The definition of the national policy for peace and security was another key questions which the goverment had to face. There were three aspects to this policy: the Atlantic Alliance, the West European Union and the bilaterlal defence relationship with the United States.

On May 30th, 1982, under the UCD Government, Spain deposited in Washington the instrument of accession to NATO, and thus became a member. Following the election victory of the PSOE, the new Goverment decided to suspend the process of incorporation into the structure of the Alliance and called a referendum to decide whether Spain should remain within the military structure of the organization.

In October 1984, the prime minister, Felipe Gonzaacute;lez, presented to the Congress of Deputies what whould be called the Ten Points on a Peace and Security Policy, drawn up as a basis for the restorarion of a consensus of all the political forces as regards the national decurity and defence policy.

In that same speech, the prime minister suggested that a parliamentary debate be held on the ten points for the purpose of disseminating information which would help the citizens to take a decision on whether Spain should stay in the alliance, by means of a referendum.

On March 12th, 1986, the referendum was held as announced by the Government.

It took the following form:

   ''1. Spanish participation shall not include membership of the
        intehrated military structure.
 
     2. The ban of installing, storing or introducing weapons on
        Spanish soil shall be maintained.
 
     3. A gradual reduction in the military presence of the
United States in Spain shall be carried out.''

The referendum showed a result favourable to the government position, and from that time on, Spain began to work out its own model for participation in the Alliance, within the limits laid down in the referendum.

RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM ON SPANISH MEMBERSHIP IN THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE, HELD ON 12 MARCH 1986:

------------------------------------------------------
VOTES IN FAVOUR:                  9,054,509   (52.49%)
VOTES AGAINST:                    6,872,421   (39,84%)
BLANK VOTES:                      1,127,673    (6,53%)
NUL VOTES:                          191,855    (1,11%)
------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTERS           29,025,494
======================================================
(Source: Ministry of the Interior)

The holding in Madrid, for the first time, of the Spring Ministerial Session of the North Atlantic Council in June 1988 symbolized the consolidation of Spanish participation in NATO.

The basic sharacteristics of the model for Spanish participation in the Alliance, are contained in the official communications that the Spanish Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense sent to their NATO counterparts and to the Secretary- General of the Organization after the referendum. They consist primarily of the non-incorporation into the integrated military structure, the maintenande of the non-nuclearization of Spanish territory, the progressive reduction of the American military presence on Spanish soil and the claim for sovereignty over Gibraltar.

The complementary characteristics are a consequence of the general Principles of Participation in the Alliance presented by the Spanish Government and approved by the Atlantic Council in May 1986. They consist essentially in the participation in the North Atlantic Council and its subsidiary bodies, in the Defense Planning Committee, the Miniltary Committe and the Nuclear Planning Group, as well as the military contribution carried out through the coordination Agreement between the Spanish and Allied Commands. The approval of the general directives for the Spanish military contribution to the Atlantic Alliance has undergone a long process since Oct. 1986, when the Spanish memorandum containing the general princxiples was first presented. After three successive rounds, the Spanish ambassador to NATO presented, on 18 Janury 1988, to the Secretary General of the Organization, a letter in which the Spanish Government explained in great detail the General Directives for Spain's military contribution. The Spanish missions to NATO were spelt out in this letter:

1. Defense of Spanish territory.

2. Naval and airborne operations in the eastern Atlantic.

3. Control of the Strait od Gibraltar and its accesses.

4. Naval ands air-borne opeations in the western Mediterranean.

5. Control and defense of airspace in the zone under Spanish responsibility and cooperation in adjancent zones.

6. Use of Spanish territory as a multifunctional rearguard (transit, support, logistic) platform.

Finally, on 1 December 1988, NATO's Defense Planning Committee approved the general directives of Spain's Military Committee. Subsequently, the Atlantic Council took note of these directives at its meeting of 8-9 December in Brussels. This marks the end of a period of "political responsibility" and leaves the technical-military specifications to be resolved.

The concretion of Spain's military contribution commenced with the signing, in May 1990, of the first two agreements of coordination between the Spanish armed forces and the military commands, with regards to the execution of sea and air maneuvers in the Eastern Atlantic and of air defense.

Later, in May 1991, two new agreements on the coordination of the defense of Spanish territory and air-sea operations in the western Mediterranean came into effect. Latterly, the last two agreements, regarding the control and defense of the Strait of Gibraltar and its accesses and the use of Spanish territory as a rear guard and logistic support zone were signed in June 1992. With these agreements, the definition of Spain's defensive contribution to the Atlantic Alliance has been achieved, maintaining non-incorporation in the "command structure" with the aim of fulfilling the condition of not participating the the integrated military command.

In December the 1st., 16 Ambassadors of the Member states of NATO agreed to appoint the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Javier Solana, as the new NATO Secretary-General. He was officially appointed on Tuesday, 5 December, 1995.

For information about the new NATO Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Solana, please click here.

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Javier Solana Madariaga

Javier Solana Madariaga was born in Madrid on July 14th 1942. He is married to Concepcion Giménez and has two children.

He has a doctorate in physics, and was a Fullbright scholarship holder at several American universities.

A lecturer in solid-state physics at Madrid's 'Complutense' University, he has over thirty publications to his credit in his chosen field.

He is a member of the Spanish Chapter of the Club of Rome.

He joined the Spanish Socialist Party in 1964. From 1971, as a member of the executives of the Madrid Socialist Federation and the UGT union's Teaching Employees Federation, he represented the party in Madrid's Democratic Co-ordination.

He has been a member of the Federal Executive Committee since 1976 and a deputy for Madrid in the last four Parliaments.

From December 1982 he held office as minister of culture.

In July 1988 he was appointed minister of education and science, until in 1992 he moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was confirmed in this post in the new government formed after the general election of June 1993.

In December 1995 he was appointed new NATO Secretary-General, by the member states of the Atlantic Alliance.