| NATO ENLARGEMENT | |
| 4-5 | Timing of Polish, Czech and Hungarian entry into NATO |
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QUESTION: Still on security, the Polish Defense Minister is suggesting that the dates of admitting Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary into NATO might be advanced and take place before next year's summit. Is there any truth in that?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I think there is a ratification process that has to go on across the board for all the 16 countries. We have done so, and some of the other countries have done so; but not all have done so. So the actual incorporation into NATO is a subject that is dependent upon the ratification by parliaments of the NATO charter amendment, which I don't believe is complete yet. Am I right about that? We'll check that. There was a proper nod over there, but I don't believe it's completed yet. That's the first step.
As far as the timing of accelerating, we've moved this quite far along and quite quickly, and much quicker than a lot of people thought was possible. I'm not aware that there's a push to accelerate it even further.
QUESTION: As far as I know, it's always been assumed that subject to ratification and so forth, that they would be formally admitted at the Washington Summit; is that still the case?
MR. RUBIN: Well, there have been several ceremonies that constituted the recognition - the signing, the ratification documents. I believe the Washington Summit would include a discussion of next steps in the area of NATO enlargement. Whether that would be the formal moment at which they're approved, I do not know. But we will get that for the record. And to those of you who report to the Poles and the Czechs and the Hungarians, my ignorance on this subject should not be perceived as any change in American policy.
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(The briefing concluded at 1:30 P.M.)
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