BBC News Online: World: Europe

Nato chief hails Polish membership

The Secretary-General of NATO, Javier Solana -- in an address to the Polish parliament -- has urged deputies to support the modernisation of the Polish army to bring it into line with Western standards.

Poland, together with Hungary and the Czech republic, is due to join NATO next year; a recent secret Nato report outlined some of the Polish army's shortcomings, including antiquated command structures and inadequate training.

Mr Solana said his speech to the parliament was another sign that Poland's two-hundred year struggle for freedom and national identity had finally been achieved.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service