Bush lauds "historic step for Balkans"

U.S. President George Bush on Friday in Washington signed a document to ratify a protocol defining the NATO memberships of Croatia and Albania.

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Saturday, 25.10.2008.

13:47

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U.S. President George Bush on Friday in Washington signed a document to ratify a protocol defining the NATO memberships of Croatia and Albania. Bush described this as "a historic step for the Balkans". Bush lauds "historic step for Balkans" NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who attended the White House ceremony, spoke to commend the U.S. president's personal efforts to enlarge NATO, and make this military alliance "bigger and more successful". The protocol was previously ratified by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 25. "This is a key moment in the story of human freedom, considering that America officially supports Albania's and Croatia's entry into NATO," Bush was quoted as saying. "In only one decade, the Balkans has turned from a war-torn region into a region that contributes to international peace and stability. America eagerly awaits the day when NATO will gather all the Balkan countries, including Macedonia," he added. Scheffer for his part said that the alliance was created during the Cold War, but that it "surpassed the circumstances in which it was born". "NATO is today an active alliance, with active action to defend its values, against all the threats, an alliance whose members are dedicated to developing means and possibilities that are necessary to answer all the demanding missions," he was quoted as saying. NATO's next summit, scheduled for April 2009, is expected to invite the two countries to join the alliance.

Bush lauds "historic step for Balkans"

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who attended the White House ceremony, spoke to commend the U.S. president's personal efforts to enlarge NATO, and make this military alliance "bigger and more successful".

The protocol was previously ratified by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 25.

"This is a key moment in the story of human freedom, considering that America officially supports Albania's and Croatia's entry into NATO," Bush was quoted as saying.

"In only one decade, the Balkans has turned from a war-torn region into a region that contributes to international peace and stability. America eagerly awaits the day when NATO will gather all the Balkan countries, including Macedonia," he added.

Scheffer for his part said that the alliance was created during the Cold War, but that it "surpassed the circumstances in which it was born".

"NATO is today an active alliance, with active action to defend its values, against all the threats, an alliance whose members are dedicated to developing means and possibilities that are necessary to answer all the demanding missions," he was quoted as saying.

NATO's next summit, scheduled for April 2009, is expected to invite the two countries to join the alliance.

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