DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246456
TITLE=NATO / EUROPE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  NATO'S EUROPEAN MEMBERS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO STRENGTHEN
THEIR OWN DEFENSE IDENTITY.  BRITAIN'S DEFENSE SECRETARY TOLD A 
LONDON CONFERENCE CELEBRATING NATO'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY THAT EUROPE
MUST IMPROVE ITS MILITARY CAPABILITIES TO HELP SHOULDER NATO'S 
NEW DEFENSE BURDENS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS 
FROM LONDON.

TEXT:  BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBERTSON SAYS THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF A EUROPEAN DEFENSE IDENTITY WILL  NOT  UNDERMINE 
THE TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE. 

                   ///  ROBERTSON ACT ONE  ///

         OUR OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN QUITE SIMPLE.  WE WANT TO 
         STRENGTHEN THE ABILITY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO PURSUE 
         FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES, TO GIVE THE EUROPEAN UNION A 
         PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS WORTHY OF ITS SIZE, 
         EXPERIENCE AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. ROBERTSON INSISTS THE CONCEPT DOES  NOT  COMPETE WITH THE 
NATO ALLIANCE, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS THE CORNERSTONE OF EUROPEAN 
SECURITY AND DEFENSE.  BUT HE SAYS EUROPE NEEDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS
MILITARY CAPABILITIES TO KEEP UP.

                   ///  ROBERTSON ACT TWO  ///

         WE NEED FORCES THAT ARE GENUINELY USABLE IN THE FIELD 
         AND  NOT JUST ON PAPER.  PAPER ARMIES NEVER WON A WAR.  
         PAPER ARMIES NEVER KEPT A PEACE.

                       ///  END ACT  /// 

THE UNITED STATES HAS ALWAYS CALLED ON EUROPE TO TAKE UP MORE OF 
NATO'S BURDEN.  BUT A SECURITY AND DEFENSE IDENTITY FOR THE 
EUROPEAN UNION -- KNOWN AS E-S-D-I -- HAS RAISED SOME CONCERNS. 

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT TOLD THE LONDON 
CONFERENCE A EUROPEAN DEFENSE ALLIANCE MUST  NOT  CREATE 
IMPRESSIONS THAT COULD WEAKEN THE TRANSATLANTIC LINKS.

                       /// TALBOTT ACT ///

         IF E-S-D-I IS MISCONCEIVED, MISUNDERSTOOD, OR 
         MISHANDLED, IT COULD CREATE THE IMPRESSION THAT COULD 
         EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE REALITY THAT A NEW EUROPEAN-ONLY 
         ALLIANCE IS BEING BORN OUT OF THE OLD TRANS-ATLANITC 
         ONE.  IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD WEAKEN AND 
         PERHAPS EVEN BREAK THOSE TIES THAT BIND OUR SECURITY TO 
         YOURS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. TALBOTT ALSO WARNS THAT STRENGTHENING WHAT IS CALLED THE 
EUROPEAN "PILLAR" OF NATO CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY CURRENT
OR NEW ALLIANCE MEMBERS WHO ARE  NOT  ALSO PART OF THE EUROPEAN 
UNION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/JWH

10-Mar-99 10:04 AM EST (1504 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.