NATO expanded its sphere of security on Thursday by formally accepted at its Bucharest summit Croatia and Albania as new members.
The move has enabled the tentacles of the 26-nation military alliance deep into the western Balkans, Russia's traditional sphere of influence.
Macedonia was not invited to join because NATO member Greece opposed it due to a dispute over the former Yugoslav republic's name.
Whenever the name brawl is settled, Macedonia will be a NATO member, leaders of NATO nations promised at the three-day summit.
In welcoming the new members, U.S. President George W. Bush, in his capacity as dean of NAC, said the alliance's embrace of new members would make Europe stronger and freer.
He regretted that Macedonia was not invited at the summit to join, urging for quick solution of the name dispute.
It seems that NATO would spare no country in the Balkans, as it also extended invitation on the same day to Montenegro as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina to start an Intensified Dialogue with the military alliance.
"There is agreement to invite Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to begin an Intensified Dialogue on a full range of political, military, financial and security issues relating to their aspirations," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said.
The Intensified Dialogue is a stage before the Membership Action Plan (MAP), the gateway eventually leading to NATO membership in five to ten years for an aspirant.
Furthermore, Scheffer said NATO will also intensify its collaboration with Serbia.
Aside from Macedonia, the remaining non-NATO Balkan nations are Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Eastward expansion of NATO has been strongly opposed by Russia, which has seen the moves as a threat to its security.
Russia could not stop the military bloc from absorbing Balkan nations as members, but the rejection to start the Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Ukraine and Georgia by the summit has been regarded by observers as Moscow's victory.
Russia has warned that NATO membership for the two former Soviet republics would bring instability, even war in the region.
Despite a strong push from U.S. President George W. Bush, the countries failed to embark on the road to accession as Germany and France, backed by some smaller nations, fear that the move would irritate Russia.
Russia could not feel relaxed as NATO leaders decided to leave the issue to a meeting of their foreign ministers in December 2008,saying in a declaration that the two nations will be NATO members some day.
Source: Xinhua
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