-Caveat Lector- Solana Steps Down as NATO Sec. Gen. By ANNA SATHIAH .c The Associated Press BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Javier Solana stepped down as NATO secretary-general Wednesday after four eventful years, pledging to continue working for the security of Europe in his new post as the European Union's foreign policy representative. ``I am going to continue working with the same agenda -the agenda of security in Europe,'' Solana said at NATO headquarters on his last day in office. The former Spanish foreign minister is scheduled to begin his new EU post Oct. 18. Solana will be replaced by Britain's defense secretary, George Robertson. ``Without any doubt, he will be a splendid secretary general. He has profound experience in defense matters, political matters,'' Solana said. In his farewell news conference, Solana recalled his often tumultuous time as NATO's top civilian official. He focused on the air campaign against Yugoslavia, which forced the retreat of Serb forces from Kosovo, and the entry into NATO of its first new allies from the old East bloc. Solana said the March 16 flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters to mark the entry of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into the alliance had been one of the most memorable moments of his term. ``It represents the triumph of justice over history,'' Solana said at the time. The entry of the three eastern European countries raised the number of NATO countries from 16 to 19. He also recalled visiting Kosovo Albanian refugees in Macedonia in May. ``Less than a month later, I saw some of these people again in Kosovo, back in their homes,'' he said. Tens of thousands of refugees streamed into Macedonia and Albania during the conflict in Kosovo and many flooded back into their homeland after the fighting ended June 10. Solana said another high point was the signing of the Russia-NATO Founding Act of Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security in May 1997. The agreement, signed in Paris, was aimed at promoting closer cooperation between Russia and NATO on security issues to allay Moscow's concerns over the alliance's overtures toward eastern European nations. ``These are years that will be very difficult to forget. They have had a tremendous impact on my political and personal life,'' he said. Solana is no stranger to the EU, serving as Spain's foreign minister while his country held the rotating presidency of the EU, in the second half of 1994. He became NATO secretary-general in December 1995. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
