And in Prague, Czech Republic, President Vaclav Havel said in a statement,  Never have we been part of such a broad, solid and binding security alliance which at the same time respects in its essence the sovereignty and will of our nation.  The enlargement of NATO from 16 members to 19 has been one of the administration's foremost foreign policy goals, one that grew out of a desire, its proponents said, to (cement) the democratic gains made in the former Warsaw Pact countries after the collapse of communism 10 years ago.  
 Verb: cement
Yes