ACCESSION NUMBER:289978
FILE ID:EUR512
DATE:06/18/93
TITLE:NATO REMAINS IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES (06/18/93)
TEXT:*93061812.EUR
*EUR512   06/18/93 *

NATO REMAINS IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES
(Administration underscores U.S. commitment)  (550)
By Jim Shevis
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) remains the
chief forum for the United States to express its commitment to European
security, senior Clinton administration officials told a congressional
panel June 18.

"As Secretary Christopher said in Athens recently, we believe that, with the
end of the Cold War, American leadership remains as important as ever -- a
point that the president underscored in his press conference last night,"
Stephen A. Oxman, assistant secretary of state for European and Canadian
affairs, said.

"The United States will continue to accept that challenge," Oxman told a
hearing of the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on coalition defense and
reinforcing forces.

In his June 17 press conference, President Clinton said that NATO is "very,
very important" in the post-Cold War era.

"There are all kinds of possible problems in the years ahead, from
terrorism, from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, (or) from
yet unforeseen developments in countries around NATO," Clinton said.

Walter B. Slocombe, principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy,
said that NATO has been the most successful alliance in history and has
continued relevance to the world today.

"Safeguarding the security and stability of Europe remains critical to our
safety and prosperity," Slocombe said.

"To that end, the United States continues to be committed to a collective
defense apparatus, of which NATO is the chief component."

Senator Carl Levin (Democrat-Michigan), who chaired the hearing, said the
subcommittee will be reviewing "new directions" for multilateral peace
enforcement over the next year.

"Now that the Cold War is over, NATO must change its command structure and
its strategy as well," Levin said.

Slocombe pointed out that the organization has made major adjustments over
the last few years, adopting new strategic doctrines, realigning its
forces, and moving toward assuming new roles.

"But much more is left to be done," he said.
Slocombe said that perhaps the best sign of NATO's continued relevance to
the security of the new Europe is that, without exception, the former
Warsaw Pact countries want to join the organization.

President Clinton made the same point in his press conference:
"They know it will provide a security umbrella for the people who are
members.  And I think we need to continue to be involved in it," Clinton
said.

Oxman said the United States intends to keep a substantial force in Europe
1- about 100,000 troops -- to ensure the United States's ability to meet
its NATO security commitments.

"We will also continue to urge our allies to meet their commitments to our
common defense -- the backbone of which is NATO's integrated military
structure," Oxman said.

"Secretary Christopher made it quite clear in Athens that President Clinton
must be able to show Congress and the American people that all our allies
are sharing the burdens and responsibilities of our partnership, as well as
the decisions," Oxman said.

Admiral William D. Smith, the U.S. representative to the NATO military
committee, said that, while military considerations are less important now
than they were when Europe was divided, the alliance's enduring mission
remains the security of its members.

NNNN

.