Estonian PM happy with NATO decision on Georgia, Ukraine

03.04.2008

BUCHAREST, Apr 03, BNS - The NATO summit's decision on Georgia and Ukraine is satisfactory as member states reached a forward-looking compromise on the enlargement of the alliance, the head of the Estonian government finds.

The prospect of accession to NATO gives many East European and Balkan nations significant motivation to build their state, implement defense reforms and guard security, Andrus Ansip said.

"Today's decision is a clear signal that the doors to NATO are and will remain open," he said.

In his words, NATO enlargement will strengthen security, stability and democracy, spokespeople for the government said.

NATO leaders decided today not to offer Ukraine and Georgia a Membership Action Plan for the time being but promised to review their progress in December.

Several NATO members, first and foremost France and Germany, opposed putting Georgia and Ukraine on a path to membership. Estonia for its part has always supported giving a MAP to the two countries and affirmed this at various levels.

Estonia together with several other countries sent at the end of March a letter to NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in support of giving a MAP to Georgia and Ukraine.

Among signatories were Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Canada, a founding member of the alliance.

The signatories said such a decision would help increase stability and security in Europe and refraining from it would place in doubt NATO's traditional open doors policy.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said Estonia also welcomes invitations to join the alliance extended to Croatia and Albania. The two countries meet all the technical and political criteria for membership.

On other enlargement decisions, Macedonia was told an invitation could be issued as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to its name row with Greece was found.

"Membership (for Macedonia) is within reach after settlement of the name issue and hopefully a solution will be found soon," said Paet, confirming that Macedonia's membership will not have to await NATO's next summit.

The NATO summit raised for the first time the cyber defense issue. The alliance's recently approved cyber defense policy outlines the fundamentals of protecting its information systems, working out cyber security standards and assisting allies in the event of cyber attacks.

NATO leaders approved a long-term Afghanistan strategy. "The approval of the Afghanistan strategy confirms the alliance's long-term commitment and thereby increases the chances of success of the NATO-led operation," Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo said.

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