Seven new members formally join NATO

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Seven new members formally join NATO

Seven countries formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in a ceremony held on Monday, bringing the number of the treaty organization's members from 19 to 26.

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Seven countries formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in a ceremony held on Monday, bringing the number of the treaty organization's members from 19 to 26.

At the ceremony held at the US Treasury and presided by Secretary of State Colin Powell, prime ministers of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia deposited "instruments of accession" to NATO's founding treaty here.

"To the seven heads of states here assembled, I say to you and to your people: Welcome to the greatest and most successful alliance in history. Welcome," Powell said.

The top US diplomat described the expansion as a "historic step," saying that the addition of the new members will bring "new energy" to the transatlantic alliance.

The prime ministers of the seven new NATO member states and those of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, which are also seeking NATO memberships, are expected to join US President George W. Bushat another ceremony held in the White House later on Monday.

Source: Xinhua

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