NATO offers Georgia, Ukraine "intensive engagement"

PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO's chief has reassured Ukraine and Georgia that there's "not a sliver of a doubt" the two ex-Soviet republics will join the alliance before long.



"We agreed that these countries will become members of NATO," Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said after intense morning discussions in Bucharest that lasted several hours more than anticipated.



In what was seen as a hard-fought compromise, the secretary general said NATO and the two applicants would begin political discussions 'at the highest level' leading up to a December meeting of NATO foreign ministers, who will be entrusted with the power to decide on whether to offer them MAPs.



De Hoop Scheffer also called on Ukraine to go ahead with democratic reforms and said NATO leaders were looking forward to the staging of fair elections in Georgia in May.



By way of consolation, Scheffer said NATO would offer Georgia and Ukraine "intensive engagement," the AP reports.