THE last meeting of NATO aspirants before the November summit of the alliance brought more optimism for Bulgaria’s membership bid.
Top government officials of the 10 aspirant states, the so-called Vilnus group, gathered in Riga Friday and Saturday for last talks before the pact’s summit in Prague where invitations will be extended to new members.
Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, who led the Bulgarian delegation at the summit, told journalists after the forum he was more optimistic about Bulgaria’s future in NATO. He added that the country’s chances are “quite good” but it should not slacken in its preparation efforts.
“We must continue our effort and work,” Saxe-Coburg said. “We should not think that November 21 is the end of the effort; just the opposite, we have to continue and even increase it.”
In his address at the summit, the prime minister said that NATO’s large-scale enlargement was the key to creating a spiritually and politically undividable Europe.
“The very prospect of joining NATO gives more purposefulness, creative power and dynamics to out countries in transition to democracy,” he said adding that a large-scale enlargement was the most efficient way to lasting democratic consolidation.
As part of their official programme, the Bulgarian delegation conferred with US Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns. Apart from Saxe-Coburg, Bulgaria was represented by Foreign Minister Solomon Passi, Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Ivanov and Deputy Defence Minister Georgi Paskov.
During the meeting, Burns assured the Bulgarian delegation that the US is a definite advocate of NATO enlargement and President George Bush personally follows the process.
In his video address to the participants, Bush said that at its summit in November, the alliance is to make a huge step in its expansion, issuing invitations to all European democracies that are ready to share NATO’s responsibilities.
According to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who also addressed the forum by video, his country supports enlargement by as many members as possible and is ready to work with the candidate states for the necessary upgrading of the pact’s defence potential.
“The videotaped addresses by US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, which encouraged the NATO aspirants, are a clear sign of the Alliance’s enlargement,” Saxe-Coburg said upon his return to Bulgaria on Saturday.
This week, Turkey reiterated its support for Bulgaria’s NATO bid and its determination to continue the 2+2 format of cooperation, in which NATO members Turkey and Greece support aspirants Bulgaria and Romania.
The message was delivered by Turkish Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu who arrived on a three-day visit to Bulgaria on Tuesday.
“We are optimistic about the Prague summit in November,” Cakmakoglu said after his meeting with Defence Minister Nikolai Svinarov, at whose invitation he visited the country.
According to the Turkish politician, Bulgaria and Romania are considered as two friendly countries, and their future membership in the alliance is believed to contribute to the balance in Europe.
Top government officials of the 10 aspirant states, the so-called Vilnus group, gathered in Riga Friday and Saturday for last talks before the pact’s summit in Prague where invitations will be extended to new members.
Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, who led the Bulgarian delegation at the summit, told journalists after the forum he was more optimistic about Bulgaria’s future in NATO. He added that the country’s chances are “quite good” but it should not slacken in its preparation efforts.
“We must continue our effort and work,” Saxe-Coburg said. “We should not think that November 21 is the end of the effort; just the opposite, we have to continue and even increase it.”
In his address at the summit, the prime minister said that NATO’s large-scale enlargement was the key to creating a spiritually and politically undividable Europe.
“The very prospect of joining NATO gives more purposefulness, creative power and dynamics to out countries in transition to democracy,” he said adding that a large-scale enlargement was the most efficient way to lasting democratic consolidation.
As part of their official programme, the Bulgarian delegation conferred with US Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns. Apart from Saxe-Coburg, Bulgaria was represented by Foreign Minister Solomon Passi, Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Ivanov and Deputy Defence Minister Georgi Paskov.
During the meeting, Burns assured the Bulgarian delegation that the US is a definite advocate of NATO enlargement and President George Bush personally follows the process.
In his video address to the participants, Bush said that at its summit in November, the alliance is to make a huge step in its expansion, issuing invitations to all European democracies that are ready to share NATO’s responsibilities.
According to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who also addressed the forum by video, his country supports enlargement by as many members as possible and is ready to work with the candidate states for the necessary upgrading of the pact’s defence potential.
“The videotaped addresses by US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, which encouraged the NATO aspirants, are a clear sign of the Alliance’s enlargement,” Saxe-Coburg said upon his return to Bulgaria on Saturday.
This week, Turkey reiterated its support for Bulgaria’s NATO bid and its determination to continue the 2+2 format of cooperation, in which NATO members Turkey and Greece support aspirants Bulgaria and Romania.
The message was delivered by Turkish Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu who arrived on a three-day visit to Bulgaria on Tuesday.
“We are optimistic about the Prague summit in November,” Cakmakoglu said after his meeting with Defence Minister Nikolai Svinarov, at whose invitation he visited the country.
According to the Turkish politician, Bulgaria and Romania are considered as two friendly countries, and their future membership in the alliance is believed to contribute to the balance in Europe.
