Brussels: NATO on Friday granted Montenegro its request to join the Membership Action Plan (MAP), a NATO programme of advice, assistance and practical support tailored to the individual needs of countries that wish to join the Alliance.
However, the 28-member alliance said that Bosnia and Herzegovina, the second applicant, would have to introduce more reforms and achieve greater success to be allowed to join MAP.
"I congratulate Montenegro on their success. It's the result of hard work. And with a sustained effort at further reform, today's invitation to join the MAP will be a stepping stone to the ultimate goal: full membership in the Atlantic Alliance," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a press conference.
Rasmussen said that Bosnia and Herzegovina would eventually find its home in NATO and that it is not a question of if it will join, but of when.
"During the discussion, NATO Allies welcomed the broad national consensus behind Bosnia and Herzegovina's request for MAP. Allies have noted that while progress has been achieved in defence reform, there is not enough progress in other important reform areas. The fact that three armies that so recently fought each other are now one, under one Defence Ministry, is a real achievement," the Secretary General said. "But it is also true that Bosnia-Herzegovina has not yet made the progress we would like to see in political reform; in constitutional reform; in creating a single, unified Government that can take tough decisions and carry out necessary reforms," he said.
NATO ministers said that they were committed to keep Bosnia and Herzegovina's reform progress under active review.
"There should be no doubt in Bosnia-Herzegovina: we want to see you in MAP, and to see you in NATO. We will work hard to support your hard work," Rasmussen said.
