DATE=4/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230314
TITLE=SENATE / NATO (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE HAS RESUMED DEBATE ON THE EASTWARD 
EXPANSION OF NATO, WHICH WOULD GIVE THE ALLIANCE ITS FIRST 
MEMBERS FROM THE OLD WARSAW PACT.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, 
THE LAWMAKERS ARE LIKELY TO ENDORSE THE PROPOSAL, DESPITE WORRIES
ABOUT ITS COST AND ITS IMPACT ON RUSSIA.

TEXT:  WHILE THE PLAN IS EXPECTED TO PASS, THE ADMINISTRATION IS 
TAKING PAINS TO SHOW CONCERN AND  NOT  APPEAR OVERCONFIDENT. 
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN VISITED CAPITOL HILL (MONDAY) TO 
PUSH THE EXPANSION TREATY, TELLING REPORTERS AND SENATORS ITS 
DEFEAT WOULD BE A DISASTER.

                        /// COHEN ACT ///

         FOR THE UNITED STATES TO NOW REJECT IT I THINK WOULD BE 
         VERY DESTRUCTIVE AND CAST A PALL OVER THE ORGANIZATION 
         ITSELF THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, DETRIMENTAL TO OUR 
         INTERESTS FOR YEARS TO COME.  SO I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH 
         THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING FORWARD.

                         /// END ACT ///

BUT OPPONENTS USE SIMILAR LANGUAGE TO WARN OF THE DANGERS OF  
ENLARGEMENT, ESPECIALLY ITS EFFECT ON RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. SOME
RAISE THE SPECTER OF HEIGHTENED TENSIONS AND EVEN NUCLEAR 
CONFLICT BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR PAUL 
WELLSTONE SAYS, AT THE VERY LEAST, EXPANDING NATO WILL UNDERMINE 
DEMOCRATIC FORCES AND STRENGTHEN RUSSIAN NATIONALISTS.

                      /// WELLSTONE ACT ///

         I FEAR THAT PEOPLE IN RUSSIA FEEL BETRAYED BY THIS, AND 
         I AM EVEN MORE FRIGHTENED THAT THE VERY FORCES THAT WE 
         DO NOT WANT TO SEE IN POWER IN A POST-YELTSIN RUSSIA -- 
         AND THERE'LL BE A POST-YELTSIN RUSSIA -- WILL COME INTO 
         ASCENDANCY AS A RESULT OF THIS.

                         /// END ACT ///

CRITICS CHARGE ENLARGEMENT WILL BURDEN AMERICAN TAXPAYERS AND 
DRAG THE NATION INTO CONFLICTS WHERE IT HAS NO INTEREST. 
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN WARNER SAYS THE PLAN WILL HURT NATO'S 
FUNDAMENTAL MISSION, COLLECTIVE DEFENSE.

                       /// WARNER ACT ///

         I CHALLENGE ANY SENATOR TO POINT OUT ANOTHER ALLIANCE, 
         ANOTHER MILITARY TREATY THAT HAS SERVED THE AMERICAN 
         PEOPLE, THAT HAS SERVED EUROPE, THAT HAS SERVED THE 
         CAUSE OF PEACE IN HALF THE WORLD BETTER THAN THIS.  AND 
         IF IT WORKS, IT WORKS WELL, WHY TRY TO FIX IT?

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. WARNER IS SPONSORING THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 
TREATY, ONE THAT WOULD PLACE A MORATORIUM ON ANY SECOND ROUND OF 
EXPANSION.  BUT DEMOCRATIC LEADER TOM DASCHLE PREDICTS THE SENATE
WILL TURN BACK ALL THE PROPOSED CHANGES -- AND PROVIDE MORE THAN 
ENOUGH VOTES TO RATIFY ENLARGEMENT.

                       /// DASCHLE ACT ///

         I THINK THAT THERE'S A STRONG BIPARTISAN COALITION THAT 
         WANTS TO SEE THIS TREATY PASS THIS WEEK AND I BELIEVE IT
         WILL.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE SENATE IS SPENDING VIRTUALLY ALL ITS TIME ON NATO FOR THE 
NEXT FEW DAYS.  THE FINAL VOTE COULD COME WEDNESDAY NIGHT OR 
THURSDAY MORNING. (SIGNED)

 NEB/DS/WDC/KL

27-Apr-98 2:49 PM EDT (1849 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.