*EPF402 11/21/2002
Transcript: Bush Welcomes NATO's Decision to Invite Seven New Members
(Speaks at opening of NATO summit Nov. 21) (180)

NATO Heads of State and Government, at the start of their two-day Summit in Prague November 21, formally invited seven new countries to join the Alliance: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The decision was announced at the opening session of the North Atlantic Council (NAC), NATO's highest decision-making body.

President Bush, in remarks at the opening session, said the United States "is very pleased by today's decision" to welcome seven new countries to become members.

Following is the White House transcript of the President's remarks:

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Prague, Czech Republic)
November 21, 2002

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL SUMMIT

Prague Congress Center
Prague, Czech Republic

10:03 A.M. (L)

THE PRESIDENT: America is very pleased by today's decision. We believe it strengthens our nation's most important alliance, NATO. By welcoming seven members, we will not only add to our military capabilities, we will refresh the spirit of this great democratic alliance.

We believe today's decision reaffirms our commitment to freedom and our commitment to a Europe which is whole and free and at peace.

Thank you.

END 10:04 A.M. (L)

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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