Hungary and Romania Sign Pact

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Debrecen - The defence ministers of Hungary and Romania confirmed a warming of relations between the two countries yesterday by setting up a joint military unit and signing an accord on the protection of military secrets.

Analysts believe the agreements reached will enhance both countries' chances of early Nato membership and could mean Romania joining the current favourites - the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary - in the first group of new members to Nato to be announced at the alliance's next summit in July.

"We have signed an agreement on the protection of secrets that will enable . . . close military co-operation," Hungary's defence minister, Gyorgy Keleti, …