EUCOM helps Balkan states' militaires meet NATO needs

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EUCOM helps Balkan states' militaires meet NATO needs
By Charlie Coon, Stars and Stripes
Europe edition, Thursday, November 8, 2007

STUTTGART, Germany — The U.S. European Command is hoping that recent meetings in Skopje, Macedonia, will bolster the bids of Macedonia and two other Balkan nations to join NATO.

The meetings, held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, addressed reforms being made by the Macedonian, Croatian and Albanian militaries. To join the 26-nation security alliance, the three nations must be able to mesh militarily with other NATO nations.

“We support their getting in, but we don’t have any control over the decision; that’s a NATO decision,” said Lt. Col. Scott Cilley, EUCOM’s political-military desk officer for the Balkans.

The alliance could add new members at its April 2008 summit in Bucharest, Romania.

Last week’s meetings were held as part of the 7th Adriatic Charter Chiefs of Defense Conference. Military logistics was a prime theme, including talks on the equipping of troops and the procurement and transporting of military assets.

One goal, Cilley said, is for the three nations to improve their logistics capabilities, which would lessen their need to be supported by the U.S. and other militaries.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50128