| Bush covered the “prisoners of the empire” with a NATO shield Yesterday in Washington, the ranks of the North Atlantic Alliance expanded from 19 to 26 member countries. The formal part of the procedure took place at the State Department, where the prime ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia deposited the instruments of ratification on accession to the Alliance. The emotional climax took place on the sun-drenched south lawn of the White House, against the backdrop of cherry blossoms and the beaming faces of the leaders of the seven newcomer countries.
President George W. Bush addressed the line of recruits. His speech was brief but heartfelt. “When NATO was created, the peoples of these seven countries were prisoners of the empire. They fought for independence. They earned their freedom through their courage and perseverance,” is how Bush described the past of the seven former socialist countries. Freedom, as the president emphasized, came to them “under the watchful eye of NATO.”
Alliance recruits continue to count on the block's vigilance. After all, from the very moment they gained independence, they were afraid of someone (apparently, Moscow). And only on the White House lawn did the recruits catch their breath. NATO membership means “unprecedented security for Latvia,” said the country’s President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. She was echoed by Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts. According to him, Estonia has never felt so safe. “Lithuania is already covered by NATO’s shield,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Linas Linkevičius exulted. “Membership in NATO means that Bulgaria can be strong,” said the country's Defense Minister Nikolai Svinarov.
The G7 paid for this collective relief by unanimously supporting the United States in Iraq. President Bush appreciated this. All seven countries, he said, "are helping to bring lasting freedom to Iraq and Afghanistan." Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia conduct patrols in Iraq, and Estonia and Latvia conduct mine clearance. Romania and Slovenia are fighting terrorism in Afghanistan.
Having set these countries as an example to others, President Bush reassured Europeans who had not yet been included in the Alliance: “NATO’s doors will remain open until all of Europe is united in freedom and peace.” The owner of the White House did not forget the dissatisfied Moscow. "NATO is expanding its circle of friends, opening a new chapter in relations with Russia," Bush said. Andrey ZLOBIN |
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