President Lennart Meri delivered an address ''NATO and Europe: agenda for the coming years'' today on the XV NATO Workshop in Vienna.
The President mentioned, that NATO-s new members will establish platforms of security and stability in the regions which were formerly considered to be under the Soviet influence. This is why issues of economic well-being, development of civil society and the Rule of Law are so important in deliberations over new members. For the same reason it is crucial to look both to North and South when planning the next round of NATO enlargement. The new members are ambassadors whose positive record should further reinforce changes in the region. They are the ''well-connected'' relatives, who can act with greater authority in solving regional issues.
As the President said, the Alliance is fully justified to inquire what contribution could small countries offer to smooth its operations. ''Apart from political and symbolic value there are practical issues where we can help. Small countries are sometimes crucial in mustering political consensus by adding their voices to the chorus. It is well-known how important the Benelux countries have been in keeping the European Union up and running.'' The Estonian Head of State assured that today one is better off having members whose security depends vitally on having a strong, prestigious and active Alliance.
''Possible conflicts and internal divisions might potentially be a problem when you look at the big powers of the Alliance,'' President Meri said. ''The presence of Slovenia, Estonia or Lithuania could encourage rather than discourage a consensus.''
Speaking of small countries, President Meri emphasised that small members of the Alliance play crucial role in avoiding non-traditional risks like proliferation of nuclear materials, chemical and bacteriological materials, and lack of relevant expertise. The President also mentioned in his address the connections between the European Union and NATO.
The Estonian President spoke about security environment and Estonia's improving relations with Russia. ''We have been actively pursuing the policy of positive engagement with Russia, and our own relations, as well as those of our neighbours, have been steadily improving.''
The President quoted the excellent argument provided by Zbigniew Brzezinski, who has said that NATO enlargement is reconciliation through security. ''The relationship between those Central European Countries will change fundamentally. Countries like Poland have no reason to evoke their historic memory, Russian nationalist forces, which are still visible in the Russian Duna, have no reason to wake theirs.''
In his address, the President also elaborated the preparations of the Baltic States for joining NATO.
President Lennart Meri's address on NATO-s greatest annual workshop was very well received. The full text of the address can be obtained from the homepage of the Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia on the address: www.president.ee.

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