WASHINGTON – The North Atlantic Council (NATO) today celebrates the anniversaries of the latest three rounds of NATO enlargement: the fifteenth anniversary of the accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland; the tenth anniversary of the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia; and the fifth anniversary of the accession of Albania and Croatia.
By choosing to join NATO, Allies have shown their commitment to freedom, security, and the values and principles which are the foundation of the Euro-Atlantic community. Through their accession and contributions, NATO has become stronger and more inclusive.
The Open Door policy under Article 10 of the Washington Treaty is one of the Alliance’s great successes. Through this historic process of Euro-Atlantic integration, peace, cooperation, and stability in Europe have been strengthened and democracy and the rule of law have been firmly anchored. Today we stand together in strong solidarity and in defence of our indivisible security and shared values, as envisaged in the Washington Treaty.
In celebrating these anniversaries we reaffirm that, in accordance with our policy, the Alliance’s door remains open to new members in the future.
