No. 24. (11/07/97)      Hungary's NATO invitation

On 8th July at the NATO summit after more than 8 hours of debate the decision was made about the first round of the Organisation's historically significant expansion.
Late in the afternoon Javier Solana, Secretary General of NATO, announced the decision made at the meeting of the heads of government and state of sixteen member countries, according to which the North Atlantic Organisation is inviting Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland to the accession negotiations. According to the plans the minutes that closes the acceptance negotiations will be signed in December this year and after the Parliament ratification - on the fiftieth anniversary of NATO, on 4th April 1999 - the membership of the three countries can become valid.
Javier Solana repeatedly confirmed that the gates of the Organisation remain open for the states that intend to join.
The declaration presented by the Secretary General was made after a long period of harmonisation as some states - led by France and Italy - were supporting the acceptance of Romania and Slovenia as well besides the acceptance of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland in the first round of the expansion. The group that was against the expansion of five was led by the United States and the United Kingdom. The declaration issued after the negotiations did not mention any country that can count on taking part in the next round of expansion, at the same time Solana mentioned Romania and Slovenia as states that show the signs of democratic development the most in the South-East European region.

In his declaration given after the decision of the NATO summit was announced, Prime Minister Gyula Horn said that it was of historical significance that Hungary was able to get into the circle of democratic states that have a developed market economy and are devoted to Euro-Atlantic values. He emphasised the sacrifice undertaken by the Hungarian people and their role in the country being able to fulfil the conditions prescribed for the accession invitation through stabilisation and reforms. According to his opinion the decision of the Organisation is good news for the Hungarians who live outside the borders as like this Hungary can represent the assertion of their rights more efficiently.

Minister of Foreign Affairs László Kovács said that Hungary has always asserted their interest in the accession of the neighbouring states and in the future, as a NATO member, they will continue to do so.

In his declaration given in Madrid, Polish head of state Aleksander Kwasniewski emphasised how happy he was that Poland and Hungary are able to enter NATO together. He said that those who are left out from the first round have no reason to worry as the gates of the Organisation will remain open for those who intend to join. He announced that his country - similarly to Hungary - is interested in Romania and Slovenia as well as Slovakia and the Baltic states also joining NATO.

In his speech Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Zieleniec emphasised the financial advantages of the accession. He was of the opinion that by belonging to the security zone of NATO the newly joining countries will become interesting for the capital which intends to invest in stable countries.

In his interview Romanian Prime Minister Ciorbea emphasised his conviction that if Romania continues the reforms they have started, they will be invited to join the North Atlantic Organisation in NATO's next round of expansion planned in 1999.

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeni Primakov announced that the NATO expansion is the biggest mistake of the era after the cold war, but at the same time the basic document signed in Paris guarantees the inviolation of the Russian security interests.

On the threshold of the 21st century we have started the journey towards a new, safer and freer Europe - said Bill Clinton commenting on the decision bringing about the NATO expansion. The American president met the leaders of the three countries that have been invited for the accession separately as well.

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On 9th June in Madrid the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council created in May in Sintra in Portugal, which co-ordinates the political and military co-operation of the NATO member states, the countries belonging to the former Warsaw Pact and the neutral states taking part in the peace partnership program, held their first meeting of heads of state and government.

NATO Secretary General Javier Solana said in his opening speech that three questions need to be clarified: the relationship of the newly created body with the transforming NATO, the possibilities of regional co-operation to strengthen safety and stability and the participation of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in treating crises similar to that in Bosnia.

The leaders of the NATO member states and Ukrainian head of state Leonid Kutshma signed the agreement between the North Atlantic Organisation and the Ukraine, the aim of which is to place the relations of NATO and the Ukraine on a new basis. According to the charter the representatives of NATO and the Ukraine shall have two official meetings a year.