Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me first to express my thanks for the opportunity to present the foreign
policy orientation of the Czech Republic at an institute so renowned in European
politcs and political science. At the same time, I would like to remind you that
France was one of the states that contributed decisively to Czechoslovak
Independence after the year 1918, and that the Czechs have not forgotten that fact.
Today's Czech Republic values highly this tradition of friendship and alliance.
This occasion is all the more welcome because it follows the intensive talks I
had with my colleague Mr. Alain Juppe, and it also comes after the recent visit to
France of Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. These contacts confirm that France,
in keeping with its role in the today's world, and in Europe specifically, has not lost
interest in the region of Central Europe.
I would like to use this occasion to acquaint you, two years after the founding
of the independent Czech state, with the philosophy behind our reform and the
priorities of Czech foreign policy arising from it.
It is the nature of the media to fill their front pages mostly with news about
trouble-makers and crisises. News about the Czech Republic in the past two years
has appeared only sporadically, and then usually on the business pages. We are not
complaining. On the contrary! Nevertheless, we realize that - to quote the words of
your colleague, the politicist Helee Carrere d'Encausse - the Czech Republic as a
stable democracy and dependable political and economic partner in the centre of
Europe "does not need to make headlines, but has to remain on the agenda".
Of course, even the first concrete rasults of our reforms inspire us with a
csrtain sober optimism. The Czech economy shows macroeonomic stability,
unemployment is very low, the market has been liberalized, privatization is drawing
to a close and re-orientation of exports to advanced European and world markets
has been successful.
But the most important fact is that Czech society has never ceased to identify
itself with the fundamental philosophy of the reforms, despite all the difficulties the
economic transformation has brought. The ethos of the economic transformation
that has been embarked upon has shifted the centre of the life of society from its
collectivist.past to individuals - free citizens fully responsible for their own fate and
for the future of the society in which they live.
Success of reforms depends above all on the ability and wiliingness of the
majority of the population to orient themselves in the new situation, to identify with
the philosophy and the progress of reforms and to take an active part in the process.
I am glad that the Czech govemment has been able to count on the willingness and
trust of the citizens, and I hope that it will be the case in the future as well.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I emphasize the philosophy of our reforms because it has also become the
basis of the orientation of our foreign policy. We are convinced that like each
individual in society, the state should build up its international position among
other states above all by its efforts at home. Thus the before mentioned philosophy
also inspires the positions of the Czech Republic in all its foreign policy priorities: the
approach to European integration and regional cooperation, and issues of national
and European security.
It will certainly not surprise you if I confirm that integration of the Czech
Republic into the European Union remains one of the main objectives of Czech
foreign policy. This goal follows from the fact that with the exception of the four
postwar decades, the Czech Lands have always been geopolitically, historically and
spiritually part of Westem culture. The "retum to Europe" has from the beginning
been an election pledge of the Czech government that has the full support of most
voters, even thougrh they are aware that certain sacrifices will have to be made
along the way.
Our sober pro-European orientation is based on the civic principle, which I
have already mentioned. I think that before starting to knock on the door of Europe,
we will have to tully prepare for our entry. More important than speculations about
when to submit our candidature is the work in the economic, political and legislative
spheres, which must be done at home. It is our own effort that is of decisive
importance. Therefore, I never fail to stress that a country is not admitted among
the advanced countries, unless a country becomes advanced.
On the basis of the progress of the reforms in the Czech Republic, we expect
that we will not be entering the European Union as a passive recipient of various
funds and subsidies, but as a stable and possibly prosperous country that the other
members of the Union will consider a useful partner in both political and economic
matters. We are convinced that we will be ready in a few years time. We believe we
will submit our application before the intergovenmental conference scheduled for
1996.
But the expansion of the European Union also calls for thorough preparation
on the part of the EU. And it is in the context of the reflection on the optimum future
face of the European Union, which is expected to culminate at that conference.
that we deem it useful to present our own views in the discussion, to emphasize
what we consider important, to point out some of our unique historical experiences.
This should in no way be perceived as an expression of doubts about the viability of
European institutions or as an effort to weaken the trend of European integration.
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Today as Europeans, we would appreciate an intensification of the
political dialogue regarding our common future, particularly in preparations for the
intergovernmental conference, which is schedualed to start next year. This would raise the
relationship between the countries of the European Union and the countries of
Central and Eastem Europe to the level of real partnership. This would help remove
mutual stereotypes and misunderstandings. In addition to this it would also prove that the European Union is truly serious about its expansion.
In recent weeks we have witnessed the first signs of French and German
efforts to specify how the European Union would institutionally bring into harmony
the processes of intensification and expansion of integration. The vague idea of
Europe modelled after the principles of "geometrie variable" has thus once again come
into the forefront. It would be premature to comment on these thoughts before they
take on a more concrete and less sketchy form. It is obvious, however, that they are
based on effors to assess the abilities of each member country and applicant for
membership. In this respect we understand them. At the same time, we believe that,
regardless of partnership with the countries that will not become members of the
Union; this concept does not in any way create a new institutional division of Europe.
