27 Nov, 2006 - Speech by Mr. Toms Baumanis, LATO Chairman at the Young Leaders
Forum Opening - „Crossing the Bridge to Riga"
Ministers, Excellencies, Young Leaders,
Let me welcome all you to Riga, capital of the NATO countries during the two Summit days. We are very pleased to host Young Leaders Forum what will serve as a companion event to the Riga NATO summit by bringing together more than 50 leading young professionals from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss the most pressing challenges currently facing by NATO and its partners around the world.
Future is shaped by new generations; today you represent next generation of decision-makers from NATO members and partners from more than 32 countries. You have already proven your leadership abilities in non-governmental organisations, research institutes, business entities, mass media and governmental institutions.
We organizers are very much looking forward to your opinions about such issues as peace and nation-building in Afghanistan, NATO partners, policy towards Russia, NATO enlargement and energy security challenges.
Your good thoughts will complement very much on-going political debate and, perhaps, help to build bridges among yourself, political elites and countries you represent here. You have really come from far and different places, Afghanistan, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Jordan, Egypt, Israel and other to contribute to issues of today's concern.
This is forum will allow us to discuss the most pressing challenges currently facing NATO and its member states around the world. Our goal is to foster a serious dialogue on the role of transforming NATO in a new global era. We hope to have a particular focus on NATO's outreach - both through a global partnership and long term plans for enlargement; NATO's role on energy security; and NATO's future more broadly. Specific policy challenges such as NATO-Russia, the Balkans, and the Alliance's operation in Afghanistan what will also be addressed in smaller breakout sessions.
As you can see from the agenda we will have a chance to listen to group of distinguished speakers. And now let me introduce to you forum panelists:
A.Pabriks, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Alexander Vondra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, former Government Commissioner for the NATO Summit in Prague, Wilhelm Staudacher, Secretary General of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Stefanie Babst, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy.
With this introduction let me invite our first speaker Mr.Pabriks. Floor is yours
