DATE=  11/10/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222434

TITLE=CZECH NATO (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=BARRY WOOD

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  CZECH PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS HAS BEGUN A SIX-DAY U-S

VISIT BY MEETING (MONDAY) WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 

ALBRIGHT AND DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN (ED'S: COHEN MEETING

OVER LUNCH NOON TO APPROX-3 PM).  V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS NATO

EXPANSION IS THE PRINCIPAL TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.



TEXT:  MR. KLAUS IS SEEKING TO DISPELL PERCEPTIONS THE CZECH 

REPUBLIC IS UNWILLING TO BOOST ITS DEFENSE SPENDING TO THE LEVEL 

PREVAILING IN MOST NATO COUNTRIES.  



HE SAID HE TOLD SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL 

STEADILY INCREASE ITS DEFENSE BUDGET TO EQUAL TWO-PERCENT OF 

CZECH GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY THE YEAR 2000.  MR. KLAUS SAID 

THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS FULLY AWARE ITS DEFENSE BUDGET IS TOO LOW.



                         // KLAUS ACT //



         WE ARE AWARE OF THE COSTS OF ENLARGEMENT.  WE ARE AWARE 

         OF THE COSTS OF OUR ACCESSION TO NATO. AND WE ARE AWARE 

         THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT (SPEND MORE). THAT WE CAN NOT ONLY

         GET.  WE MUST GIVE AS WELL.  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE JUST

         CONSUMERS OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY, WE KNOW WE MUST BE 

         PRODUCERS OF THAT ASSET AS WELL.



                          // END ACT //



THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND, AND HUNGARY ARE SET TO BE THE FIRST 

FORMER EAST-BLOC COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE NATO ALLIANCE.  MEMBERSHIP

NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY AND THE U-S SENATE IS LIKELY TO VOTE ON

NATO EXPANSION WITHIN SIX MONTHS. 



MR. KLAUS SAID HE AGREES WITH MRS. ALBRIGHT THERE MUST BE SOME 

KIND OF NATO PRESENCE IN BOSNIA AFTER MAY 1998 AND THE CZECH 

GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO KEEP ITS PEACE-KEEPING CONTINGENT IN 

THE COUNTRY.



MR. KLAUS TOLD REPORTERS HIS CENTER-RIGHT COALITION IS SECURE AND

HE DOES NOT EXPECT A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION BEFORE THE SCHEDULED 

DATE OF 2000.  HE SAID HE PLANS TO LEAD HIS CIVIC DEMOCRATIC 

PARTY IN THAT ELECTION.  



THE LONG SERVING CZECH PRIME MINISTER IS HOLDING SEVERAL PUBLIC 

EVENTS, INCLUDING THE RELEASE OF A BOOK EXTOLLING HIS 

CONSERVATIVE ECONOMIC VIEWS.  HE LEAVES WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY FOR 

ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA.   (SIGNED)



NEB/BDW/RAE



10-Nov-97 12:33 PM EST (1733 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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