SOFIA, Oct 5 (Hina) - The September 11 devastating terrorist attacks in New York and Washington did not slam NATO's door shut for countries aspirants to the membership into the Alliance, said its Secretary-General, George Robertson,
in Sofia on Friday. Those attacks neither derailed the enlargement process nor slammed NATO's door shut. The logic of enlargement remains as compelling today as it was on September 10, Robertson said in his speech at a summit meeting of an informal group, called 'Vilnius 10', in the Bulgarian capital. The summit meeting, dedicated to new democracies' contribution to EuroAtlantic security, gathered heads of state of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania Slovakia and Slovenia. These countries are trying to enter NATO at the Alliance's summit meeting, scheduled for 2002 in Prague. Robertson said the political and mil
SOFIA, Oct 5 (Hina) - The September 11 devastating terrorist
attacks in New York and Washington did not slam NATO's door shut for
countries aspirants to the membership into the Alliance, said its
Secretary-General, George Robertson, in Sofia on Friday.
Those attacks neither derailed the enlargement process nor slammed
NATO's door shut. The logic of enlargement remains as compelling
today as it was on September 10, Robertson said in his speech at a
summit meeting of an informal group, called 'Vilnius 10', in the
Bulgarian capital.
The summit meeting, dedicated to new democracies' contribution to
EuroAtlantic security, gathered heads of state of Albania,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania
Slovakia and Slovenia. These countries are trying to enter NATO at
the Alliance's summit meeting, scheduled for 2002 in Prague.
Robertson said the political and military logic of NATO's
enlargement must be accompanied by efforts of countries-aspirants
for the membership.
He said the political logic of the expansion was clear as the
candidates showed that they were sharing the same values with NATO,
and added that the admission of new members would in no way diminish
the Alliance's military ability.
Of course, all possible new members need some improvements, the
Briton said adding that NATO was helping them in such efforts.
In this context, Robertson said he, together with NATO member-
countries, was impressed with the progress the candidates had so
far made.
Receiving an invitation to join NATO in November 2002 isn't like
finishing the process, it's more akin to earning a ticket to begin a
marathon, Robertson warned.
Although all members of V-10 group would like to join the Alliance
at the Prague summit, most analysts assess that Slovenia and
Slovakia are enjoying the brightest prospects of the accession,
while other eight candidates will have to wait for some time.
The V-10 summit in Sofia was opened by the host, Bulgarian President
Petar Stoyanov, who asserted that candidates would behave like NATO
members before the accession as well.
Our countries, new European democracies, must now act as if they are
NATO members even before their admission, Stoyanov said.
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who is taking part in the event,
will hold a speech in the course of the day.
(hina) ms