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NATO confirms intention to eventually admit Ukraine, Georgia

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STRASBOURG, April 4 (RIA Novosti) - NATO has confirmed in a statement after a NATO Council session its intention to admit Ukraine and Georgia when the countries fall in line with the alliance's standards.

NATO has enlarged since 1999, admitting three ex-Soviet Baltic republics and four Communist-bloc states in Eastern Europe. The membership was more recently increased Wednesday, when Albania and Croatia formally joined the alliance.

The expansion has strained relations between the West and Russia, which is concerned by the new military bases emerging along its borders.

Last December, European NATO members led by Germany blocked U.S.-backed bids by Ukraine and Georgia to join programs leading to membership in the military alliance, but the ex-Soviet states were told they would eventually be allowed to join.

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