In June (Landmarks fourth day), July 8, 1997, NATO's eastward expansion is scheduled to begin implementation.


Madrid NATO summit meeting venue
In July 1997, the NATO Summit held at the Municipal Parliament House in Madrid, Spain. After more than five hours of bargaining, the decision, the Heads of State and Heads of Government of the 16 member states "to invite the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland to begin negotiations on accession to the EU and NATO" (Lssdjt.com) eventually the three countries to be able to officially become members in the occasion of NATO's 50th anniversary in April 1999. This marks brewing for more than three years of NATO's eastward expansion program was officially launched, the post-Cold War European security pattern thus significant changes.
NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said in his speech at the end of the meeting, will continue to be an open NATO's door. On has NATO countries to apply, he emphasized NATO's attention to Romania and Slovenia. Solana said NATO is willing to strengthen cooperation with countries in the region to maintain security and stability in Southeast Europe. Meanwhile, NATO also noticed is to strive for the Baltic countries to join NATO forces in security in the region. 27, 2011 NATO and Russia "basic document"
1997 after the signing of the NATO's eastward expansion Serve foregone conclusion. The United States subsequently publicly stated only agree with the first batch of the absorption of the Czech Republic, wave, Hungary. The attitude of the United States has been the other five member countries of the United Kingdom and other support. The majority of Member States such as France, Italy hopes to Romania and Slovenia are also included in the first batch of expanding the scope. Until prior to the meeting, the two sides are still at loggerheads over, had referred the matter to the heads of state to discuss. Agence France-Presse reported that, under the agreement in the final document of the meeting held in the Summit, which is the first of its kind in the history of NATO.
provisions in accordance meeting, the discussion is not open to the public, but some of the country's delegation revealed to the press about the case. The spokesman of the French delegation distributed at the press briefing, President Jacques Chirac's speech. Chirac's imperious attitude of the United States, said in his speech is extremely dissatisfied, he warned, let two countries had already reached the accession will be possible to destroy the unity of the alliance, undermine the credibility of the Alliance. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi also said in his speech, intended to support the firm position of the Slovenian accession.
another main topic of this meeting is the institutional reform of NATO's military and political decision-making process of reform. Here informed sources said that the reform of NATO's military institutions to obtain finally agreed to go through dozens of months of arduous negotiations.
NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana, presided over the meeting. To participate in the meeting, Secretary-General of the Western European Union (WEU), the Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. (Lssdjt.cn)