NATO expansion protocols signed

Three former Communist states in central Europe -- the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland -- have signed protocols with NATO, clearing the way for their admission as full members of the alliance.

The protocols have to be ratified by the parliaments of the three countries and the existing sixteen NATO states, before the new members can join NATO at its fiftieth anniversary summit in 1999.

The Polish foreign minister, Bronislaw Geremek, said joining NATO would mean an end to centuries of being a pawn on the chessboard of great power politics.

His Czech counterpart Jaroslav Sedivy said the division of Europe is now overcome.

NATO foreign ministers reiterated that the alliance remains open to other candidate countries.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service