The European and Czech position of establishing peace in the Middle East should be defined by our own European and national interests, and not by humanitarian and moral considerations. We must clearly define these interests so we can formulate a diplomatic position. The EU’s interest can be grouped under four titles: security, economic, political, and cultural.

The Security of the European countries is directly linked to the security of the Mediterranean area. After the cold war, new threats emerged in the form of terrorists activities by non-state actors to subvert peace efforts and fuel fanaticism. Some of these threats stem from this region. Europe is too crowded and small place to fight these threats as it materializes on our land. Those threats must be contained where they grow.

The security of Europe in the 20^th century was also linked to the security of the USA. We are particularly aware of this in my country, because of the direct US involvement in freeing the region and my country from totalitarianism. This is the bond we should cherish and strengthen at all costs. The US interests are affected in the region like the European interests. The Israeli – Palestinian conflict is so intractable that the only solution is a joint EU - US effort. The architecture of the Quartet has helped to minimize the risk of instability. Other diplomatic initiatives are less likely to succeed. Diplomatic efforts and initiatives, such as EU BAM and “UNIFIL Plus”, assist to maintain stability in the Middle East. Cooperation with the willing and able partners in the region can also contribute to stability and peace in the region.

We hope to witness the deepening and strengthening of ties between Israel and NATO. It is up to you to say what you want. I’m glad to mention that Israel has become a leading country in that regard, and is the first to sign an Individual Cooperation Program with NATO. Also, the Atlantic Forum of Israel has joined recently the Atlantic Treaty Association. It is clear Israel is looking for real security instead of another bureaucratic organization. We would be more than happy to see the Israeli flag on NATO building.

Second, economy. Europe’s economic interests are important to its security. European growth and prosperity is depending on the energy resources from the Middle East and the Russian federation. Both of those regions have shown signs of instability. Sharp price increases have led to instability and diplomatic efforts in the region and threaten the success of our nations. Some of the instability is linked to political issues. We have to diversify our energy resources to lessen this dependency while search for strategies to promote stability in the Middle East.

Third, political. We in Central and Eastern Europe have benefited from adopting to democratic societies. We know the horror of totalitarianism due to our historical experience. When one regime declares its supremacy, oppress its people, incite violence, support terrorist organizations and call for the extermination of another country, we cannot take these declarations as weightless. We have been there before and we do not want to ever be there again. On Saturday we began a real discussion with the US on building ballistic missiles defense system. We hope to cooperate with Poland on this.

Fourth, historical cultural character. The Middle East has given birth to the three monotheistic religions and has shaped the region profoundly. But our legacy is not solely our achievements, but also our failures. The Jewish communities gave us so much cultural diversity, economic enrichment, many scientific achievements and contributions to the arts. We regrettably eradicated them through centuries of anti-Semitism and the Shoah. To preserve our own cultural legacy we must continue to recognize our responsibility for this tragedy and also our responsibility for securing and promoting the Jewish state. I am proud to say that this responsibility is alive in my country and pre-dates WWII.

80 years ago the first President of independent Czechoslovakia was the first European leader to come to Palestine to de-legitimize anti-Semitism and promote the creation of a Jewish state. I am happy this has come true.