NATO leaders have agreed to the organisation's biggest ever enlargement by inviting seven ex-communist countries to join the bloc as it extends into former Soviet Union territory.
The seven countries seeking membership in 2004 are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania.
NATO's Secretary-General, Mr George Robertson, proposed the list of countries to join NATO, and that proposal was agreed upon by silent assent. A small round of applause erupted when Mr Robertson confirmed the approval.
French President Mr Jacques Chirac said: "It is a historic moment in which Europe is coming together little by little, eliminating the fractures which divided it in the past".
US President Mr George W Bush said the alliance's historic addition of seven ex-communist states will "refresh the spirit" of the military alliance.
"America is very pleased by today's decision. We believe it strengthens our nation's most important alliance," he said.
AFP