Bosnia would be welcomed into NATO: Rasmussen
BELGRADE. March 24. KAZINFORM. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed on Tuesday that the military alliance would welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina into its ranks, but added that the process came with conditions; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
Rasmussen, along with the ambassadors of NATO member states in Bosnia, met in Sarajevo with the collective presidency of Bosnia to discuss NATO's Membership Action Plan (MAP).
Earlier this month, NATO allies agreed to grant Bosnia participation in MAP, once progress on necessary reforms had begun.
Rasmussen addressing reporters at a press conference said: "The door was open" and that NATO was prepared to assist Bosnia on the path toward full membership.
However, a number of issues, not related directly to security questions, needed to be resolved before the Balkan country would be able to participate in the pre-membership process; Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.