FAREWELL REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL<br />FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE WITH CHODS<br />WEDNESDAY, 3 JULY 2002<br /><br />Generals,<br />Admirals,<br />Ladies and Gentlemen,<br /><br /> In some fields of work, once you get to the top, you can relax. Admiral<br />Venturoni certainly made it to the top. But the position of Chairman of<br />NATO's Military Committee has never had the privilege to relax.<br /><br /> From the moment General Omar Bradley first took up the post in 1949, the<br />Chairman of the Military Committee has always had a delicate and difficult<br />job. To provide guidance to the NATO Commanders. To lead the Military<br />Committee's long term planning. To make recommendations on the use of<br />military force. And most difficult of all, to explain complex military<br />issues to diplomats and politicians.<br /><br /> These are the traditional tasks of any Chairman. But you, Admiral<br />Venturoni, faced challenges no Chairman of the Military Committee has ever<br />encountered before. The events of September 11th demanded an historic<br />response from the Alliance. The declaration and implementation of Article 5<br />of the Washington Treaty took place under your watch.<br /><br /> Since then, NATO has provided unprecedented support to the United States,<br />including acting in North America for the first time with the deployment of<br />NATO AWACs, breaking up terrorist cells in the Balkans and backing up<br />Allied efforts in Central Asia. All new missions for the Alliance. All<br />carried out flawlessly, thanks in no small part to your leadership and<br />guidance.<br /><br /> For this contribution alone, Admiral, you have earned NATO's<br />gratitude. But of course, you have contributed to so much of NATO's broad<br />agenda. Much of your time has been devoted to our operations in the<br />Balkans. You took up your position as Chairman at the height of the Kosovo<br />crisis, which was a real baptism of fire. The successful conclusion of<br />NATO's first major military operation, the Kosovo air campaign, was an<br />historic accomplishment for the Alliance and you personally.<br /><br /> You were subsequently closely involved in KFOR and in the Alliance's<br />operations in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia . And it was in<br />recognition of these particular efforts that I awarded you two NATO medals<br />in the North Atlantic Council this morning.<br /><br /> But you can take credit for NATO's success in many other areas as<br />well: the development of our practical cooperation with Russia and other<br />Partner nations; the deepening of practical relations with the European<br />Union; managing the next round of enlargement; and of course, helping to<br />guide the quickening development of NATO's military capabilities - all of<br />these landmarks, and many others, have been shaped and guided in no small<br />part by you as Chairman of the Military Committee.<br /><br /> The Prague Summit, this November, will mark a milestone in NATO's<br />transformation. And while you will not be there as Chairman of the<br />Military Committee, your mark will certainly be felt. Because over the<br />past three years, you have laid the groundwork to ensure that this great<br />Alliance enters 2003 fighting fit and ready to take on the challenges of<br />the future.<br /><br /> Admiral Venturoni, you are retiring after 50 years of distinguished<br />military service to your country and to NATO. You will now embark upon a<br />very richly deserved retirement. I would say that you deserve the<br />relaxation, but I know that you have nine grandchildren, and I expect that<br />they will keep you and Giuliana quite busy. They might even prove more of<br />a challenge than the North Atlantic Council!<br /><br /> So let me simply thank you, on behalf of the North Atlantic Council, for<br />your distinguished service, and wish you and Giuliana a very happy<br />future. We owe you much and you will always be in our memories.