Rupel: Time for NATO Membership Preparations Running Out

Brussels, 14 March - Following a meeting with NATO General Secretary George Robertson in Brussels on Tuesday, Slovene Minister for Foreign Affairs Dimitrij Rupel warned that there is little time left for Slovenia's NATO membership preparations. Rupel believes that invitations for membership will be handed out by NATO following its summit meeting in 2002. However, the necessary harmonisation will have to be carried out before this, because of the lengthy process in the American Senate, added Rupel.