Estonia, Latvia in favor of three countries' accession to NATO

07.03.2008

TALLINN, Mar 07, BNS - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and head of the Latvian government Ivars Godmanis Friday confirmed their support to the accession of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia to NATO.

Ansip Friday said at a press conference following his meeting with Godmanis that Croatia, Albania and Macedonia should receive invitations to accession at NATO's summit in the Romanian capital of Bucharest at the beginning of April.

Ivars Godmanis said Latvia, too, shared those views.

Meeting in Brussels on Thursday, EU foreign ministers recognized the efforts of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia in carrying out reforms necessary for accession to the alliance. At the same time the ministers underlined the need to continue the reform process and solution of the name debate between Macedonia and Greece. Greece does not accept the name of Macedonia as there is a province of the same name in the northern part of Greece.

NATO's Bucharest summit will take place from April 2 to 4.

Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8862, sise@bns.ee