DATE=2/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226612
TITLE=CLINTON / NATO (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS FORMALLY CALLED ON THE U-S SENATE 
TO  RATIFY NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH 
REPUBLIC. MR. CLINTON WEDNESDAY SENT TO THE U-S SENATE DOCUMENTS 
THAT WILL EXPAND NATO EASTWARD.  V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE 
CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.                              
                    

TEXT:  AT A STATE DEPARTMENT CEREMONY ATTENDED BY U-S DIPLOMATIC 
AND  MILITARY OFFICIALS, BIPARTISAN LAWMAKERS, AND THE FOREIGN 
MINISTERS  OF HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND, MR. CLINTON
SIGNED DOCUMENTS REQUESTING SENATE RATIFICATION OF NATO 
ENLARGEMENT.          

MR. CLINTON ARGUED THAT EXPANDING NATO IS IN THE U-S INTEREST 
BECAUSE IT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE ALLIANCE, AND CREATE A MORE 
SECURE CLIMATE IN WHICH DEMOCRACY AND PROSPERITY CAN GROW.

MR. CLINTON STANDING BESIDE A REPLICA OF THE BERLIN WALL -- 
WHICH, AS HE PUT IT, REPRESENTED THE FALSE AND FORCED DIVISION OF
THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT DURING THE COLD WAR -- SAID ENLARGING THE 
ALLIANCE WOULD ALSO HELP UNIFY THE CONTINENT.                    
                   

                        /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///

         NATO CANNOT MAINTAIN THE OLD IRON CURTAIN AS ITS 
         PERMANENT EASTERN  FRONTIER.  IT MUST AND CAN BRING 
         EUROPE TOGETHER IN SECURITY, NOT KEEP IT APART IN 
         INSTABILITY.

                             /// END ACT ///

ALTHOUGH SOME SENATORS ARE CONCERNED NATO EXPANSION WILL ANGER 
RUSSIA, MR. CLINTON NOTED THE ALLIANCE IS FORGING STRONGER TIES 
WITH MOSCOW -- A POINT ECHOED BY VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE.         
                   

                               /// GORE ACTUALITY ///            
                                      

         THE EMERGENCE OF A PEACEFUL, AND PROSPEROUS AND SECURE 
         RUSSIA EMBEDDED IN THE NEW ARCHITECTURE OF EUROPEAN 
         SECURITY, IS A MATTER OF OUR HIGHEST NATIONAL INTEREST. 
         ALREADY WE HAVE TAKEN MAJOR STEPS TO DRAW RUSSIA INTO 
         THAT ARCHITECTURE.   WE WANT RUSSIA TO BE PART OF THE 
         NEW EUROPE, WE WANT NO NEW DIVIDING LINES.  THAT IS A 
         COMMITMENT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.                      
            

                             /// END ACT ///

SOME SENATORS ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF NATO 
EXPANSION,  ALTHOUGH U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE U-S SHARE WILL 
BE FAR LESS THAN FIRST BELIEVED.  THERE ARE ALSO WORRIES ABOUT 
WEAKENING THE ALLIANCE'S POLITICAL AND MILITARY STRENGTH.  
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN  WARNER OF VIRGINIA HAS EVEN SUGGESTED 
THE ALLIES CALL A MORATORIUM ON A SECOND ROUND OF ENLARGEMENT.

BUT MR. CLINTON MADE CLEAR THE DOOR TO NATO MEMBERSHIP REMAINS 
OPEN FOR FUTURE CANDIDATES.                                      
                      

                        /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///

         HISTORY TEACHES US THAT THE REALM OF FREEDOM IN EUROPE 
         HAS NO FIXED BOUNDARIES.  THE UNITED STATES IS 
         DETERMINED THAT THE VISIONS OF THE PAST, NOT 
         CIRCUMSCRIBE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FUTURE.

                                 /// END ACT ///                 
                                       

DESPITE THE CONCERNS OF SOME SENATORS ABOUT NATO ENLARGEMENT, 
REPUBLICAN WILLIAM ROTH OF DELAWARE, CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE NATO 
OBSERVER GROUP IN CONGRESS, SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC THERE WILL BE 
ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR RATIFICATION.                                 
         

A VOTE IS EXPECTED NEXT MONTH.  (SIGNED)



NEB/DAT/WDC/PT



11-Feb-98 4:10 PM EST (2110 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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