FM Paet: NATO Could Issue Accession Invitations to Croatia, Albania and Macedonia in Bucharest

06.03.2008

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in an informal meeting of the NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday, 6 March. The foreign ministers spent part of the time discussing preparations for the NATO summit in Bucharest from 2-4 April.

The main topics of the meeting were further expansion of the alliance, partnership relations with Georgia and Ukraine, NATO operations, and co-operation with the European Union in operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

The foreign ministers expressed their opinions regarding the possibility of presenting accession invitations to Croatia, Albania and Macedonia during the Bucharest summit. In their speeches, the foreign ministers acknowledged the efforts made by the three countries to carry out reforms. The general message was positive, though the ministers emphasised the necessity of continuing the reform process and resolving the name issue between Macedonia and Greece as quickly as possible. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet noted that drawing the Western Balkan nations closer to NATO is essential for ensuring the security of the region. “Estonia supports giving all three countries membership action plans in Bucharest, assuming that the candidate nations will continue making the necessary reforms and preparations at the same pace,” said Paet.

The foreign ministers of the alliance also exchanged ideas about the desire of Georgia and Ukraine to join the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP). The discussion over their endeavours will continue.

When talking about NATO operations, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that effective international co-operation and the co-ordination of the efforts of different organisations play a vital role in the building up of Afghanistan. “NATO and other international organisations must clearly define their roles in building up Afghanistan,” said Paet. The foreign minister expressed hope that the European Union’s contribution will increase and that we will get a clearer sense of Afghanistan’s needs.

Many ministers emphasised the need for more extensive co-operation between NATO and the European Union in operations. Foreign Minister Paet also emphasised the importance of political dialogue and information exchange between the two organisations. “There is a practical need for more extensive co-operation,” Paet stated. “For example, the safety of the members of the European Union Police Mission in Kosovo and Afghanistan depends directly on the effectiveness of co-operation between the two organisations,” he added.

For more information:
Riia Salsa, Spokesperson for the Permanent Representation of Estonia to NATO
+32 473 800 358