It is a privilege for me to address this distinguished seminar. It is a useful opportunity to take stock of where we have got to with Partnership for Peace. The July Summit will chart the Alliance's course into the next century.
Preparations are now in full swing.
This is only natural, as is the high level of attention given to our current efforts at forging a lasting and durable relationship with Russia. But the Summit's real significance goes far beyond identifying new members or getting the NATO-Russia relationship right. It will mark the culmination of years of NATO's reform, resulting in a new NATO - a NATO with a military structure matching the full range of our new missions. One significant feature of the new structure is that it will reflect a stronger European responsibility. It will also be much more capable of cooperating with Partners.