Georgia, Ukraine 'not ready for NATO'

Tuesday 02 December 2008

There is agreement between the Netherlands and Germany that Georgia and Ukraine must restore order in their own countries before they are considered for membership of NATO, reports the Volkskrant.

According to foreign affairs minister Maxime Verhagen and Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier, candidate members must first be democratic, have no internal conflicts and have their own defence in order, says the paper.

For Georgia and Ukraine this means they must first introduce reforms, such as bringing in press freedom and an independent judiciary, Verhagen told the paper.

The ministers were speaking in The Hague before travelling to Brussels for a NATO meeting where the candidacy of the two countries will be discussed.

America has already said Georgia and Ukraine should become NATO members as soon as possible.

© DutchNews.nl

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