Aspiring NATO members call for strong Euro-Atlantic link

VILNIUS (AFP) May 21, 2003
The heads of parliament of 10 central and eastern European states, aspiring to NATO membership, called Wednesday for stronger Euro-Atlantic cooperation and for the alliance to maintain an "open door" policy.

"As the Euro-Atlantic partnership remains essential in guaranteeing security and stability, our parliaments and governments have the important duty to contribute to the strategic partnership between Europe and the United States", they said in a statement.

It was signed by 10 heads of parliaments after a meeting in the Lithuanian city of Trakai, south of Vilnius, said.

"NATO must remain a collective defence organisation with the Article Five guarantees at its core and maintain the transatlantic link as the foundation of its effectiveness," the document added.

It also expressed belief that partnership between Europe and the US will be enhanced by further development of European defence capabilities.

The so-called Vilnius 10 group includes Estonia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, which already have been invited to join NATO and Albania, Croatia, Macedonia who seek such an invitation.

"We are committed to an open door policy and strongly believe that Albania, Croatia and Macedonia will be invited to join NATO at the earliest opportunity", said the statement.

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