29 Nov. 2006

New countries could be invited to join NATO in 2008 Event Riga Summit Official texts Riga Summit Declaration Opinion Audio file of the Secretary General’s closing press conference (.mp3/5.266Kb) Background NATO enlargement At the Riga Summit, NATO Heads of State and Government declared that the Alliance intends to extend further invitations to countries that meet NATO standards to join NATO at the next Summit, in 2008. They welcomed the efforts of the three countries currently in NATO’s Membership Action Plan – Albania, Croatia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia(1) – to prepare themselves for the responsibilities and obligations of membership. Open door “We have sent a clear signal to the countries who have Membership Action Plan,” NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said, “That at our next Summit in 2008 those nations that meet NATO standards will receive invitations.” The Alliance also affirmed that NATO remains open to new European members under Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty. 1.Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.