Albania and Croatia step closer to NATO

US President George Bush has signed agreements which put Albania and Croatia a step closer to joining NATO. The White House saying the two countries entry to the Western alliance would be an historic step forward for the Balkans. President Bush says America would support further NATO expansion.

Today I reiterate America s commitment to the NATO aspirations fro Ukraine, Georgia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro. The door to NATO membership also remained open to Serbia should they chose that path. All these nations treasure the blessings of liberty because they remember the pain of tyranny.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer agreed the accession of Albania and Croatia would promote security and stability in a region which has seen so much violence. American backing of Georgia joining NATO will have further angered Moscow. Russia is vehemently opposed to the alliance s expansion towards its borders. Tensions between Moscow and Washington rose in August over the rebel region of South Ossetia which saw a brief war between Georgia and Russia. Georgia says it is determined to press ahead with plans to join the NATO alliance. Georgia is the furthest east of all countries currently considering new NATO partnerships

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