May 28, 2002
Rome, Italy

Today we begin a new chapter in strengthening our ties with Russia. The new NATO-Russia Council a council of 20 equal partners offers us a huge opportunity and an enormous challenge. It is an opportunity to end the last divisions of the Cold War and to build a truly re-united Europe. But it also challenges us to find solutions, to compromise and discover new ways of working in common.

This new Council will be good for NATO and good for Russia. In the past decade, the process of welcoming a democratic Russia into the institutions of the West has already borne fruit. It will be no different for NATO. In 1995, I invited then President Yeltsin to join the G-7 at the Halifax Summit. We created what is now called the G-8.

At the time, there were plenty of doubters about the wisdom of such a step. In a few weeks, the G-8 will be meeting once again in Canada. And no one now doubts that it was the right thing to do. The G-8 has helped coordinate policies to increase global prosperity, to assist the poorest of the poor, to protect our environment, to reduce tensions around the world, and to combat terrorism. Russia has played a full and essential role in that effort

Now it is time for the countries of NATO to include Russia more directly in their deliberations. After all, we share a common goal: Peace and prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic region.

I believe the people of Russia are no less interested in that goal than the people in any of our countries. It was to achieve this goal that NATO was founded in 1949. Today we have the opportunity to bring that goal closer. This is why Canada, as one of the founding members of the Alliance, has been at the forefront in first proposing the idea of a new Council "at 20" and pushing hard for its realization.

Mr. Secretary General, my country will spare no effort in making the NATO-Russia Council a success. But it is for all of us find the "political will" to make the necessary compromises. Only then will we be able to take the joint initiatives and joint actions to build stronger ties and to prevent future conflicts.

Without Russia we will not succeed. This is why it has been clear to us that a G-8 and a NATO-Russia Council "at 20" strengthens our security.

President Putin, Russia has taken enormous strides in recent years in taking its rightful place among the democratic nations of the West.

You are to be congratulated, as should we all, in having the foresight to see the vast potential that our new Council offers. I look forward at the nearest opportunity to reviewing with you the fruits of our work. Our people will expect no less.

Thank you.

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