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| CONCLUSIONS OF THE NATO SUMMIT IN BUCHAREST 4/04/2008 |
| (2008-04-04) |
| Last updated: 2008-04-08 15:28 EET |
The NATO summit conclusions have already been covered by the media world wide and political comments on these conclusions taken in Bucharest on Thursday are now making the headlines. The most important decisions refer to the invitation extended to Albania and Croatia to become NATO members and to the postponement of Macedonia’s request to join NATO. Also, Ukraine and Georgia were offered a new timeframe for their participation in the Membership Action Plan.
In a joint declaration, the NATO leaders have committed to increasing the troops combating the Taliban rebellion in Afghanistan and to providing the military commanders with the instruments they need to render their operations successful. The NATO forces in Afghanistan number 47 thousand military from 40 countries, Romania included. Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey were promised to enter the anti missile shield built by NATO. The invitation to join NATO extended to Albania and Croatia was accompanied by encouragement regarding a more intensified Euro- Atlantic dialogue for Bosnia- Hertegovina, Serbia and Montenegro.  Here is NATO secretary general Jaap de hoop Scheffer commenting on the “open doors “ policy :
“This decision regarding Bosnia Hertegovina and Montenegro stands proof of NATO’s determination to help remodel the security profile in the Western Balkans through partnerships and obviously the allies will equally enhance co-operation with Serbia. Participants in the meeting have hailed the Euro Atlantic aspirations of Georgia and Ukraine for a NATO partnership, adding that undoubtedly the Membership Action Plan is for the two countries, a step forward towards membership. We agreed that these countries will become NATO members.”
NATO’s interest in the Balkan area was noted with satisfaction by Romania’s president Traian Basescu as well. Including Romania among the countries that will be covered by the NATO anti missile shield is an element that reflects positively on the Balkan area, being at the same time a personal achievement of Romania as NATO member state. Romanian President Traian Basescu:
“NATO will build a complementary anti missile shield for the countries that are not protected by the American anti missile shield. That means about 20 per cent of the NATO member countries’ area. Romania accounts for a large part of this contribution, with almost all of its territory”.
The postponement of Macedonia’s joining the Alliance was amply commented in Bucharest; it was expected, though, that Greece maintained its opposition to Macedonia’s accession, as the latter refused to change its name. German chancellor Angela Merkel, along with France’s President Nicholas Sarkozy, strongly opposing Ukraine and Georgia’s NATO accession, said however, that NATO’s doors remain open to a simplified accession for Macedonia:
“It is important to underline that we should not wait for the next summit for Macedonia to get its accession invitation. When the issue related to the name of the country is solved, an issue that will be discussed at the UN level as well, Macedonia will get the invitation. “
As regards Ukraine and Georgia, the two former Soviet states said they were satisfied with the postponement of their NATO accession candidate status until December 2008 when the NATO Council of Ministers will be held. Ukraine’s president Viktor Iuscenko, who on Friday attended the proceedings of the NATO- Ukraine Commission, expressed his confidence, though not supported by a large part of the pro Russian forces in Kiew, that the NATO ministers would make a decision favourable to Ukraine at the end of this year. For Iuscenko, the fact that NATO admitted in Bucharest, that Georgia and Ukraine would be members of the Alliance, is a success; it’s just a matter of time.
“It is a historic decision and that is why we would like to thank our partners who made efforts to support Ukraine’s interests. The Alliance made clear statements both on our Euro Atlantic perspective and on the Ukrainian request and this is a fundamental element. “
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2025-04-03
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