Eastern European, Baltic leaders support the West in war on terror

By WILLIAM J. KOLE
Associated Press Writer

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Declaring solidarity with the West in the war on terrorism, the leaders of 10 Eastern European and Baltic countries urged NATO on Friday to expand its military alliance and tighten security across the continent.

Meeting under heavy security at Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov's residence, the heads of state said the Sept. 11 attacks underscored the need to bring their nations into NATO and present a more united front to terrorist elements.

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, who was visiting Washington when the Pentagon was attacked, called the need for a broader alliance "the biggest security challenge of the 21st century.

"We need to protect our children. We need an alliance that is strong and capable of carrying out this mission," he said. "We cannot fight and win the war on terrorism with the methods of our enemies. We must reinforce liberty and democracy and the other ideals which unite us."

Friday's summit, also attended by the leaders of Albania, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, ended with a solemn statement that "our governments will fully support the war against terrorism.

"The lesson we draw from the terrorist attacks in the United States is that the security of America and Europe is more intertwined than ever before," the statement continued. "The new democracies of Europe can help counter terrorist and criminal threats to the community of the West."

Enthusiasm for NATO membership has grown in Eastern Europe and the Baltics since former Warsaw Pact members Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined in 1999. At a 2002 summit in Prague, NATO members are expected to clear the way for several new countries to join the 19-nation alliance.

Although Russia strongly opposes the eastward expansion of NATO, which would bring the alliance right to its doorstep, President Vladimir Putin softened his opposition earlier this week – suggesting that Russia and NATO could find common ground in the fight against terrorism.

In a message to the Sofia conference, President Bush said the U.S. supported NATO membership "for all of Europe's new democracies – from the Baltics to the Black Sea – who share our values.

"Your determination to stand side by side with the United States and the NATO alliance during this hour of trial sends a powerful message against the tyranny of terror," Bush said.

Stronger relations with emerging democracies are essential to counter the terrorist threat in Afghanistan, NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson said.

"Afghanistan is a safe haven for terrorists precisely because it does not have a viable state structure. It is a black hole," he said. "That is why NATO is engaged in southeast Europe – to prevent such black holes from emerging on our doorstep. ... The new democracies have demonstrated once again that they are not just fair-weather friends."

But Robertson cautioned the candidate countries that they would not be admitted until they have met NATO's political and military standards. "The strong logic of enlargement must be matched by the effort needed to make it happen," he said.

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AP-WS-10-05-01 1238EDT