Enlargement of the Alliance
By a unanimous decision of its members, NATO invited seven
countries to begin accession talks. The expansion of the Alliance to
include countries from Central and Eastern Europe is the broadest to
date and finally puts an end to the iron curtain that once separated
the countries of Western and Eastern Europe.
The opening
statement by NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson emphasised that
the invitation to the seven new members enhances their security and,
at the same time, strengthens NATO and helps build a Europe
democratically united, free and at peace. Membership in the most
effective security and defence organisation entails responsibility as
well. Every NATO member country bears its share of responsibility for
the effective operation of the system of collective defence, including
the seven invitees.
For Slovenia, the invitation to join NATO means that NATO members
have recognised it as a country that is capable of active
participation in international efforts to secure and preserve
peace. The decision at the Prague Summit has also entrusted Slovenia
with greater responsibility and a more active commitment to the
Euro-Atlantic area. With this invitation, Slovenia becomes part of a
great Euro- Atlantic community of countries joined together by common
democratic values and securing their basic security interest as part
of a system of collective security.
In his speech
at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, Prime Minister Drnovsek
stated that Slovenia has consistently stood by NATO as a reliable and
trustworthy partner. For Slovenia, the Prague invitation represents
the beginning of an intensive process of preparation for
membership. For NATO, the Prague Summit signifies the beginning of an
accelerated process of transformation into an organisation that will
know how to respond to the challenges of today's world (particularly
in the area of international terrorism and the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction).
More: Enlarging the Alliance at http://www.nato.int/
| 
