Following the Meeting of Allied and Partner Heads of State and Government Madrid, 9 July 1997

Press Statement by the Secretary General Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, We have just held the first meeting of the Heads of State and Government of NATO and Co-operation Partner countries. Our discussions continued through a working lunch. Our focus today was on the risks, challenges and opportunities for effective co-operative security in the Euro-Atlantic area. Our discussions were informal. We did not seek to reach any specific conclusions. We explored the particular ways in which the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council can most effectively be used to serve the interest of its 44 members and contribute to their security and stability. Le Conseil de partenariat euro-atlantique a t cr par les Ministres des affaires trangres des pays allis et partenaires lors de leur runion de Sintra, au Portugal, en mai dernier. Il s'agit d'un nouveau mcanisme de coopration et de consultation qui permet aux pays partenaires d'tablir des relations politiques et militaires plus fortes avec l'Alliance. Ce Conseil offre un cadre dans lequel nous donnerons nos partenaires la possibilit de participer plus activement la prise de dcisions au sein de l'Alliance. En particulier, nous tudierons avec eux comment faire voluer le Partenariat pour la Paix. Our discussions also covered two specific topics: how our Partnership can be used to improve crisis prevention and crisis management, particularly peace-keeping activities and how practical regional co-operation can contribute to strengthening stability and security. Our meeting has reinforced our conviction that the security of all Allied and Partner countries is inseparably linked. The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council will be of fundamental importance in developing NATO's relationship with Partners. As we leave Madrid we can be satisfied that we have made one more big step forward towards our goal of a united, free and democratic Europe.