ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:95090701.WWE
DATE:09/07/95
TITLE:07-09-95  OKONSKI SEES PROGRESS TOWARD NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR POLAND

TEXT:
(Polish defense minister cites PFP activities) (540)
By Vance Phillips
USIA Staff Writer

Washington -- "There is a need to keep the train moving" toward his
country's goal of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, Poland's Defense Minister Wojciech Okonski told a
September 7 news conference at the National Press Club. Even though
the train is moving at a slower pace than is desired, he said, he and
his colleagues will be satisfied as long as it continues to move
towards that final destination.

Although the Bosnia crisis has overshadowed other European events
recently, Okonski emphasized that other important issues still require
attention.

He said NATO must address the question of which nations might be
included in any expanded NATO and when this expansion might take
place. He added that his government feels the issue of Poland's
potential membership in the alliance must be resolved during 1996.
However, Okonski emphasized that Polish officials now need to practice
"patience" rather than "aggravation" regarding the "slowly moving
process."

In an effort to meet NATO conditions, Okonski said Poland is taking
steps to modernize its air force and to reduce the size of its armed
forces. He also said that Poland is interested in buying U.S.-made
anti-aircraft early warning systems. The United States, Okonski said,
is one of a number of countries which has offered to sell Poland
modern combat aircraft. The others include Sweden, France and Russia.

He pointed out that Poland is already cooperating with NATO nations in
the Partnership for Peace (PFP), an effort between NATO and former
Warsaw Pact countries to develop the ability to cooperate in
peacekeeping operations throughout the world.

He noted that Poland's efforts to involve its neighbors, including
Russia, in PFP activities as evidence of Poland's commitment to a
cooperative relationship with the Western alliance.

In response to a question about possible Russian opposition to
Poland's efforts to join NATO, Okonski said Russia "need not interfere
with the inclusion process" and "cannot deny our right to join the
NATO security system." He said he has met with Russian officials and
maintains they "have no problem with Poland's membership to NATO." He
added that it is also important for Russia to resolve its position
regarding NATO membership, especially in light of its upcoming
elections.

Asked how the United States might benefit from helping Poland to
become a NATO member, Okonski said Poland's membership would be an
important step toward reducing chances of regional conflicts in
Eastern Europe.

Okonski said Poland is not considering membership in the Western
European Organization (WEU) -- a security component of the European
Union (EU) -- because although the WEU is a sound organization, it
does not provide the same opportunities as those offered by NATO. He
added, however, that the WEU is "complementary" to NATO, and that is
significant in that it assures a continuing "U.S. presence in Europe."

When asked to list important unfinished tasks facing his government,
Okonski said it must:

-- modernize its military establishment,

-- "define necessary money" for the modernization process, and

-- "see how much funding they will receive over the next five years"
in order to develop a military spending program.
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