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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/09/27/wnato27.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/09/27/ixworld.html Daily Telegrapg September 27, 2002 Nato's big push east will take in up to seven states By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor -With seven new members, the alliance would stretch from the Atlantic to the Russia border and from the Baltic to the Black Sea. -Rich countries have long struggled to meet Nato targets for increasing defence spending and developing military capability. The road to integration is likely to be that much harder for the eastern members. -Romania and Bulgaria, whose economic development and political processes are still open to question, are likely to be admitted because of their strategic importance on the Black Sea. "The policy is to admit as many countries as possible," said a British official. "The argument is not why a country should join, but why it shouldn't." Up to seven east European nations will be admitted to Nato this year in the largest expansion of the Atlantic alliance, officials said yesterday. Under pressure from America, the alliance is set for an ambitious eastwards extension when Nato leaders meet at a summit in Prague in November. Diplomats said five countries - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia - are certain to be admitted to the 19-strong alliance. Romania and Bulgaria will probably be invited to join. Three more applicants - Croatia, Albania and Macedonia - will have to wait for membership. With seven new members, the alliance would stretch from the Atlantic to the Russia border and from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The move is seen by observers as a key step towards reuniting the European continent and strengthening democracy in the old Soviet bloc. However, there will be renewed questions about Nato's future as a military organisation. Decision-making by consensus could become unwieldy. Nato is unlikely to change its rules in the same way as the European Union has adopted majority voting on many issues. The admission of new members will probably add little to Nato's military capacity, but will commit the alliance to go to the defence of a growing list of small nations. Rich countries have long struggled to meet Nato targets for increasing defence spending and developing military capability. The road to integration is likely to be that much harder for the eastern members. Officials insist that countries joining Nato will not be given a "free ride" and must make a real military contribution. Nevertheless, diplomats said many new members would bring mainly specialised capabilities. "Iceland does not have an army and does not even have a defence minister, but there is no question of it not being a good member of Nato," said one Nato official. Even so, the new members may bring problems. When Nato last expanded in 1998, the Czechs committed only two working jet fighters, while the Hungarians had barely any working armoured vehicles. Many of the new members' armies are thought to be in even worse operational condition. Of the 10 applicants, Slovenia has long been deemed ready for membership, while the voters' rejection of Slovakia's former hardline nationalist ruler, Vladimir Meciar, has paved the way for Bratislava to be admitted. America has a long-standing commitment to admit the Baltic states to Nato, and this has been made easier by the new partnership between Washington and Moscow. President Vladimir Putin has until recently resisted the notion of former Soviet territories joining Nato. But the inclusion of Russia in a new Nato body this year has helped to soften the blow. Romania and Bulgaria, whose economic development and political processes are still open to question, are likely to be admitted because of their strategic importance on the Black Sea. "The policy is to admit as many countries as possible," said a British official. "The argument is not why a country should join, but why it shouldn't." __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
