NATO moves forward with former Communists

NATO took a giant step forward yesterday, welcoming seven former Communist countries into the military alliance and paving the way for a 20,000-strong rapid reaction force.

The admittance of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria to full membership by 2004, means the borders of the American-European military bloc now extend from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

An upgrade of its weapons and capabilities in line with US demands was also agreed. However, Germany and France led the way in resisting President George Bush's efforts to have NATO agree to military action against Iraq without waiting for UN approval.