NATO Hopefuls Told They Must Bear Costs

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization told three former Communist countries negotiating membership that they would have to bear most of the cost of joining. Alliance defense ministers met with their counterparts from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Facing a year-end deadline for signing treaties with the three East European countries, handpicked by NATO leaders at a summit in Madrid in July, NATO has steered clear of putting figures on the cost of bringing their forces and infrastructure up to scratch to join NATO operations. NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said the alliance will come up with figures before the end of the year.