Joining forces against common threats



BRUSSELS: This weekend, European leaders meeting in Brussels will adopt the first European Security Strategy. The strategy was born when Europeans acknowledged that we are stronger when we have a common perception of the threats and how to deal with them. This is true not only for Europe but also for the trans-Atlantic community and for the international community as a whole. Europe’s security strategy is built on the concepts of responsibility, prevention, capability and partnership.

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We have a responsibility to ensure that EU enlargement does not create new dividing lines in Europe. Closer economic cooperation with our neighbors to the East will help to avoid this, but it must be accompanied by determined efforts to develop democracy there and to end frozen and unresolved conflicts. Closer engagement with the Arab world must also be a priority. Without resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, there will be little chance of dealing with other problems in a region. 

Responsibility has a global dimension too. Terrorist and criminal networks have a global reach. Most of the heroin sold in Europe originates in Afghanistan. In an interdependent world, the first line of defense will often be far away.

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Europe’s partnership with the United States is irreplaceable. It has underpinned our progressive integration and our security. NATO is an important expression of the relationship and a close strategic partner for crisis management. Though the United States is today's dominant military actor, it cannot tackle today’s complex problems on its own.

In a world where cooperation is crucial to success, our partnership will take many forms – with regional powers such as Japan, China and India; with regional organizations such as Asean, Mercosur and the African Union, Europe’s history, geography and culture connect us globally. In our own neighborhood, we must work for ever closer relations with Russia.

International Herald Tribune

April 6, 2004

Note: Хавьер Солана, верховный представитель ЕС по внешней политике и безопасности.

 


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