PRAGUE, Nov 21 (Hina) - The heads of state and government of 19 countries, members of the NATO, hailed in Prague on Thursday the decision to call seven countries of East and Central Europe as members.
PRAGUE, Nov 21 (Hina) - The heads of state and government of 19
countries, members of the NATO, hailed in Prague on Thursday the
decision to call seven countries of East and Central Europe as
members. #L#
The United States is very satisfied with today's decision, American
President George W. Bush said in his brief speech, after NATO
Secretary-General George Robertson announced the organisation was
inviting Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Rumania, Slovakia
and Slovenia into its ranks.
Bush added he believed that the admittance of new members, which
should officially take their seats in two years, would contribute
to the organisation's strengthening.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the invitation to new
members was a big step in the strengthening of democracy because, he
said, NATO was not merely a military alliance.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said it was necessary to point
out the possibility of admitting "Albania, Macedonia and Croatia,"
that is, all those countries of the ten Vilnius Group who remained
outside of NATO.
Schroeder added it was important that he had spoken with Russia
openly and frankly about the process of NATO's expansion.
French President Jacques Chirac said this "enlargement is a
historic moment when Europe is finally unifying, and when Europe
and North America are once again confirming their mutual concern
for security."
He said that France advocated further expansion and that "the doors
of the alliance must remain open" for other countries.
The heads of other states and governments, members of NATO, who
carried Robertson's invitation by acclamation also hailed the
decision in their brief speeches, describing the Prague summit
which is taking place on Thursday and Friday as a "historic event"
for NATO.
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