuanian-Polish rapprochement has actually established the basis for our security. We have also witnessed the impact of good Lithuanian-Polish relations on the increasing stabilization of the general situation in the region.

Close relations between Lithuania and Poland have gradually transformed into a strategic partnership. Joint Lithuanian-Polish institutions were established at the government and parliamentary levels, allowing the representatives of the two countries to discuss all important matters on a regular basis. Both Lithuania and Poland expressed their readiness to contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in Europe by establishing a joint peacekeeping unit, LITPOLBAT. We also cooperate closely in promoting the democratic processes and stability in the neighboring countries to us.

There is, of course, a package of issues, which still demands a comprehensive solution. Yet I always remind critics the words of President Aleksandr Kwasniewski, said in Vilnius a couple of years ago: "There will be no secure Lithuania without secure Poland." Likewise Poland cannot be secure without secure Lithuania. Therefore we spare no effort to promote our partnership. I am pleased to tell you that my route to Washington went via Warsaw, where I had a short stop and a dinner with my good friend President Kwasniewski to share our views on international issues and further cooperation. You may accept it as a good illustration of a cooperation pattern established between our nations; which, I believe will positively influence current developments in our region and Europe.

You may place a follow-up question: what are your relations with Russia? All would agree that the invitation of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland to join NATO has not worsened their relations with Russia. I believe our case will be a similar one. There is little reason to argue that good relations with Russia cannot be reconciled with our membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, and I personally always pursue this argument.

I have always maintained that present fears of Russia stem mostly from psychological background and outdated stereotypes. Stepping over such stereotypes would facilitate overcoming a number of problems. I do sincerely believe that the generation to come will be free of the stereotypes that for fifty years guided their predecessors. Then, It will be firmly established that the Baltic States are an integral part of Europe.

The crisis in Russia has clearly demonstrated that Lithuania stands "on the other bank of the river". Although trade with Russia, which accounts for 20 percent of the total turnover, was influenced by economic turmoil in Russia, our national economy has retained its vitality. Inflation has reached the lowest level since 1991 and will most probably remain under 6 percent this year. Most importantly, Lithuania’s financial system remains stable. This year alone, Lithuania received USD 500 million in foreign direct investments. I think that these and other indicators demonstrate a healthy status of our economy and its good prospects.

There are many important factors by the virtue of which we, Lithuanians, de facto belong to a different reality – the reality dominated by NATO and based on the unity of universal values. It is sufficient to mention our active participation in the PfP activities and numerous exercises on the Lithuanian soil, such as the recent Baltic Challenge ’98 exercises in Lithuania’s seaport Klaipeda; our intensive dialogue with NATO on a variety of issues pertaining to future membership; the development of defense structures tailored after the Western model; the lead in the Planning and Review Process while seeking interoperability with allied forces and our active participation in NATO-led peace operations in Europe. These small but concrete steps establish an underlying network that glues us back to the once-broken European mosaic.

The U.S. policy towards Europe in the forthcoming year shall put forward a question of how to make a Lithuania a jewel in it. I want to believe that the jewelers will carefully and with precision perform their state-of-the-art work. Making a European crown of security is a puzzling issue, and once you miss even a small piece, you will never be able to bring the picture to its completeness.