DATE=3/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228781
TITLE=GERMANY / NATO (L ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=BONN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  GERMANY'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT HAS GIVEN ITS 
APPROVAL FOR THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO, CLEARING THE WAY FOR
A VOTE IN THE UPPER HOUSE ON FRIDAY.  FROM BONN, V-O-A'S KYLE 
KING REPORTS. 

TEXT:  THE TREATY WAS APPROVED BY AN OVERWHELMING (554-TO-37) 
VOTE IN GERMANY'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT. 

IF IT IS APPROVED -- AS EXPECTED -- BY THE UPPER HOUSE, GERMANY 
WILL BECOME THE FOURTH NATO MEMBER STATE TO APPROVE THE EXPANSION
TO INCLUDE POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. 

ALL OF NATO'S 16 CURRENT MEMBER STATES MUST APPROVE THE EXPANSION
TREATY BEFORE THE THREE NEW MEMBERS CAN BE ADMITTED. 

THE SMALL NUMBER OF VOTES AGAINST THE TREATY CAME MOSTLY FROM THE
"GREENS" PARTY AND THE REFORMED EAST GERMAN COMMUNISTS, WHO FEAR 
THE EXPANSION OF NATO WILL ANGER RUSSIA. 

AFTER THE MEASURE PASSED, FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAID 
GERMANY OWED ITS REUNIFICATION TO THE SUPPORT OF CENTRAL AND 
EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES.  HE SAID GERMANY HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION 
TO HELP THOSE STATES BY BACKING THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN NATO AND THE 
EUROPEAN UNION. 

THE UPPER HOUSE OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN 
DEBATING THE ISSUE ON FRIDAY.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/KBK/PCF

26-Mar-98 6:41 PM EST (2341 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.