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.