The enlargement of NATO is in the interests of security of the whole Europe [30 May 2001]

On 30 May 2001 in Budapest the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Mr Indulis Berzins together with the ministers of other NATO candidate countries had a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell. In his address Mr Powell stressed the support of the current U.S. Administration and the personal support of President George W. Bush to the NATO open door policy and to the involvement of the USA in Europe. Thus the Secretary of State rejected all the speculations on allegedly diminished role of Europe in the foreign policy of the USA.

The previous NATO enlargement round has strengthened security and stability in Europe, therefore the enlargement of the Alliance should be continued, Mr Powell said. The U.S. Administration believes that countries have equal rights and that no part of Europe can be excluded from the enlargement process on account of its geographical location or history. The decision on further enlargement of NATO will be taken exclusively by the member states of the Alliance. Mr Powell in his address praised the spirit of co-operation and solidarity of the "Vilnius group" candidate countries and described the Prime Ministers' meeting in Bratislava as a great success.

The speech on behalf of the NATO candidate countries was delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Mr Eduard Kukan who stressed the leading role of the USA in the debate on the further enlargement of NATO and the responsibility for continuation of the enlargement process. The Minister voiced hope that the support to the open door policy expressed by the USA would grow into concrete invitations for accession to NATO in November 2002. The candidate countries expect that the visit of the U.S. President Mr George W. Bush to Europe on 13 June 2001 will be a step forward in the NATO enlargement debate.

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