DATE=3/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246403
TITLE=NATO CONFERENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AT A LONDON CONFERENCE CELEBRATING NATO'S 50TH 
ANNIVERSARY, THE ORGANIZATION'S SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS IT NEEDS 
TO HELP BUILD A FEELING OF EUROPEAN COOPERATION AND BELONGING 
AMONG THE NEXT GENERATION OF BALKAN LEADERS.  CORRESPONDENT 
LAURIE KASSMAN HAS MORE.

TEXT:  NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYS NATO IS NO 
LONGER WHAT HE TERMS A "PASSIVE" DEFENSE ORGANIZATION.  THE 
16-NATION ALLIANCE IS NOW ACTIVELY RESHAPING THE SECURITY AGENDA 
FOR EUROPE.   HE POINTS TO NATO'S ROLE IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND 
PEACEKEEPING IN THE BALKANS AS AN EXAMPLE.

BUT MR. SOLANA SAYS NATO ALSO NEEDS TO GO BEYOND ITS CURRENT 
MANAGING OF CRISES IN FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS.  NATO, HE SAYS, 
SHOULD HELP PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN THE BALKANS
FOR THE REGION'S PEACEFUL INTEGRATION WITH THE REST OF EUROPE.  
MR. SOLANA CALLS IT "PARTNERSHIP FOR PROSPERITY."

                       /// SOLANA ACT ///

         WE NEED THE ENGAGEMENT OF A NEW GENERATION OF CITIZENS 
         AND LEADERS IN THE REBUILDING PROCESS IN THE TROUBLED 
         PARTS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.  WE NEED THE PEOPLE OF 
         THE REGION TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR OWN HANDS AND
         SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OPEN TO THEM.  WITH THE
         FIRST SIGNS OF SUCH A REGENERATION CAN COME THE FIRST 
         STEP IN THE LONGER TERM OF THE INTEGRATION PROCESS, A 
         REINTEGRATION INTO NORMALCY AND STABILITY AND PROSPERITY
         IN MAINSTREAM EUROPE.

                        /// END ACT /// 

THE NATO CHIEF ALSO STRESSES THE NEED FOR STRENGTHENING THE 
EUROPEAN SIDE OR "PILLAR" OF NATO, WITHOUT UNDERMINING ITS 
TRANS-ATLANTIC LINK.  HE POINTS TO THE PROPOSED NATO PEACEKEEPING
FORCE FOR KOSOVO, WHERE MOST OF THE TROOPS WOULD BE EUROPEAN, AND
UNDER EUROPEAN COMMAND.

                    /// SECOND SOLANA ACT ///

         WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT STRIKING A NEW TRANSATLANTIC 
         BARGAIN FOR THE NEXT CENTURY.  SUCH A BARGAIN DOES  NOT 
         MEAN LESS AMERICA.  IT SIMPLY MEANS MORE EUROPE.

                        /// END ACT /// 

BUT EUROPEAN STATES WORRY ABOUT THEY SEE AS THE WIDENING 
TECHNOLOGICAL GAP BETWEEN THEM AND THE UNITED STATES.  MR. SOLANA
WARNS THAT STRENGTHENING THE EUROPEAN PILLAR REQUIRES A 
COMMITMENT TO SPEND WHAT IS NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN ITS 
CAPABILITIES.

//OPT// THE EUROPEAN PILLAR WILL GROW AS NATO EXPANDS IN WHAT MR 
SOLANA CALLS ITS "OPEN DOOR" POLICY.

                    /// THIRD SOLANA ACT ///

         NATO'S ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THIS ENDEAVOR IS VERY CLEAR: TO
         HELP BRING ABOUT A NEW COOPERATIVE SECURITY ORDER IN 
         WHICH  NO  COUNTRY FEELS EXCLUDED.

                  /// END ACT ///  //END OPT//

POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC FORMALLY JOIN THE ALLIANCE
LATER THIS WEEK.  OTHER EAST EUROPEAN STATES -- ONCE GROUPED IN 
THE WARSAW PACT ALLIANCE OF THE COLD WAR ERA -- ARE LINING UP TO 
JOIN TOO.  BUT FOR NOW, RUSSIA AND UKRAINE REMAIN EXCEPTIONS AND 
SHOW  NO  INTEREST IN NATO MEMBERSHIP. (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/PCF





 

09-Mar-99 9:07 AM EST (1407 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.