The Kosovo crisis has burdened our relationship, but that does not change the fact that we need Russia to establish long-term stability in Europe. Nor does it change the fact that Russia's own future lies in close cooperation with the West. Russia's active role in the current diplomatic efforts indicates that Russia agrees with this assessment and wants to be part of the solution. The challenges of the 21st century will be tackled by a new Atlantic community, with a closely associated democratic Russia. Perhaps they will approach the problems of this world in a different way.
Every generation looks at things in new ways.
But I am certain that when it comes to the difficult challenge of maintaining peace and stability, these future leaders, too, will find that they need a moral compass on which to base their policies. And they, too, will realise that this Atlantic Alliance remains a most precious asset. Indeed, the unification of Germany within the Alliance has demonstrated this close link yet again. To him, there was never any doubt that NATO was about values. Sooner than most he argued for the Alliance to open its doors to new members, because he knew that the new democracies to NATO's East shared these Atlantic values.