18 March 2002

Bush Assures NATO Aspirants of Steadfast U.S. Support

President Bush sent greetings to the Vilnius Group countries meeting in Bucharest March 25-26 to discuss their progress towards meeting the standards for membership in NATO.

The meeting, which also included many NATO Allies, "represents an important step toward our common goal of a Europe that is whole, free and at peace," Bush said.

He assured the NATO aspirants "of the United States' steadfast support for your efforts."

Following is the letter:

The White House
Washington
March 18, 2002

I am pleased to send warm greetings to those participating in "Bucharest 2002: The Spring of New Allies." Today's gathering represents an important step toward our common goal of a Europe that is whole, free and at peace.

I have had the good fortune to meet most of you and to hear first hand your commitment to meeting the responsibilities and high standards required for NATO membership. I am encouraged by our progress toward these goals and assure you of the United States' steadfast support for your efforts. In Warsaw last June, I said, "As we plan the Prague Summit, we should not calculate how little we can get away with, but how much we can do to advance the cause of freedom." Our progress toward this vision rests in your determined hands.

Today, as all civilized nations seek to address the threats of global terror, the bonds uniting NATO members are more important than ever. Together, we face challenges and new opportunities for confronting these dangers. In Prague, our Nations will take an historic step toward removing the remaining divisions of Europe. We will move to adapt NATO's structures and improve its capabilities so that our societies and our citizens are better protected against new threats, wherever they emerge. We are determined to take advantage of an unprecedented chance to shape a relationship between NATO and Russia that focuses on realistic and concrete cooperation against common threats. Your efforts in Bucharest are an important step toward achieving these goals.

I sent my best wishes for a successful conference and offer my sincere thanks to [Romanian] Prime Minister [Adrian] Nastase for hosting this meeting.

George Bush