SOFIA: LEADERS OF V-10 COUNTRIES ADOPT SOLIDARITY DECLARATION

SOFIA, Oct 5 (Hina) - The heads of state of ten Vilnius Group (V-10) countries are confident their countries should join NATO in its next expansion stage, according to a declaration adopted at the end of a V-10 summit in Sofia on Friday. #L# The countries firmly believe North, Central and East European countries should be included in the next stage of expansion, reads the document. One of the conclusions drawn from the 11 September attacks on the United States is that NATO and its expansion are more important than ever at the moment. The leaders of V-10 countries believe the events which happened over the past few weeks must lead to a closer cooperation between the United States and Europe. The Euro- Atlantic community must be the basis for a wider international anti-terrorist coalition, reads the Solidarity Declaration. The Vilnius countries have reiterated their determination to conduct their foreign and security policies in line with the Washington Agreement, including its Article 5 - an attack on any NATO country is an attack on the whole of NATO. The V-10 presidents have obliged themselves to take over their share of responsibility and use the historical opportunity to build an integral and free Europe based on democracy, progress and security. The new democracies can help the West fight terrorism and criminal threats and build a safer Euro-Atlantic region, reads the document. (hina) rml