DATE=1/16/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225408

TITLE=CLINTON / BALTICS (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS THREE COUNTERPARTS FROM THE 

BALTIC STATES (LENNART MERI OF ESTONIA, GUNTIS ULMANIS OF LATVIA 

AND ALGIRDAS BRAZAUSKAS OF LITHUANIA) HAVE SIGNED A PARTNERSHIP 

AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS REAFFIRMED ITS 

SUPPORT FOR THE BALTIC STATES' EFFORTS TO JOIN NATO. VOA'S DAVID 

GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.



TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN STRESSING THAT THE "CHARTER OF 

PARTNERSHIP" IS NEITHER A DEFENSE TREATY NOR A FLAT COMMITMENT BY

THE UNITED STATES TO GET THE BALTIC REPUBLICS INTO NATO.



BUT THE DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THE FOUR LEADERS DOES SAY THE UNITED 

STATES HAS WHAT IS TERMED A "REAL, PROFOUND AND ENDURING 

INTEREST" IN THE SECURITY, INDEPENDENCE AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

OF THE THREE COUNTRIES -- AND SUPPORTS THEIR INTEGRATION INTO 

EURO-ATLANTIC INSITUTIONS INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO.



PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD THE WHITE HOUSE GATHERING NATO MEMBERSHIP 

FOR THE BALTICS IS PART OF HIS VISION FOR A FUTURE UNITED EUROPE:



                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///



         OF COURSE THERE CAN BE NO GUARANTEE OF ADMISSION TO THE 

         ALLIANCE. ONLY NATO'S LEADERS OPERATING BY CONSENSUS CAN

         OFFER MEMBERSHIP TO AN ASPIRING STATE. BUT AMERICA'S 

         SECURITY IS TIED TO EUROPE. AND EUROPE WILL NEVER BE 

         FULLY SECURE IF BALTIC SECURITY IS IN DOUBT. NATO'S DOOR

         IS AND WILL REMAIN OPEN TO EVERY PARTNER NATION.  AND 

         AMERICA IS DETERMINED TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS UNDER 

         WHICH ESTONIA, LITHUANIA AND LATVIA CAN ONE DAY  WALK 

         THROUGH THAT DOOR.



                           //END ACT//



THE BALTIC STATES REGAINED THEIR INDEPENDENCE ONLY SEVEN YEARS 

AGO WITH THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION. AND THEY ARE PRESSING 

FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP IN PART TO RESIST THE NOTION THEY ARE STILL 

IN A RUSSIAN SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.



ESTONIAN PRESIDENT LENNART MERI SAID HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES 

CONSIDER NATO TO BE THE SOLE GUARANTOR OF SECURITY AND STABILITY 

IN EUROPE. HE SAID THE QUESTION OF BALTIC MEMBERSHIP WILL BECOME 

THE PRINCIPAL CHALLENGE FOR THE ALLIANCE -- AFTER ITS INITIAL  

EXPANSION THIS YEAR TO INCLUDE POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH 

REPUBLIC:



                      ///MERI ACTUALITY////



         WE BELIEVE THAT THE QUESTION OF BALTIC MEMBERSHIP IN 

         NATO WILL BECOME THE REAL TEST OF  POST-MADRID SECURITY 

         THINKING. THAT IS, THAT  COUNTRIES SHALL BE ABLE TO 

         CHOOSE THEIR SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS REGARDLESS OF 

         GEOGRAPHY. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WITH AMERICAN 

         LEADERSHIP, THIS TEST WILL BE MET WITH SUCCESS.



                          ///END ACT///



THE ESTONIAN PRESIDENT PAID TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES FOR 

REFUSING FOR MORE THAN FIVE DECADES TO RECOGNIZE THE FORCED 

INCORPORTATION OF THE BALTICS INTO THE SOVIET UNION -- CALLING 

AMERICA A BEACON OF HOPE THROUGH LONG, DARK AND COLD YEARS. HE 

ALSO THANKED MR. CLINTON FOR PRESSING FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE LAST

RUSSIAN TROOPS FROM THE AREA FOUR YEARS AGO.



IN ADDITION TO THE CHARTER, THE GOVERNMENTS HAVE CONCLUDED 

SEVERAL JOINT AGREEMENTS INCLUDING EXPANDED COOPERATION AGAINST 

ORGANIZED CRIME, AND A TREATY TO SPUR TRADE BY REDUCING TAXES ON 

U-S FIRMS DOING BUSINESS IN THE THREE BALTIC COUNTRIES.



MR. CLINTON ANNOUNCED ESTABLISHMENT OF A BALTIC-AMERICAN 

PARTNERSHIP FUND -- TO BE JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT 

AND AMERICAN FINANCIER GEORGE SOROS -- TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, 

PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS 

IN THE BALTICS. (SIGNED)



NEB/DAG/KL



16-Jan-98 5:12 PM EST (2212 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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