DATE=        MARCH 15, 1998
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-07691
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  COHEN ON NATO ENLARGEMENT

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
MARCH 15, 1998.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    THE PROCESS OF NATO EXPANSION IS NOW UNDERWAY.  HUNGARY, THE 
CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND HAVE BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE 
IN 1999 PROVIDED NATO MEMBERS AGREE.  THE U.S. SENATE IS PLANNING
TO VOTE ON THE ADDITION OF THESE NEW MEMBERS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
THEIR JOINING NATO WILL MAKE AMERICA SAFER, EUROPE MORE STABLE 
AND TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS STRONGER.

    THE DOOR WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR OTHER DEMOCRACIES TO JOIN NATO 
IN THE FUTURE.  BUT THEY MUST BE CAPABLE OF SHOULDERING THE 
BURDEN OF COMMON DEFENSE.  AND NATO MUST BELIEVE THAT THEIR 
ADDITION TO THE ALLIANCE WILL HELP TO BUILD SECURITY IN EUROPE.  

    AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAID, "OUR SECURITY IS 
INEXTRICABLY TIED TO PEACE AND SECURITY IN EUROPE."  NATO WILL 
EXTEND THE SAME SECURITY GUARANTEES TO NEW MEMBERS THAT ALL NATO 
COUNTRIES HAVE ENJOYED SINCE 1949.  THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THOSE 
GUARANTEES IS THAT AN ATTACK ON ONE MEMBER STATE IS CONSIDERED AN
ATTACK ON ALL.

    NEW MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN DEFENSE AND TO THE 
SECURITY OF THE ALLIANCE AS A WHOLE.  POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC 
AND HUNGARY ARE PREPARED TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE.  THEY WILL BRING
NEARLY THREE-HUNDRED THOUSAND SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND AIRMEN TO THE
FORCES OF THE ALLIANCE.  

    POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY ARE COMMITTED TO 
DEMOCRATIC IDEALS, FREE MARKET ECONOMIES, RESPECT FOR HUMAN 
RIGHTS AND GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS.  THEY ARE RETURNING TO 
THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE EUROPEAN FAMILY OF FREE NATIONS.

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, 
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 
20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.  
YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.

13-Mar-98 11:41 AM EST (1641 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.