DATE=1/6/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-208292
TITLE=RUSSIA / NATO (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: KREMLIN LEADERS ARE TAKING A TOUGHER STAND IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION AS THE DATE APPROACHES FOR INVITING NEW MEMBERS INTO THE ALLIANCE. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIA IS PREPARING FOR HARD BARGAINING AS FORMER COLD WAR ADVERSARIES NEGOTIATE THEIR FUTURE RELATIONSHIP.

TEXT: PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN CALLED A TOP-LEVEL STRATEGY SESSION MONDAY AS OFFICIALS MADE CLEAR THE KREMLIN REMAINS FIERCELY OPPOSED TO NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION. SPOKESMAN SERGEI YASTRZHEMBSKY TOLD REPORTERS THERE HAD BEEN NO CHANGE IN RUSSIA'S POSITION FOLLOWING MR. YELTSIN'S WEEKEND MEETING WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL.

MR. YASTRZHEMBSKY SAID RUSSIA'S POSITION ON NATO EXPANSION REMAINS STRONGLY NEGATIVE. HE SAID TOP KREMLIN OFFICIALS ON MONDAY HAD DISCUSSED A PLAN OF ACTION TO COUNTER WHATEVER FORMS ENLARGEMENT OF THE ALLIANCE MIGHT TAKE.

THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR FLEW IN DURING THE WEEKEND FOR TALKS AIMED AT EASING RUSSIAN FEARS ABOUT THE ALLIANCE'S INTENTIONS. AFTERWARD, MR. KOHL EXPRESSED OPTIMISM A COMPROMISE COULD BE FOUND THAT WOULD RESPECT THE KREMLIN'S SECURITY INTERESTS.

BUT A NUMBER OF SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY MONDAY TO EMPHASIZE THERE HAD BEEN NO BREAKTHROUGH.

// OPT // IN COMMENTS TO THE ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY, PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER SERGEI SHAKRAI SUGGESTED IF EXPANSION GOES AHEAD, RUSSIA MIGHT RETHINK ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL ARMS TREATIES. IN ANOTHER TASS INTERVIEW, LAWMAKER MIKHAIL GUTSERIYEV SAID ENLARGEMENT OF THE ALLIANCE COULD DO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO RUSSIA'S NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS. // END OPT //

CHANCELLOR KOHL'S WEEKEND TALKS WITH HIS OLD FRIEND BORIS YELTSIN WERE THE FIRST IN A SERIES THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAS PLANNED WITH WESTERN LEADERS IN COMING MONTHS. NATO EXPANSION IS A PRIME TOPIC IN ALL OF THEM, AND THE KREMLIN HAS SIGNALED IT WILL PUSH FOR MORE CONCESSIONS.

PRESIDENT YELTSIN IS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD THE GERMAN LEADER RUSSIA WANTS WHAT AMOUNTS TO JOINT DECISIONS WITH NATO ON IMPORTANT SECURITY ISSUES. // OPT // NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS AGREED LAST MONTH TO ISSUE INVITATIONS IN JULY FOR THE FIRST FORMER SOVIET BLOC COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE. BUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO EASE KREMLIN CONCERNS, THE MINISTERS OFFERED RUSSIA AN UNSPECIFIED ROLE IN SHAPING FUTURE EUROPEAN DEFENSE ARRANGEMENTS. // END OPT //

WESTERN DIPLOMATS IN MOSCOW SAY RUSSIA'S INCREASINGLY STRONG OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION APPEARS TO BE PART OF THE BARGAINING PROCESS AS THE FUTURE OF EAST-WEST RELATIONS TAKES SHAPE.

(SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/PCF/CF

06-Jan-97 12:35 PM EST (1735 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America