DATE=1/12/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225158

TITLE=U-S-BALTIC CHARTER (L ONLY)

BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL SIGN A FORMAL CHARTER WITH THREE 

BALTIC PRESIDENTS FRIDAY THAT SUPPORTS EFFORTS BY 

ESTONIA,LITHUANIA AND LATVIA TO JOIN NATO.  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT

RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE CHARTER 

CONTAINS NO PROMISES ON TIMING OR FOR AMERICAN SECURITY 

GUARANTEES.







TEXT:  THE BALTIC CHARTER HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR ONE YEAR. IT IS

A SYMBOL OF AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE BALTIC 

STATES AND FOR THEIR ASPIRATIONS TO BE PART OF WESTERN 

INSTITUTIONS.  HOWEVER, THE SO-CALLED CHARTER OF PARTNERSHIP DOES

NOT COMMIT THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR 

ESTONIA, LITHUANIA AND LATVIA IN ANY CERTAIN ROUND OF 

ENLARGEMENT.  IN FACT, THE CHARTER STATES THAT NATO MEMBERSHIP 

FOR THE BALTICS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF WHEN THEY ARE READY BUT 

ALSO THAT IT MUST SERVE THE OVERALL STRATEGIC INTERESTS OF THE 

ALLIANCE.  THAT'S A REFERENCE TO RUSSIA'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE 

BALTIC STATES BECOMING NATO MEMBERS.



STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR 

THE BALTICS IS NOT JUST FOR THE UNITED STATES TO DECIDE.



                         ///RUBIN ACT///



         THE CHARTER DOES NOT COMMIT THE UNITED STATES TO BALTIC 

         MEMBERSHIP IN NATO. IN FACT, IT REAFFIRMS U-S POLICY 

         THAT ASPIRANTS CAN BECOME MEMBERS ONLY AS THEY PROVE 

         THEMSELVES ABLE AND WILLING TO ASSUME THE 

         RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP.  IT 

         WOULD BE A NATO DECISION, NOT AN AMERICAN DECISION.



                         ///END ACT/// 



MR. RUBIN SAYS RUSSIA HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE BALTIC CHARTER BOTH

IN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO REACTION. THE 

CHARTER PRAISES THE NATO-RUSSIA FOUNDING ACT AND THE NATO-RUSSIA 

DIALOGUE AS ELEMENTS OF EUROPEAN SECURITY. THE RUSSIANS ARE 

EXPECTED TO REACT PUBLICLY AFTER FRIDAY'S SIGNING CEREMONY AT THE

WHITE HOUSE.



PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL SIGN THE CHARTER WITH PRESIDENT LENNART 

MERI OF ESTONIA, PRESIDENT GUNTIS ULMANIS OF LATVIA AND 

LITHUANIA'S OUTGOING PRESIDENT ALGIRDAS BRAZAUSKAS. THE UNITED 

STATES WILL COMMIT ITSELF TO HELPING THE THREE COUNTRIES PREPARE 

FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO AMERICAN COMMITMENT TO 

DEFEND THE THREE BALTIC STATES BEFORE THEY ACHIEVE NATO 

MEMBERSHIP.



THE 16 NATO COUNTRIES VOTE THIS YEAR TO RATIFY THE ACCESSION OF 

POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN THE FIRST ENLARGEMENT 

OF THE ALLIANCE SINCE 1982. A SECOND ROUND IS EXPECTED TO BE 

CONSIDERED AFTER THOSE COUNTRIES BECOME MEMBERS IN 1999. 



THE UNITED STATES WHILE PUBLICLY WELCOMING THE BALTIC STATES 

ASPIRATIONS TO BECOME NATO MEMBERS HAS TOLD THEM NOT TO EXPECT 

AMERICAN SUPPORT AS EARLY AS THE SECOND ROUND. (SIGNED)  







NEB/PT







12-Jan-98 5:15 PM EST (2215 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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