"EU accession does not imply NATO membership"

BELGRADE Serbia's EU accession "does not imply membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)." This was heard from NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Thrasyvoulos Terry Stamatopoulos. "EU accession does not imply NATO membership" In his interview to the Belgrade-based daily Politika, Stamatopoulos said that NATO and the EU have 22 members in common and share the same democratic values, but also pointed out that there are countries that are members either of NATO or of the EU. For example, Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta and Sweden are in the Union, but are not a part of NATO - so obviously there is no requirement to join both of these organizations, he noted. Stamatopoulos stressed that it is up to Serbia to decide if it wants to apply for NATO membership, adding that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization supports the impending start of Serbia's EU accession talks. On the other hand, he underscored that political, social and economic reforms implied in the process of joining one organization have a positive impact on the accession to another, pointing as an example to the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organized crime. Stamatopoulos also emphasized the importance of the Western Balkans region to NATO, noting that the partnership with Serbia is growing stronger. Upon signing of an agreement on military cooperation between Kosovo and Albania, in view of the fact that Albania is a NATO member, Stamatopoulos said that NATO remains fully committed to the protection of security in Kosovo as part of its KFOR mission, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1244. (Beta/AP, file) Politika Tanjug

"EU accession does not imply NATO membership"

In his interview to the Belgrade-based daily Politika, Stamatopoulos said that NATO and the EU have 22 members in common and share the same democratic values, but also pointed out that there are countries that are members either of NATO or of the EU.

For example, Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta and Sweden are in the Union, but are not a part of NATO - so obviously there is no requirement to join both of these organizations, he noted.

Stamatopoulos stressed that it is up to Serbia to decide if it wants to apply for NATO membership, adding that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization supports the impending start of Serbia's EU accession talks.

On the other hand, he underscored that political, social and economic reforms implied in the process of joining one organization have a positive impact on the accession to another, pointing as an example to the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organized crime.

Stamatopoulos also emphasized the importance of the Western Balkans region to NATO, noting that the partnership with Serbia is growing stronger.

Upon signing of an agreement on military cooperation between Kosovo and Albania, in view of the fact that Albania is a NATO member, Stamatopoulos said that NATO remains fully committed to the protection of security in Kosovo as part of its KFOR mission, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1244.