DATE=  10/7/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220946

TITLE=ALBRIGHT-NATO (L)

BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO: THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAS OPENED A SERIES

OF  HEARINGS ON THE EXPANSION OF THE NATO ALLIANCE TO INCLUDE 

POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.  AS DIPLOMATIC 

CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 

ALBRIGHT HAS MADE THE CASE FOR ENLARGEMENT IN THE FIRST HEARING. 



TEXT: THIS IS  NOT  THE SENATE DEBATE ON AMENDING THE NATO 

TREATY.  THAT WILL COME NEXT YEAR AFTER NATO COMPLETES TALKS WITH

THE NEW MEMBERS.  THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS 

COMMITTEE, JESSE HELMS, IS HOLDING SIX HEARINGS TO EXPLORE THE 

WISDOM OF ADDING NEW MEMBERS TO THE ALLIANCE. 



SENATOR HELMS TELLS SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HE WANTS TO MAKE 

AMERICAN ALLIES PAY THEIR SHARE OF THE BILL OF ENLARGEMENT.



                         ///HELMS ACT///



         JUST LAST WEEK, OUR ALLIES MADE CLEAR TO US THAT THEY 

         EXPECT YOU, THE UNITED STATES -- MEANING THE AMERICAN 

         TAXPAYERS -- TO PAY THE LION'S SHARE (MAJORITY) OF THE 

         COST OF EXPANSION.  NOW, MADAM SECRETARY RATIFICATION OF

         NATO EXPANSION BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE MAY BE VERY 

         WELL SUCCEED OR FAIL ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU CAN 

         DISSUADE OUR ALLIES OF THAT NOTION.



                         /// END ACT ///



THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES OF 27 TO 35 BILLION DOLLARS OVER TEN YEARS

FOR THE AMERICAN SHARE OF NATO ENLARGEMENT HAVE BEEN PUT ASIDE AS

THE ALLIANCE STUDIES THE ACTUAL COSTS OF BRINGING HUNGARY, POLAND

AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC UP TO NATO STANDARDS.



SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT TELLS THE SENATE COMMITTEE SHE WILL 

MAKE SURE THE BURDEN IS SHARED EQUALLY. 



                      /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///



         I KNOW THAT YOU ARE HOLDING SEPARATE HEARINGS ON THIS 

         QUESTION BUT I WILL SAY THIS:  I AM CONVINCED THAT THE 

         COSTS OF EXPANSION IS REAL BUT AFFORDABLE.  I AM CERTAIN

         OUR PROSPECTIVE ALLIES ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO PAY THEIR

         SHARE BECAUSE IN THE LONG RUN IT WILL BE CHEAPER FOR 

         THEM TO UPGRADE THEIR FORCES WITHIN THE ALLIANCE THAN 

         OUTSIDE IT.  I WILL INSIST THAT OUR OLD ALLIES SHARE 

         THIS BURDEN FAIRLY. 



                          //END ACT///



SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE QUESTIONED THE EFFECT ON 

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA WHEN NATO ENLARGES.  SECRETARY OF STATE 

ALBRIGHT TOLD THEM SHE IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE IN RUSSIA 

BUT ONE SHOULD NOT DISMISS THE POSSIBILITY THAT RUSSIA COULD 

RETURN TO THE PATTERNS OF ITS PAST.



SENATOR HELMS QUESTIONS WHETHER NATO HAS ALREADY GIVEN TOO MANY 

CONCESSIONS TO RUSSIA IN THE NEW COUNCIL THAT MET LAST WEEK IN 

NEW YORK.  SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT ASSURED THE COMMITTEE THAT

THE COUNCIL WILL ONLY BRIEF RUSSIA ON DECISIONS NATO HAS ALREADY 

MADE AND RUSSIA WILL  NOT  BE PRIVY TO ANY INTERNAL 

DELIBERATIONS.



NATO ENLARGEMENT APPEARS TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS 

AND DEMOCRATS ON THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE -- BUT 

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT WAS WARNED, PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL 

HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO ASSURE SENATE 

APPROVAL. (SIGNED) 



NEB/RP/MMK



07-Oct-97 1:25 PM EDT (1725 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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