DATE=1/16/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-208798
TITLE=RUSSIA/NATO (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW

INTRO: RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS THE KREMLIN HAS NO PLAN TO FORM A NEW MILITARY BLOC IN RESPONSE TO THE PLANNED EXPANSION OF NATO. BUT AS PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, TOUGH BARGAINING LIES AHEAD, AS THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE PREPARES TO ISSUE INVITATIONS TO FORMER SOVIET ALLIES.

TEXT: DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR RODIONOV SAID THURSDAY THE PLANNED EASTWARD EXPANSION OF THE NATO ALLIANCE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN THE KREMLIN, BUT NOT FOR PANIC.

MR. RODIONOV SAID MOSCOW FACES POTENTIAL THREATS FROM THE WEST, THE SOUTH, AND THE EAST. BUT, HE SAID, THOSE ARE POTENTIAL THREATS, NOT REAL ENEMIES.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, THE DEFENSE MINISTER SAID RUSSIA REMAINS FIRMLY OPPOSED TO NATO ENLARGEMENT. BUT ALMOST NONCHALANTLY, HE ADDED, IF NATO WANTS TO EXPAND, LET THEM DO IT. HE SAID, AS FOR US, WE ARE NOT GOING TO EXPAND.

HE SAID ANY ATTEMPT TO COUNTER NATO ENLARGEMENT COULD REVIVE THE COLD WAR RIVALRY WHICH THREATENED THE WORLD FOR DECADES.

THE 60-YEAR OLD FORMER ARMY GENERAL, WHO IS NOW RUSSIA'S FIRST CIVILIAN DEFENSE CHIEF, WAS SPEAKING DAYS BEFORE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA IS DUE IN MOSCOW. MR. SOLANA WILL MEET RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV NEXT WEEK FOR WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A HARD BARGAINING SESSION.

MR. PRIMAKOV HAS ALREADY MADE CLEAR THE KREMLIN WANTS A VOICE IN NATO DECISIONS IT BELIEVES AFFECT RUSSIA'S NATIONAL INTEREST.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING NATO IS READY TO GIVE RUSSIA A CONSULTING ROLE ON ISSUES SUCH AS TERRORISM, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION AND PEACEKEEPING. BUT ON THE ISSUE OF ALLOWING RUSSIA A VETO OVER NATO DECISIONS, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE SIGN OF FLEXIBILITY.

THE ALLIANCE HAS SCHEDULED A SPECIAL SUMMIT NEXT JULY AT WHICH THE FIRST INVITATIONS ARE TO BE ISSUED FOR NEW MEMBERS. THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION ARE THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, AND POLAND, ALL OF WHICH WERE PART OF THE SOVIET-DOMINATED MILITARY BLOC KNOWN AS THE -- WARSAW PACT. (SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/PCF/RAE

16-Jan-97 12:08 PM EST (1708 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America