Post by depletedreasons on Apr 4, 2008 3:36:04 GMT -5
Bulgaria PM: We Are Sorry FYROM Didn't Make It to NATO
Posted: April 03, 2008 at 16:22 PM EST (21:22 PM GMT)
Bulgarian PM Sergey Stanishev
The Bulgarian PM Sergey Stanishev stated at a press conference during the NATO Summit in Bucharest that Bulgaria expressed its regret over the fact that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was not extended an invitation at the forum to join the Alliance.
Stanishev added that the Bulgarian side had insisted that a political commitment be made so that FYROM's membership negotiations with NATO could be completed as soon as possible, the Bulgarian Information Agency BTA reported.
Earlier on Thursday the US President George W. Bush also expressed his regret over the postponed membership invitation of FYROM, and promised that it would be invited to join the North Atlantic Alliance as soon as possible. Bush stated clearly that the NATO's expansion must continue.
On Thursday afternoon the Skopjean Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki announced that his country's delegation was leaving the NATO Summit after the disappointing decision. Milososki thanked the United States and George W. Bush on behalf of FYROM for the firm support for its membership.
The Bulgarian PM also announced he had had a number of bilateral meetings during the second day of the NATO summit, including with the US President. In his words, Bush expressed a positive attitude towards Bulgaria's role in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Stanishev said he posed the question about including Bulgaria in the US Visa Waiver Program to the US President, who had showed readiness for the settling of the issue. The PM announced that next week a delegation of the US Department of Homeland Security was to arrive in Sofia for negotiations on that matter.
www.phantis.com/news/?newsID=20080403162014
Posted: April 03, 2008 at 16:22 PM EST (21:22 PM GMT)
Bulgarian PM Sergey Stanishev
The Bulgarian PM Sergey Stanishev stated at a press conference during the NATO Summit in Bucharest that Bulgaria expressed its regret over the fact that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was not extended an invitation at the forum to join the Alliance.
Stanishev added that the Bulgarian side had insisted that a political commitment be made so that FYROM's membership negotiations with NATO could be completed as soon as possible, the Bulgarian Information Agency BTA reported.
Earlier on Thursday the US President George W. Bush also expressed his regret over the postponed membership invitation of FYROM, and promised that it would be invited to join the North Atlantic Alliance as soon as possible. Bush stated clearly that the NATO's expansion must continue.
On Thursday afternoon the Skopjean Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki announced that his country's delegation was leaving the NATO Summit after the disappointing decision. Milososki thanked the United States and George W. Bush on behalf of FYROM for the firm support for its membership.
The Bulgarian PM also announced he had had a number of bilateral meetings during the second day of the NATO summit, including with the US President. In his words, Bush expressed a positive attitude towards Bulgaria's role in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Stanishev said he posed the question about including Bulgaria in the US Visa Waiver Program to the US President, who had showed readiness for the settling of the issue. The PM announced that next week a delegation of the US Department of Homeland Security was to arrive in Sofia for negotiations on that matter.
www.phantis.com/news/?newsID=20080403162014