Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet folyóirata - 1995 (1. évfolyam)
1995 / 1. szám - ESEMÉNYNAPTÁR - Külpolitikai eseménynaptár január 1.-március 31.
Resume NATO s most important objective should remain the maintenance of a credible military capability which is able to prevent possible attempts to dominate Europe militarily again. In addition to it however, there is an urgent need to project stability to the other parts of the continent. The best way to do so is to expand, since expansion will not only dramatically reinforce the stability’ of the new members but will significantly contribute to stability and security on the whole continent as well. When enlarging NATO it should not repeat the mistakes of other organizations and give up its strong standards. New members must be full members, assuming all rights and obligations in the Alliance. These might be, inter alia, a stable democracy and functioning market economy, stable relations with neighbours and other countries of the region, willingness and capability to countribute to the defense of the Alliance as a whole, and effective political and civilian control over the military. When enlarging NATO legitimate security interests of those remaining outside should be taken into account. This means a special relationship with Russia and the Ukraine, as well as substantial arrangements with all of others. The question is not that of "new dividing lines", but the one how the relations between the Alliance and its (present and future) member states on the one hand, and those remaining outside, on the other, will be shaped. It must not become a confrontational relationship, but should be based on dialogue and cooperation. Hungary has to take serious decisions and undertake important steps in order to ensure her place among those who will be invited to join the Alliance in the first round. Economic and political stability', good neighborly relations with the other countries of the region, a radical military reform including strong political and civilian control over the military are the most pressing among them. László Valki The Development of NATO's ''Ostpolitik'' NATO - like her member states - has not been prepared for the fundamental changes which took place in East-Central Europe in 1989, and after the changes has not developed a comprehensive poliev vis-ä-vis the East. At the time of these changes she feared a conservative take-over in Moscow and tried to help Gorbatchev maintain power. NATO was rather firm towards Moscow at the time of the failed coup in 1991 and warned the Soviet conservatives that they would have to respect the sovereignty of the emerging democracies. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union this fear has vanished and NATO has identified the unstable economic and social situation in the East and Central European countries and the ethnic controversies among them as the major risk for peace in the continent. However, neither NATO, nor her member states were ready' to provide a perceivable assistance to the emerging democracies to overcome their enormous difficulties or to reassure them with regard to their security'. Instead of developing a comprehensive "Ostpolitik", NATO and her member states have merely pondered on the enlargement of the organization and offered only some sort of bilateral military cooperation to individual East and Central European countries. However, these countries can rejoin Europe only within an institutionalized framework; no other way is conceivable. ] 47 1995. tavasz
