BELGIUM: NATO clears entry plan for Montenegro/Bosnia waits

Record ID: 402023

  • Title: BELGIUM: NATO clears entry plan for Montenegro/Bosnia waits
  • Date: 7th December 2009
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 4, 2009) (NATO POOL) NATO MINISTERS AT MEETING MINISTERS TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, SAYING: "Ladies and Gentleman I am pleased to announce that today, Montenegro has been granted its request to join the Membership Action Plan and a clear message has been given to Bosnia Herzegovina. Bosnia He
  • Embargoed: 22nd December 2009 12:00
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  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Reuters ID: LVA3ENXQMSCQJ9AZ9RWGV7ZVGIYK
  • Story Text: The process of Montenegro's membership to NATO began in proper on Friday (December 4) as ministers in Brussels agreed to grant the independent state eventual membership to NATO.
    It could still take years to attain full membership as the former Yugoslav republic of 650,000 people has to first meet the conditions of NATO's Membership Action Plan, a roadmap for accession.
    Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, still needs further progress to be invited onto the Membership Action Plan or MAP.
    Both Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are already part of the Partnership for Peace programme, a platform for countries hoping to join NATO, a military alliance that has 28 members. They also hope to join the European Union at some point.
    ''Montenegro has been granted its request to join the Membership Action Plan and a clear message has been given to Bosnia Herzegovina," said NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a news conference following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
    ''Bosnia Herzegovina will join MAP once it achieves necessary the progress in reform," he added.
    Rasmussen said it was only a matter of time before Montenegro won full membership in NATO, and he said Bosnia and Herzegovina should not lose hope of joining the military alliance.
    "With a sustained effort at further reform, today's invitation to join the Membership Action Plan will be a stepping stone to the ultimate goal: full membership in NATO," Rasmussen said on Montenegro.
    On Bosnia and Herzegovina he added: "There should be no doubt in Bosnia Herzegovina: we want to see you in Membership Action Plan, we want to see you in NATO. We understand the importance for the country and for the whole region, and we will work hard to support your hard work to make it possible, as quickly as possible."
    Rasmussen explained that Bosnia and Herzegovina needed further democratic reforms and a more effective military before it would be accepted onto MAP.
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