Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, March 12, the foreign ministers of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic will deposit the official ratification documents to become full-fledged members of NATO.
I spoke in support of this matter two years ago to the day. Canada's leading role helped make this day a reality.
It will mean more stability in Europe and more security for Canadian soldiers in the region. It will mean strengthened links between Canadians of Hungarian, Polish and Czech origins.
These communities consider NATO enlargement as the ultimate guarantee for democracy, freedom and stability in their native countries.
As a member of parliament of Hungarian heritage, I was proud to meet last week with Mr. Sandor Papp, Hungary's ambassador to Canada. Mr. Papp conveyed that next year Hungary celebrates its 1,000 birthday as a state.
Tomorrow we gain new partners in NATO with shared principles of freedom and democracy.