Block expansion discussed at NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session

NATO is open to all countries that wish to join it, including Ukraine, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) President Michael Turner told a news conference here on Sunday, the second day of the Parliamentary Assembly's Spring Session.

Turner voiced his support for an expanded NATO, which, he said, he believed would make the involved areas more stable and secure.

Turner also stressed the need for European and North American cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations.

Head of the Hungarian delegation, Mihaly Balla, also spoke of the significance of enlarging NATO, adding that the Parliamentary Assembly was likely to adopt a decision to enlarge on Monday, the final day of its three-day gathering.

Representatives of 51 countries, including the 28 NATO members and its partners, are participating in the meeting.

NATO established its Parliamentary Assembly as a consultative body in 1955. Assembly members are delegated by the national parliaments of the member countries.