Introductory Remarks

General George A. Joulwan
Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Past Workshop Honorary General Chairman

In my opinion it is important that we are meeting here in Berlin, a city that has been the center of European history for the past century. To Minister Scharping and General Kujat and the other Germans at this workshop, let me express our deepest condolences for what happened at Erfurt in May. That tragedy affects all of us. May I also extend my gratitude to the German government and those responsible for hosting and sponsoring this year's workshop, and to Roger Weissinger-Baylon and his team for organizing and developing this excellent program. 

Before I introduce our two speakers, President Adamkus and President Kwasniewski, may I say that the world has indeed changed and developed in many ways following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. We now realize that we face threats from religious fanatics and extremists and no longer only from large field armies or ballistic missiles. Clearly the global network of terrorists is a challenge to all free nations. But we have also realized that in many respects we are not well prepared in strategy, doctrine, and policy to meet such threats. 

Another point we have come to understand is that the attacks of September 11 were clearly not attacks solely against the financial and military center of the U.S., but attacks on civilization as we know it, a civilization in which men and women enjoy individual freedoms of religion, speech, and choice and one based on the rule of law, mutual respect, and tolerance of others. 

It is therefore important that in our workshop meetings we discuss the political, economic, military, and human dimensions of the challenges we face. I can think of no individuals better qualified than these two European presidents to address us at the start of this conference on all these perspectives on global security. Both men have been strong supporters of this workshop over many years. Both have led their countries to become functioning democracies after decades of Soviet domination. Both have been strong advocates of a Europe whole and free, democratic and prosperous, and truly tolerant of the rights of individuals. And both are contributors, not just consumers, of security.