Much has already been said about the significance of this initiative. Let me only note that the recent decision by neutral Switzerland to join the programme is perhaps the best testimony to the story of PfP s success. The Partnership has indeed become a significant element of the Euro-Atlantic security system, one that fits the needs and interests of all states which have chosen to take part in it, regardless of their aspirations and the nature of their national security policies. However, the history of Europe has tremendously accelerated in the last decade of this century. In many respects, we live on a continent different from that of 1991, when the NACC was established, and even from that of 1994, when the PfP was launched.
New times call for new ideas.
We believe that the initiative to establish the Atlantic Partnership Council is an important and timely step in this direction. We look forward to working with other NATO and Partner states on the further elaboration and implementation of this idea. We appreciate the results of our dialogue with the Alliance and we are glad that NATO has decided to continue the dialogue in the coming months. We wish to commence it as soon as possible. Chairman, The IFOR operation has clearly demonstrated the evolution of NATO s role in the system of European security, from a purely defensive alliance toward a guarantor and projector of stability and security beyond the Washington Treaty area.