Mixed feelings among new Nato members

Nato has invited Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to join the alliance in May 2004. Diplomats are delighted, but does it mean anything for ordinary people?

Christina Diminitrova, a reporter on the Sofia Echo, says Bulgarians are interested mostly in the effect, if any, that Nato membership will have on their living standards.

"The 13-year transition of the country from communism has been pretty harsh on people," she says, adding that politicians have long sold Nato and EU membership to voters as the answer to all their problems.

Christina Diminitrova: Living standards are key

Some people are therefore hopeful that Nato will prove to be a "magic wand".

But some are more skeptical.

Bulgarian photographer Lyulin Stamenov says: "I am not sure if all that is promised will happen. This is delusion and I do not think that the Nato membership will improve living standards.

"On the other hand, Bulgaria will have more security in case of a conflict, which is good."

Border security

Another Bulgarian, Zlatko, says: "Nato membership, or no Nato membership, we will not live better in the next 10 or 20 years. So, I don't care."

I don't see the point in joining Nato and the EU so fast. It's like the latest political fashion

Darius Jakubauskus, Lithuania

In Lithuania, the largest of the three Baltic states, border guard Rokas Pukinskas hopes that Nato membership will bring security and stability.

"When I was 14, I was outside the parliament when the Russians attacked it," says Rokas Pukinskas.

"I saw all the terrible things about real occupation, so now Nato membership for a country like Lithuania is first of all about military security."

But Darius Jakubauskus, an electronics engineer from Vilnus is not so convinced.

"I'm not sure if it is a good thing or not. Throughout our history Lithuania has always made such unions.

"Ten years ago we had a union with the Soviet Union, now we go into Nato. I think it is better to be a neutral state but it seems that is not possible."

Economic concerns

In Slovakia, which gained independance when Czechoslovakia split in 1993, feelings are also mixed.

Bambi Badabangova, an administrator at Comenius University in the capital, Bratislava, says: "We are happy to see our country invited to join Nato because it is important for the security of the country, to protect our borders."

But she also recognises that the country's economic problems may cause practical problems with membership.

She says: "I believe that our military forces will be good partners in Nato but the economic situation within the country at the moment is difficult.

"We have little money to build up our army."