[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 22 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Pages 780-781]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Signing Ceremony for the NATO-Russia Founding Act in Paris, 
France

May 27, 1997

    President Yeltsin gave me this cane; now he's giving it to me twice. 
[Laughter]
    Ladies and gentlemen, on this beautiful spring day in Paris, in the 
twilight of the 20th century, we look toward a new century with a new 
Russia and a new NATO, working together in a new Europe of unlimited 
possibility. The NATO-Russia Founding Act we have just signed joins a 
great nation and history's most successful alliance in common cause for 
a long-sought but never before realized goal: a peaceful, democratic, 
undivided Europe.
    The United States feels a great deal of gratitude today. The world 
my predecessors dreamed of and worked for for 50 years is finally within 
reach. I want to thank President Chirac for his strong leadership in 
making this day possible and for hosting us. I thank President Yeltsin 
for his courage and vision, for his unbelievable capacity to imagine a 
future that is different from the past that imprisoned us.
    I thank his Foreign Minister, Mr. Primakov, for his negotiations and 
good faith to make this day possible. I especially thank Secretary 
General Solana for his brilliant and persistent and always good-natured 
efforts that made this founding act a reality.
    I thank my fellow leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
and especially our senior leader, Chancellor Kohl, who has worked longer 
and paid a higher price for the dream of a united Europe than any other 
leader.
    For all of us, this is a great day. From now on, NATO and Russia 
will consult and coordinate and work together. Where we all agree, we 
will act jointly, as we are in Bosnia where a Russian brigade serves 
side by side with NATO troops, giving the Bosnian people a chance to 
build a lasting peace. Deepening our partnership today will make all of 
us stronger and more secure.
    The historic change in the relationship between NATO and Russia 
grows out of a fundamental change in how we think about each other and 
our future. NATO's member states recognize that the Russian people are 
building a new Russia, defining their greatness in terms of the future 
as much as the past. Russia's transition to democracy and open markets 
is as difficult as it is dramatic. And its steadfast commitment to 
freedom and reform has earned the world's admiration.
    In turn, we are building a new NATO. It will remain the strongest 
alliance in history, with smaller, more flexible forces, prepared

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to provide for our defense but also trained for peacekeeping. It will 
work closely with other nations that share our hopes and values and 
interests through the Partnership For Peace. It will be an alliance 
directed no longer against a hostile bloc of nations but instead 
designed to advance the security of every democracy in Europe, NATO's 
old members, new members, and nonmembers alike.
    I know that some still see NATO through the prism of the cold war 
and that especially in NATO's decision to open its doors to Central 
Europe's new democracy, they see a Europe still divided, only 
differently divided. But I ask them to look again. For this new NATO 
will work with Russia, not against it. And by reducing rivalry and fear, 
by strengthening peace and cooperation, by facing common threats to the 
security of all democracies, NATO will promote greater stability in all 
of Europe, including Russia. And in turn, that will increase the 
security of Europe's North American partners, the United States and 
Canada as well.
    We establish this partnership because we are determined to create a 
future in which European security is not a zero-sum game, where NATO's 
gain is Russia's loss and Russia's strength is our alliance's weakness. 
That is old thinking; these are new times. Together, we must build a new 
Europe in which every nation is free and every free nation joins in 
strengthening the peace and stability for all.
    Half a century ago, on a continent darkened by the shadow of evil, 
brave men and women in Russia and the world's free nations fought a 
common enemy with uncommon valor. Their partnership forged in battle, 
strengthened by sacrifice, cemented by blood, gave hope to millions in 
the West and in Russia that the grand alliance would be extended in 
peace. But in victory's afterglow, the freedom the Russian people 
deserved was denied them. The dream of peace gave way to the hard 
reality of cold war, and our predecessors lost an opportunity to shape a 
new Europe, whole and free.
    Now we have another chance. Russia has opened itself to freedom. The 
veil of hostility between East and West has lifted. Together we see a 
future of partnership too long delayed that must no longer be denied. 
The founding act we signed captures the promise of this remarkable 
moment. Now we must implement it in good faith, so that future 
generations will live in a new time that escapes the 20th century's 
darkest moments and fulfills its most brilliant possibilities.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. at the Elysee Palace, following 
the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act. In his remarks, he referred 
to President Boris Yeltsin and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeniy 
Primakov of Russia; President Jacques Chirac of France; NATO Secretary 
General Javier Solana; and Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany.