6 steps to LatviaâÀ™s full membership of NATO | 1st STEP âÀ“ Accession talks and the reform plan |
December 2002 âÀ“ March 2003 Accession talks and preparation of the reform plan: - 4 December 2002 âÀ“ first round of accession talks
- 11 December 2002 âÀ“ second round of accession talks
- January 2003 âÀ“ preparation of the reform plan
- January-February 2003 âÀ“ visits to Latvia by NATO experts on information security, economic and military issues
- 4 February 2003 âÀ“ meeting between Latvia and the nineteen NATO member states in Brussels to discuss the reform plan
| 2nd STEP âÀ“ A letter from LatviaâÀ™s Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mr Lord Robertson |
March 2003 A letter from LatviaâÀ™s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete is sent to NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, confirming LatviaâÀ™s readiness to become a member state of the Alliance. LatviaâÀ™s reform plan is submitted together with the letter. | 3rd STEP âÀ“ Preparation and signing of the Accession Protocols |
March 2003 The North-Atlantic Treaty Protocol stipulating LatviaâÀ™s membership of the Alliance is drafted. The Protocol is signed by the nineteen NATO member states. | 4th STEP âÀ“ Ratification of the Accession Protocol |
March 2003 - 2004 Ratification of the Accession Protocol in the parliaments of the NATO member states. The ratification process takes place in each member state according to nationally determined endorsement procedures. | 5th STEP âÀ“ Ratification by the Latvian Saeima (parliament) |
Beginning of 2004 Ratification of the Accession Protocol by the Latvian Saeima (Parliament) and its official deposition with the US State Department. | 6th STEP âÀ“ Latvia becomes a full member of NATO |
May 2004 Summit of NATO Heads of State and Government, at which Latvia is declared a full-fledged NATO member state.
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