Bulgaria’s Foreign Minster Passy who is in Vienna for the international conference on International Security and the Fight Against Terrorism, met with the US ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns. Passy briefed Ambassador Burns on the Bulgarian preparation for NATO membership. He stressed that consensus in the Bulgarian society in support of membership is as strong as ever and that sensitive issues such as the destruction of the SS-23 missiles have left it intact. Ambassador Burns said that the United States would probably draft a decision on which countries will join the Alliance right before the summit, but the decision itself will be taken by the Alliance during the summit. For this reason, the US team will probably make one more tour of the membership candidates for a last check in October. The ratification of the accession documents is likely to be done by May-June 2003, after which the countries will have the status of observers and the right to participate in the work of all committees. According to Ambassador Burns, the newly invited countries can expect to acquire full membership in May or June 2004. He recommended that the national parliaments are advised to prepare for the work they have to do in connection with the ratification of the accession protocols.