DATE=3/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228471
TITLE=CLINTON/NATO (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MADE A FINAL PITCH FOR U-S SENATE 
RATIFICATION OF NATO'S EXPANSION NEXT YEAR INTO CENTRAL EUROPE. 
SENATORS ARE ALL BUT CERTAIN TO APPROVE THE ADDITION OF POLAND, 
HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC BUT THERE ARE LINGERING CONCERNS 
ABOUT THE COST OF NATO EXPANSION, AND ITS IMPACT ON RUSSIA. VOA'S
DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT LEAVES SUNDAY ON A TWO-WEEK TRIP TO AFRICA 
AND IS UNLIKELY TO BE IN WASHINGTON WHEN THE SENATE VOTES. SO HE 
GATHERED TOP ADVISERS AND SENATE ALLIES TO MAKE ONE FINAL APPEAL 
FOR AN EXPANSION PROCESS HE SAYS IS ESSENTIAL TO CONSOLIDATE THE 
STABILITY AND SECURITY OF EUROPE IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA.

THE ADDITION OF POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ENJOYS 
BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE SENATE AND CLINTON ADVISERS SAY 
THERE IS NO DANGER THAT IT WILL NOT GET THE NECESSARY TWO-THIRDS 
MAJORITY.

BUT THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING A 
PROPOSAL BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN WARNER AND DEMOCRAT DANIEL 
PATRICK MOYNIHAN FOR A THREE YEAR FREEZE ON ANY    FURTHER 
EXPANSION -- TO SEE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HOW THE FIRST PHASE 
AFFECTS RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. MR. CLINTON HOWEVER SAYS IT IS 
IMPERATIVE THAT THERE BE NO LIMITS ON NATO'S OPEN DOOR POLICY TO 
ASPIRING MEMBERS:

                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///

         A UNILATERAL FREEZE ON ENLARGEMENT WOULD REDUCE OUR OWN 
         COUNTRY'S FLEXIBILITY AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, 
         OUR LEVERAGE, OUR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE OUR PARTNERS. IT 
         WOULD FRACTURE NATO'S OPEN-DOOR CONSENSUS. IT WOULD 
         UNDERMINE FURTHER REFORMS IN EUROPE'S DEMOCRACIES. IT 
         WOULD DRAW A NEW AND POTENTIALLY DESTABILIZING LINE, AT 
         LEAST TEMPORARILY IN EUROPE.

                          ///END ACT///

THE PROPONENT OF THE EXPANSION FREEZE -- SENATOR WARNER -- ARGUES
THAT AN EARLY MOVE TO ADMIT EVEN MORE NEW MEMBERS RUNS THE RISK 
OF CREATING WHAT HE CALLED AN "IRON RING" ISOLATING RUSSIA FROM 
THE WEST OF EUROPE. AND HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE, SENATOR KAY 
BAILEY HUTCHISON, SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS RUSHING TO EXPANSION
WITHOUT ANY CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT IT WILL COST:

                    ///HUTCHISON ACTUALITY///

         WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT IT WILL COST THE UNITED 
         STATES. THE ADMINISTRATION'S OWN ESTIMATES HAVE VARIED 
         -- WILDLY. THEY'RE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 400 MILLION AND 125
         BILLION DOLLARS. 

                          ///END ACT///

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, HOWEVER, TOLD THE WHITE 
HOUSE GATHERING THAT NATO EXPANSION HAS GOTTEN CAREFUL 
CONSIDERATION IN CONGRESS IN RECENT MONTHS, AND THE NOTION THAT 
THE SENATE IS RUSHING TO JUDGEMENT ON THE ISSUE IS, AS SHE PUT 
IT: BALDERDASH (NONSENSE).

IF THE SENATE VOTES TO RATIFY EXPANSION NEXT WEEK AS EXPECTED, 
THE UNITED STATES WOULD BECOME THE FOURTH NATO MEMBER AFTER 
CANADA, DENMARK AND NORWAY TO DO SO.  PARLIAMENTS OF ALL 16 
CURRENT MEMBERS MUST APPROVE BEFORE THE THREE NEW MEMBER STATES 
CAN OFFICIALLY JOIN THE ALLIANCE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/PLM

20-Mar-98 2:22 PM EST (1922 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.