NATO Secretary Visits GermanyNATO Secretary George Robertson visited Germany on Thursday and had talks with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in Berlin.Robertson and Fischer both stressed the bilateral ties between the NATO and Russia. They discussed also the European Union's ties with the NATO, European security policy. Robertson praised that Germany would make a greater contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO)through the reform plans of its armed forces. Robertson stressed also the leading role of Germany in Europe. The German cabinet approved the reform plans offered by German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping on June 14, on the basis of his reform plans the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, will cut its numbers from currently 320000 soldiers to 255000 soldiers. As an important force of the NATO German armed forces played a key role during the time of the Cold War. After the end of the Cold War the NATO will further enlarge towards east and former members of Warsaw Pact Czech Republic and Hungary had been admitted into the NATO last March. The enlargement of the NATO will undoubtedly threaten the security of Russia. Therefore the improvement of the bilateral relations of the NATO and Russia is quite important in the future. |
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