10 February 1998
(Press release issued February 3) (320) Ottawa -- Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced that on February 3, Canada signed the amendments to the NATO Treaty admitting Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to full NATO membership. "In being the first NATO member to ratify the amendments," said Chretien, "we have shown the importance we attach to integrating the countries of central and eastern Europe into the security framework of the Trans-Atlantic community." Following is the text of a press release obtained from the NATO Home Page: (Begin text) CANADA RATIFIES NATO ENLARGEMENT February 3, 1998 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister Jean Chretien today announced that Canada has ratified amendments to the North Atlantic Treaty which admit Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to full NATO membership in April 1999. Canada is the first NATO member to take this step. The Instrument of Ratification was signed on Canada's behalf last night by Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy. "Canada has supported the enlargement of the Alliance since the early 1990s," said the Prime Minister. "In being the first NATO member to ratify the amendments, we have shown the importance we attach to integrating the countries of central and eastern Europe into the security framework of the Trans-Atlantic community." The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland were invited to join the Alliance at the Madrid NATO Summit in July 1997. They and the 16 current members of the Alliance signed Protocols of Accession in December 1997 in Brussels. NATO leaders will return to the question of further enlargement at NATO's 50th anniversary Summit in Washington in April 1999. Enlargement is only one aspect of NATO's adaptation. New partnerships and internal reform are part of NATO efforts to replace confrontation with cooperation. The Instrument of Ratification will be deposited with the United States Government by the Canadian Ambassador in Washington. (End text)