26 Feb. - 3 Mar. 2003

Secretary General visits Lithuania, Latvia and Romania Lord Robertson continued his tour of the seven countries currently engaged in accession talks to join NATO with a visit to Lithuania and Latvia on 27-28 February, and Romania on 3 March. In each of the countries the NATO Secretary General met with top officials and addressed the parliaments. Lord Robertson congratulated the countries on their invitation to join NATO, but pointed out that progress still needed to be made in certain areas, and urged the governments to continue with reforms. Lord Robertson highlighted the specific issues that the Alliance expects the invitees to address, and explained how NATO itself is transforming to take on new challenges. “In preparing to join the Alliance next year, all seven invited countries face a double challenge. You must continue, and intensify, your own political and military reforms. And you must prepare to jump onto a moving train – because the Alliance’s transformation is both fundamental, and moving fast,” said Lord Robertson. The Secretary General visited Bulgaria on 17 February and is expected to visit Slovenia, Slovakia and Estonia in the coming weeks. All seven countries are expected to sign accession protocols by the end of March. The accession protocols are amendments to the North Atlantic Treaty, which once signed and ratified by allies, will permit the invited countries to become parties to the Treaty. The whole process is to be completed in time for these countries to join the Alliance at the latest at the next NATO Summit in May 2004. Additional information: Speech by NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson at the Lithuanian Parliament - 27 February 2003 Speech by NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson in Latvia - 28 February 2003 Press release - NATO Secretary General to visit Lithuania and Latvia - 26 February 2003 Speech by NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson at the Romanian Parliament - 3 March 2003 Press release - NATO Secretary General to visit Romania - 28 February 2003