ACCESSION NUMBER:319493
FILE ID:EUR205
DATE:01/04/94
TITLE:NATO, RUSSIA TO BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN CLINTON AND DUTCH PM (01/04/94)
TEXT:*94010405.EUR
*EUR205   01/04/94 *

NATO, RUSSIA TO BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN CLINTON AND DUTCH PM
(On eve of president's trip to Europe and Russia)  (370)
By David Pitts
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The status of NATO and the situation in Russia will top the
list of likely topics to be discussed when President Clinton meets with
Kingdom of the Netherlands Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers January 4, according
to a State Department official who spoke at the Foreign Press Center.

Lubbers will be the last foreign leader Clinton will see before he goes to
Brussels for the NATO summit later this week, where the question of how and
under what conditions NATO should be expanded will be discussed.  The State
Department official said that President Clinton views the Partnership for
Peace initiative "as an effort to reach out and be inclusive."  Clinton
will want to consider the views of Lubbers, "one of Europe's senior
statesmen," he added.

Asked whether recent events in Russia and concern among the new democracies
of Eastern Europe about their security have once again brought Europe to
the forefront of U.S. concerns, the State Department official said that
what happens in Europe has always been of great importance to the United
States.  He said Clinton is planning "at least four trips to Europe this
year.  That, in and of itself, gives the lie to the notion that we don't
care about Europe."

As to whether the United States has very different views from the West
European countries on such matters as NATO membership and relations with
Russia, the State Department official said, "We think we are very close,
not far apart on the issues."  He also said there had been continuity in
U.S. policy between the Bush and Clinton administrations "on engaging the
East and on encouraging the reform process."

Other likely topics to be discussed when Lubbers and Clinton meet are trade,
anti-narcotics efforts, and Surinam, the State Department official said.
"Cooperation and coordination with the Dutch has always been extremely
important to us," he added.

Asked if there are any bilateral problems between the Netherlands and the
United States, the official said it is "one of the most problem-free
relationships."
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