Joint Communique of the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,

Estonia, Tallinn Poland and Ukraine May 27, 1997

On May 27, 1997 the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine met in Tallinn to discuss issues of common interest, including bilateral and regional cooperation, European integration and security.

The Presidents discussed the need to strengthen participation in all efforts to create a stable, secure, integrated and indivisible Europe in which no country threatens another and stressed that each state has the right to choose the means to ensure its own security, including treaties of alliance, which is one of the main principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The Presidents reiterated their common position that NATO should remain open for all countries aspiring for membership in this organization and that these countries will be invited to join the Alliance upon their readiness to fulfill the requirements of membership. The Presidents will work together to enhance cooperation in the framework of the Partnership for Peace in order to better address the new security challenges facing all of Europe.

The Presidents expressed their satisfaction with the signing on the same day in Paris of the Founding Act on the bilateral cooperation and security between NATO and Russia. In their view, the Founding Act enhances mutual confidence, security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.

The Presidents stressed the importance of an agreement on cooperation between NATO and Ukraine to be signed during the NATO summit in Madrid. The Presidents noted that this document will be one of the key factors in ensuring European stability.

The Presidents shared the goal of integration into European structures and the strengthening of political and economic relations with the European Union with the goal of future membership.

The Presidents declared their willingness to develop friendly and constructive relations with their neighbours as well as with other countries, thus contributing to stability, prosperity and democratic development of the region and of the whole Europe.

The Presidents viewed the further intensification of north-south European economic cooperation, as well as improved cooperation between regional organizations, which would help accelerate the pace of regional economic development, as corresponding to the interests of all parties. The Presidents considered that a more effective utilization of existing infrastructure and unhindered transit transportation would allow the full realization of potential trade and investment.