I have mentioned these issues as examples of the echnomic and political
problems which should, in my opinion, become a topic of the intensified dialogue I
have already mentioned.
Ladies and gentlemen,
An essential part of the European integration of the Czech Republic is its
incorporation into the European and transatlantic security structures.
Our analysis of the current national and European security situation is based
on our specfic historical experience. From the traumas of our history, we have
gained the dearly paid-for knowledge that our sovereign national existence cannot
be ensured by relying exclusivaly on foreign help. That is why in the unstable
situation, which has arisen in Europe afer the end of the Cold War, we emphasize
above all the building and strengthening our own defensive capacity, in the military
and also the political and psychologicai sense.
This means among other things that we are aware of the vital need to anchor
our republic in a wider military and security alliance with the countries that share our
values and our interest in the security and stability of the European continent. The
North Atlantic Treaty Organization is the natural point of intersection to such
relations. The Czech govemment is backed in the efort of joining NATO by a vast
majority of the population, as well as the political parties.
Our interest in the Atlantic alliance is primarily dictated by our determination to
share and to defend our common heritage. From our own historical experienoe we
know that the transatlantic bond has always proved essential for the enduring
security of Europe. We do not want to passively ensure for ourselves some type of
secure haven.
It is no acddent that the Czech Republic has sent 1,000 soldiers as part of
the UNPROFOR peace mission to the territory of the former Yugoslavia. I would like
to say how highly we appreciate in this context the initiative and devotion shown by
France in coping with the situation in the Balkan Peninsula.
Although we are convinced that enduring and effective European security
involves American presence on the Old Continent, we realize at the same time that
European security must remain predominantly the business of us, Europeans. In our
view, both dimensions of European security complement each other, and we
therefore welcome the pragmatic approach to NATO that has recently prevailed in
France. That attitude corresponds to France's position in Europe and in the world.
The Czech Republic appreciates the possibility of intensifying military
cooperation with the emerg:ng pillar of European security via its associated status in
the WEU. We believe that not only the political extent but also the real extent of that
cooperation will grow.
As far as the prospect of our membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization is concerned, we realize here, that certain minimum conditions
should be fulfilled on both sides. On our part, we are trying to fulfill the political,
organizatlonal and technical conditions as soon as possible. That is why we were
among the first to welcome the Partnership for Peace as an ideal, adaptable and
individualized concept, facilitating gradual political and military rapprochement
between the Czech Republic and NATO.
We are convinced that the extension of the zone of stability that our entry into
NATO will bring about is not only in the interest of the Czech Republic but also in the
interest of all of Europe and all members of the Alliance. And we would regard it as
an outright threat to the future of European democracy and stability if any third
country had a veto over our membership.
L.adies and gentlemen,
In condusion, I would like to say a few words about the relations between the
Czech Republic and France.
We are pleased that at pnesent we can witness certain intensification of our
bilateral relations, not only in view of the existing tradition, but also because in
present-day Europe, marked by the ongoing re-definition of the priorities of
American foreign policy and the growing importance of Germany, we are also
interested in preserving the equilibrium and the dynamics of European politics,
enforced by, among other things, the post-war relation between Germany and
France.
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We particularly appreciate the fact that our, at times, somewhat different points
of view express shared or dosely related political interests of both parties, and thus
comprise a common opinion on the basic issues of Europe's present and future. The
current talks confirm our conviction that the French approach to the expansion of the
European Union and of NATO is as open and active as the German one.
Regular political contacts between the Czech Republic and France should
compensate for a certain geographie d¡stance - which, by the way, is much shorter
than it may seem. How many French people actually realize that the distance
between Paris and Prague is not much greater than that between Paris and Nice?
The cultural and intellectual bonds between our two countries have been
traditionally strong since the period between the two world wars. Many Czech poets,
artists, writers and intellectuals were influenced by the French spiritual milieu, and
many of them sought long or short term refuge in France. I should mention at least
Milan Kundera, Jirt Kol r, and my colleague Pavel Tigrid, the present Czech
Minister of Culture, who has spent nearly half ot his life in France.
Today's military cooperation also continues the traditicn of the period
between the First and Second World Wars. The cooperation of our countries since
November 1989 confirms this: be it in the joint military exercises, or in the former
Yugoslavia.
Last but not least, I would like to mention the developing economic relations.
Some setbacks, greatly overstated by the media, should not conceal the growth of
economic cooperation between France and the Czech Republic in all areas, often at
a level that is more valuable from our point of view than mammoth projects and
investments.
Small and medium-sized businses in the food-processing industry, energy, cosmetics, construction, media and advertising, tte emcos and so on create a good basis for eal coopedration. In Pragued, as in Paris, you can Ilsten to "Europe 2" radio. whieh is one of the most popular stations in the Czech Republic and the French cars are spread all over Prague. I would be veryd happy it this conspi ous and welcome sign of the French presence in Central Europe and in the Czech Republic could becoms a symbol of further reduction of the already negligibie physical distance that separates us. If we manage to develop the politicai contacts between our two countries the same dynamic and fruitful way as this day-to-day business, it will be the most useful contribution to the common European future we can wish for.
Thank you for attention.