| Author (Corporate) | North Atlantic Treaty Organisation |
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| Series Title | Press Release |
| Series Details | 31.03.14 |
| Publication Date | 31/03/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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Preview and reports of a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, Brussels, 1-2 April 2014. NATO's support to Ukraine and the Alliance's review of its relations with Russia in the wake of the Ukraine crisis topped the agenda. Foreign ministers also discussed NATO’s relations with Georgia, the situation in Afghanistan, the Alliance’s cooperation with its Gulf partners, and the preparations for NATO’s Wales Summit in September 2014. NATO foreign ministers reaffirmed on the 1 April 2014 their commitment to enhance the Alliance’s collective defence, agreed to further support Ukraine and to suspend NATO’s practical cooperation with Russia. In addition, NATO Foreign Ministers highlighted the historic success of the Alliance’s Open Door policy by marking three significant anniversaries which have improved security and stability across Europe since the end of the Cold War. In 1999, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined NATO. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia became Alliance members in 2004 and five years have passed since the accession of Albania and Croatia in 2009. NATO Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen said that the Alliance’s door remained open 'to all European democracies which share our values, which can assume the responsibilities of membership and which can contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic area'. Russia accused NATO of reverting to the 'verbal jousting' of the Cold War, by suspending cooperation over its annexation of Crimea. A spokesman said that neither the west, nor Russia would 'win'. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_108419.htm |
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| Subject Categories | Security and Defence |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
