ACCESSION NUMBER:235682
FILE ID:EU-502
DATE:07/17/92
TITLE:NATO STILL PIVOTAL, INDISPENSABLE TO SECURING THE PEACE (07/17/92)
TEXT:*92071702.EUR
*EUR502   07/17/92 *

NATO STILL PIVOTAL, INDISPENSABLE TO SECURING THE PEACE
(Transcript:  Shalikashvili remarks)  (660)
Brussels -- Lieutenant General John M. Shalikashvili was appointed
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) June 23.

Following is a transcript of his remarks at the change of command ceremony
at SHAPE, Belgium, June 24, as released by the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) July 17:

(Begin transcript)
Secretary General, Excellencies, General Galvin, distinguished guests,
comrades-in-arms, ladies and gentlemen, and to all of you standing in
formation in front of us.

Let me echo what General Galvin said and offer you my congratulations.  You
and your proud flags are fitting representatives of the soldiers, sailors,
airmen and marines of the nations of this great Alliance.

You know, when some 11 months ago my family and I left Europe, we hardly
dared to hope that we would be returning so soon.  And we are overjoyed to
be here.  For so many years of our lives, so many cherished memories are
inextricably linked to Europe with so many dear friends over here.  But
although only 11 months have passed since I last served in Europe as a
soldier, enormous changes, changes of biblical proportions, have
dramatically altered the face of this continent.  Winds of freedom have
swept Eastward.  All over the former Soviet Union, nations old and new are
struggling valiantly to make democracy, human rights and market economies
realities for their people.  And you know, just last week in Washington,
President Bush and President Yeltsin not only signed a historic arms
control agreement, but they put their pens as well to a charter of
partnership and friendship.

Yet, in the short span of these 11 months we have truly entered a new era,
one where surely global war is all but unthinkable, one of vast great hope
but, to be sure, one not free from peril.  For as communism evaporated it
left behind a residue of unresolved, often bloody disputes.  Pictures form
Sarajevo to Nagorno-Karabakh remind us daily of the ugly, dark danger still
standing between us and a Europe truly whole, truly free and truly safe for
our children.

So our task is far form finished.  As the Secretary General said:  "We must
now secure the peace in which we all have invested so very much."  And this
great Alliance will be just as pivotal, just as indispensable to this task
of securing the peace as it was only yesterday in a simpler world, when we
stood guard against the forces from the East.

It is a moment of particular pride and great humility to have been asked at
this juncture in history to assume the duties of Supreme Allied Commander,
Europe.  It is a profound honor to succeed such an extraordinary
soldier-statesman as General Galvin.  His wisdom, his vision, his
leadership have guided us through the most difficult years of our Alliance
and all of us who have had the privilege of serving under him owe him a
great debt of gratitude.

1n turn, I thank the member nations of the Alliance for their confidence in
appointing me the tenth commander and I pledge vigilantly to execute my
duties under their collective guidance.  The tasks before us are many, but
the effort is exciting and the promises full as we continue to build on our
strategic vision and laying the foundation for a new era of stability and
lasting peace.

But as together we move forward to meet the challenges of tomorrow, we shall
not forget that it was a great soldier, a great SACEUR -- John Galvin --
who laid much of the foundation for our future progress and that it was he
who showed us the way.

And so, with a heavy heart, I join all of you and the thousands upon
thousands that you represent to bid him farewell and wishing God's blessing
on General and Mrs. Galvin.

Thank you very much.
(End transcript)
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