The United States has signed a co-operation charter with the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in a move designed to show US support for their desire to join Nato.

The accord was signed at the White House in a ceremony attended by the heads of state of the three countries - President Meri of Estonia, President Ulmanis of Latvia, President Brazauskas of Lithuania - and President Clinton.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Clinton made it clear that the US would do all it could to ensure the Baltic states were eligible for Nato membership.

"America's security is tied to Europe, and Europe will never be fully secure if Baltic security is in doubt", he said.

He said Nato's door would remain open to every partner nation.

"America is determined to create the conditions under which Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania could one day walk through that door," he said.

In an effort to avoid antagonising Russia, the charter does not promise the Baltic states membership, and does not offer binding security guarantees.

Russia is deeply unhappy about NATO plans to expand eastwards.

The charter sets up a forum for consultations between the US and the Baltic states on security and trade issues and establishes working groups to discuss economic development.

The three Baltic states were swallowed up by the Soviet Union during the Second World War, and regained their independence in 1991 when the Soviet empire broke up.

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