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Powell: Russia Not to Have Veto on NATO Expansion
US Secretary of State Colin Powell told Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga on Monday that Russia would not have veto power over NATO expansion.
"I told her that Russia would never be given a veto over who is or who is not part of NATO and we will examine each country in accordance with the conditions and standards put forth," Powell told reporters after meeting Freiberga here.
Latvia, a former Soviet republic, is eager to join NATO despite the strong objections of Russia. Heads of NATO member states will meet in Prague next year to consider further enlargement after Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined NATO in 1999.
"We very much would like to be under the security umbrella of NATO," Freiberga said.
She added that Latvia would also press ahead with membership in the European Union.
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