(28 Mar 1997) English/Nat
The U-S reassured Estonia Thursday that its request to join NATO is still being considered.
U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made the announcement during a photo opportunity with visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
Albright said it must be remembered that NATO's sphere of influence was greater than its just its member nations.
U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met Estonia's Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Washington, during his brief visit to the American capital.
At the top of agenda has been the upcoming enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or NATO.
This summer, NATO plans to invite several former Soviet allies in Central and Eastern Europe to join the alliance in 1998.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"NATO will remain open to all European democracies that are able to contribute to its goals. This is fundamental."
SUPERCAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U-S Secretary of State
The planned expansion of NATO faces strong objections by Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who said Wednesday that he went to the Helsinki summit to try to convince the U-S that NATO's close proximity to Russia's border would endanger his country's security.
Albright says Washington is well aware of Moscow's reservations.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We should remember that NATO's area of concern always has been and always will be greater than its area of membership."
SUPERCAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U-S Secretary of State
However Estonia's Foreign Minister said Russia's position on the enlargement should not effect his country's request to join NATO.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I certainly do not believe that a country has to give up its aspirations to join - freely join an organisation simply because its neighbour objects."
SUPER CAPTION: Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Estonian Foreign Minister
Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic are expected to be invited to join NATO in July.
Later prospective members may include the Baltic states that were once incorporated in the Soviet Union.
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