remarks

NATO, the Czech Republic and the Mission in Afghanistan
(Ambassador Graber for Právo, November 24, 2006)

The longer I have been in the Czech Republic the more I appreciate how, in a relatively short period, your society has been able to transform from a centrally administered totalitarian regime into a vibrant democracy and thriving economy.  “Prague” has also become synonymous with another transformation of great importance to the freedom and security of our nations, The Prague Summit.  

Meeting in Prague in November 2002, NATO heads of state and government opened a new chapter in the Alliance’s history. They welcomed seven new members and approved a package of measures aimed at ensuring that NATO had the tools it needs to meet the profound security challenges facing Europe and North America in the 21st Century.

The Prague Summit also affirmed a new and essential understanding, shared among all 26 NATO allies, that if we want to be safe at home, we must be ready to deliver security and security training abroad.  As nations and allies, it is our responsibility to respond to needs with concrete acts. Thus, over the past 18 months, NATO has deployed fifty thousand professional soldiers in operations on four continents.

From Kosovo, to Afghanistan, to disaster relief in Pakistan, and the United States, each mission has aided civilians and promoted stability in regions of vital importance to Europe and North America.  The Czech Republic plays an active role in this transformation.  Czech troops are serving with distinction in Afghanistan and elsewhere and your nuclear, biological and chemical weapons defense expertise is recognized by all. 

Afghanistan is now NATO's top priority and one of the greatest challenges of its 57-year history.  The Alliance that helped bring down the Berlin Wall is now on the frontlines of a struggle every bit as important: defeating a resurgent Taliban and supporting the development of a free, democratic, and economically viable Afghanistan.

The mission in Afghanistan reveals, however, that the work begun in Prague four years ago is not yet complete.  When NATO heads of state and government meet in Riga, November 27-29, practical management of the transformation will be at the center of their agenda.  This will include an assessment of the readiness of the new NATO Response Force; strategic airlift; more commonly funded assets; improved coordination of Special Operations Forces; and a more global and flexible approach to NATO’s partnerships, one that recognizes the real contribution of our democratic partners, like Australia and New Zealand.

Experience in Afghanistan highlights the need to work in more effective coordination with non- members and other international organizations – the UN, the EU, and the African Union – as well as with development providers working in areas were we are operational.   There is simply no security without development and no development without security.

The strength of the Alliance continues to derive from its members’ joint political and military strength.  In this regard, I want to underscore the message of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, that in order to provide for the collective security of Europe and North America, each ally must make good its financial commitment to sustain the military professionals who carry out this vital work.  During his recent visit to Prague, the Secretary General correctly praised Czech contributions to NATO operations, but he also delivered the serious and disturbing message that planned budget cuts here and in other capitals would hurt NATO’s effectiveness. He called on the leadership of the Czech Republic to honor its pledge to spend two per cent of GDP on defense.  The transformation and readiness of NATO is inextricably tied to the sustained, equitable contributions of its 26 members.  Given the complex challenges of safeguarding the freedom and security of NATO member countries in the 21st Century, every commitment is vital.

To Czech military professionals and their families, I would like to stress my country’s appreciation for the skills, dedication, service and sacrifice you bring to each NATO mission.  At the heart of our Transatlantic alliance is the belief that a common security framework is essential to safeguarding the freedoms and values that sustain our nations’ progress.  The United States looks forward to working with the Czech Republic and other allies, at Riga and beyond, to ensure that NATO is ready and able to meet the challenges we may face in the future.