DATE=4/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230472
TITLE=SENATE / NATO (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE U-S SENATE COULD DECIDE THURSDAY WHETHER TO RATIFY 
THE HISTORIC EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO, TO BRING IN THREE OF ITS
FORMER COMMUNIST ENEMIES.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, LAWMAKERS 
WILL ALSO DECIDE WHETHER TO FREEZE THE ENLARGEMENT PROCESS FOR A 
WHILE.

TEXT:  THE SENATE MUST STILL ACT ON SEVERAL KEY AMENDMENTS TO THE
NATO EXPANSION TREATY.  ONE WOULD IMPOSE A THREE-YEAR HOLD ON A 
POSSIBLE NEXT ROUND OF ENLARGEMENT.  ANOTHER WOULD REQUIRE THE 
FIRST BATCH OF NEW MEMBERS - POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND 
HUNGARY - TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION BEFORE ENTERING NATO.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OPPOSES BOTH MEASURES.  AT THE WHITE 
HOUSE (WEDNESDAY), THE PRESIDENT SAID HE LOOKS FORWARD TO A 
FINAL, POSITIVE VOTE ON THE TREATY THIS WEEK.

                        // CLINTON ACT //

         THIS IS COMING AT A VERY IMPORTANT TIME FOR AMERICA.  
         FOUR YEARS AFTER I FIRST PROPOSED EXPANDING OUR EUROPEAN
         SECURITY ALLIANCE TO MAKE US MORE SECURE AND EUROPE 
         SAFER AND MORE UNITED.

                          // END ACT //

CRITICS OF ENLARGEMENT, THOUGH APPARENTLY FAR OUTNUMBERED, ARE 
STILL TAKING THEIR CASE TO THE SENATE FLOOR.  DEMOCRAT PAUL 
WELLSTONE WARNS (WEDNESDAY) THE MOVE WOULD CRIPPLE AMERICAN 
RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND UNDERMINE DEMOCRATIC FORCES THERE.

                       // WELLSTONE ACT //

         AM I MISSING SOMETHING? IS THERE SOME COMPELLING, 
         OVERRIDING REASON THAT MAKES NATO EXPANSION SO VITAL TO 
         U-S INTERESTS THAT WE MUST IMPERIL OUR RELATIONS WITH 
         RUSSIA FOR YEARS TO COME AND REVIVE RUSSIAN MISTRUST AND
         PARANOIA?

                          // END ACT //

(WEDNESDAY) THE SENATE TURNED DOWN A PROPOSAL THAT CALLED ON NATO
TO SET UP A SYSTEM FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES AMONG MEMBER STATES.  
ITS SPONSOR, REPUBLICAN KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, ARGUES NEW MEMBERS 
MAY DRAG THE ALLIANCE INTO THEIR LONGSTANDING BORDER CONFLICTS OR
ETHNIC CLASHES.

                       // HUTCHISON ACT //

         THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS UNITED 
         STATES SENATE WOULD BE ACTING ON A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD
         DRAW U-S TROOPS INTO HARM'S WAY FOR AN ETHNIC CONFLICT 
         THAT HAS BEEN BOILING IN EUROPE FOR 100 YEARS.

                          // END ACT //

BUT OTHERS CALLED THE PLAN INTRUSIVE AND UNNECESSARY. DEMOCRATIC 
SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN SAYS THE PROSPECT OF JOINING NATO IS BY 
ITSELF AN INCENTIVE TO PUT HOSTILITIES ASIDE. 

                         // BIDEN ACT //

         I DOUBT WHETHER ANYONE ON THIS FLOOR WOULD HAVE 
         PREDICTED TWO YEARS AGO, LET ALONE 20 YEARS AGO, THAT 
         ROMANIA WOULD BE ACCOMMODATING THEIR HUNGARIAN MINORITY,
         THAT POLAND WOULD HAVE SETTLED ALL ITS BORDER DISPUTES.

                          // END ACT //

THE AMENDMENT FAILED BY A WIDE MARGIN (62 TO 37).  THE EXPANSION 
TREATY IS EXPECTED TO PASS WHENEVER THE FINAL VOTE COMES. 
(SIGNED)


NEB/DS/EN/PTE 

29-Apr-98 6:10 PM EDT (2210 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.