PRAGUE - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Thursday that indivisibility of Euro-Atlantic security was taken under guarantee by recording that Cold War had ended with the decision to enlarge NATO.
Speaking at the opening session of the North Atlantic Council, Sezer said that inviting seven countries to join the Alliance was an important step in further improving security of the member countries when the threats faced in the 21st century were taken into consideration.
Sezer noted that NATO was living one of the extraordinary days in its 53-year history and noted that he was very proud to represent Turkey, which had determinedly supported the enlargement in this historical turning point since the very beginning.
''We once more record that Cold War has ended and there is no return back to those days with the decision we have taken today about enlargement and we take under guarantee the indivisibility of Euro-Atlantic security,'' Sezer said.
Sezer went on saying, ''on the other hand, when the fact that we are face to face with spreading and increasing threats in the 21st century, accession of seven countries to the Alliance is an important step for further improvement of security of our countries and people. Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to stress that we consider NATO's expansion as a means not a goal and enlargement is a process of continuous integration and development instead of a choice which will be concluded with a single decision.''
With this understanding, the countries which were invited to join NATO today were expected to progress in the direction of that target with determination, Sezer stated.
Sezer said, ''to reach this target, Turkey is ready to extend all assistance not only in cooperation with the member countries but also by developing its bilateral relations with these countries.''
They were ''obliged and ready'' to extend all the support to the candidate countries which were not invited to join the Alliance in this summit in order to help them continue their impressing development despite all the difficulties in the transition period and in order to help them reach membership target as soon as possible, Sezer pointed out.
Sezer added, ''this is the only way towards an integrated and peaceful Europe ideal as well as a necessity of the 'open door' policy that we are insistently defending. Today is a meaningful day for all of us. Because, we not only strengthen with participation of seven new countries but also we can look at the future with success thanks to this success gained in the end of concerted efforts and solidarity. I once more would like to hail you with all these feelings and state that we expect you to actually see you among us as soon as possible.''