NATO allies remained divided on Thursday over whether to offer Ukraine and Georgia a membership action plan (MAP), a step closer to accession.
At a NATO foreign ministers' meeting, Germany and France raised reservations on such a move, which they believed was premature, said a NATO official, who asked not to be named.
"No decisions have been taken. A discussion was held," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters after the meeting.
Thursday's debate was the first at ministerial level after both countries made clear their aspirations for MAP.
"It is a discussion which will be continued between now and the Bucharest summit (of NATO)," said de Hoop Scheffer.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said there was no consensus on this issue. "Here I have nothing to hide. No decision was made. We are simply going to pursue the discussions on this difficult issue, and on a unanimous basis," he told a separate press conference.
He also stressed the importance of relations with Russia, which is opposed to the two former Soviet republics' entry into NATO.
"The European Union's, not only France's relations with Russia are of crucial importance for the future," said Kouchner.
De Hoop Scheffer indicated, however, that Russia should not have a say in Ukraine and Georgia's entry into NATO.
"NATO's door is open. Who finally passes through that door is decided by the NATO allies, and only by them, not by any other nation. There are no vetoes in this connection."
Russia is already angered by the West's handling of Kosovo independence and a U.S. plan to build a missile defense site in Poland and the Czech Republic.
On Thursday, NATO foreign ministers were positive over membership for Croatia, Macedonia and Albania.
"There was a general view that they have made a lot of progress and people were very upbeat about it," said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
But Macedonia has to sort out a dispute with Greece over its name before the Bucharest summit, which is three weeks away.
Greece, a NATO member state, has threatened to block Macedonia's alliance membership over the name issue. Greece fears that the former Yugoslav republic's constitutional name -- Republic of Macedonia -- implies territorial ambition for the neighboring northern Greek province of Macedonia.
Macedonia, however, has refused to change its name for the sake of NATO membership.
Greece on Thursday remained firm on its position.
"As far as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is concerned, I stressed to our allies that unfortunately, the policy that was followed by the government of our neighboring country ...does not allow us to take the same positive stance as in the case of Croatia and Albania," Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni told reporters.
"Greece was therefore unable to provide its consent to the invitation, as I stressed to my fellow colleagues," she said, adding her country is ready to use veto power.
Greece's veto will effectively block Macedonia's bid for NATO membership as enlargement is decided by unanimity.
Source:Xinhua
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