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NATO expected to further Balkan enlargement
By Brooks Tigner
05 March 2008
While there has been some violence since Kosovo declared independence on 17 February, most of the action thus far has been diplomatic.
Enlargement, Kosovo's declaration of independence and NATO's security commitments in Afghanistan will dominate talks when allied foreign ministers gather in Brussels on 6 March for a final meeting before NATO's 2-4 April summit in Bucharest.
According to diplomats, a consensus has emerged to invite three Balkan countries to join the alliance.
Noting that the foreign ministers will review a consolidated progress report on the membership action plans (MAPs) of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, a senior European allied diplomat said: "I suspect from the signals issued by all the other allies that we'll be issuing invitations" at Bucharest for the three to join NATO. "It's our view that they have done enough to merit an invitation."
One possible area of contention that could affect the accession process involves differences over the official name of Macedonia. Still known by its UN-appointed name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), most allies seem willing to drop the acronym in favour of 'Macedonia'. However, Greece alleges that the name 'Republic of Macedonia' implies a territorial ambition towards the Greek province of Macedonia.
It remains to be seen what NATO will do about membership contenders Georgia and Ukraine. Both want to move their relations with NATO from the current pre-accession stage of 'intensified dialogue' to a MAP, which is the formal first step toward membership.