NATO Agrees To Launch Bosnia Membership Plan

NATO has granted a membership plan to Bosnia at a meeting in the Estonian capital of NATO foreign ministers.

Bosnia's bid for a so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP) was turned down by NATO in December over its failure to carry out needed reforms.

But since then, a NATO spokesman said, Bosnia has made "significant" progress, including its decision to destroy surplus ammunition and arms and to contribute troops to the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

NATO spokesman James Appathurai said NATO would accept Bosnia's first annual reform plan under the program, only when defense property, such as bases, was registered as belonging to the state and for use of the defense ministry.

A MAP spells out reforms a NATO candidate needs to fulfill before membership is offered.

Croatia joined NATO along with Albania last year and Montenegro was granted a membership plan in December.

compiled from agency reports