NATO says no third country can veto membership

NATO, responding to Russian warnings against Ukraine's bid to join the western alliance, said on Friday that no third country could veto its enlargement policy and approved new steps to advance Georgia towards membership.

"No third country has a veto over NATO enlargement," Rasmussen told a news conference on the second day of a summit of the U.S.-led defence pact, adding: "NATO's door remains open. Each country will be judged on its merits."

The 28-member alliance agreed on a package of measures to boost Georgia's defence capabilities and advance the former Soviet republic's preparations to join, he said. Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in 2008 after NATO agreed in principle that it and Ukraine would one day become members.

Rasmussen also said NATO stood ready, if requested, to help Iraq counter Islamic State fighters who have captured swathes of its territory and would cooperate on exchanging information on foreign fighters returning from the Middle Easta potential source of terrorism in Western countries.

Poland welcomes boost to NATO presence

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said on Friday his country greatly valued the decision by NATO to create a 'spearhead' rapid reaction force that will boost the alliance's presence in eastern Europe.

"We value very highly the fact that there is a progress in increasing the level of NATO readiness to create ... (a spearhead), including assigned forces that comprise around 5,000 troops for absolutely immediate reaction," Komorowski told a news briefing at a NATO summit in South Wales.

NATO stands by pact with Russia despite violation: Merkel

NATO stands by a 1997 agreement on cooperation with Russia even though Moscow has breached it through its actions in Ukraine, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday.

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