• by IPS Correspondents (brussels)
• Thursday, December 01, 1994
• Inter Press Service

BRUSSELS, Dic 01 (IPS) - Italy's foreign minister stressed Thursday that the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) should contribute to strengthening the security and stability of Europe.

Adressing a meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries in Brussels, Martino emphasised that the alliance's new function is to project its stability to central and eastern Europe.

The ministers met in Brussels to discuss U.S. proposals for conditions on the admittance of former socialist bloc nations into NATO. However, according to NATO sources the meeting was not held to set a concrete timeframe for the countries to join.

Martino said the issue of relations with central and eastern European countries should not draw new lines of division, but must be part of "a total process focused on contributing to global stability and our continent's security."

He added that this would mean the parallel development of a relationship of reciprocal trust with Russia, by means of stepped- up cooperation in the framework of an association for peace and an intense political dialogue.

"Partnership for peace" is a programme of military and political cooperation launched by NATO in its January 1994 summit with the aim of strengthening relations with former enemy nations.

The programme - which Russia initially shunned, before joining in June - does not foresee full membership for the countries, but could be considered as a first step in that direction.

He said Italy is satisfied "that the 'partnership for peace' programme is constantly and successfully developing. Italy supported it since its creation and continues to contribute to its success."

Martino also pointed to "the growing importance of the Mediterranean region for the security of the allies and for common vital interests."

"The institutional and operative reinforcement of the (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) CSCE and its relations with NATO are also important...This would contribute to a security structure in Europe in which Russia could fully carry out its role."

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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