DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246685
TITLE=NATO CEREMONY (L ONLY)
CORRESPONDENT=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IN BRUSSELS, THE FLAGS OF POLAND, HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH 
REPUBLIC HAVE JOINED FLAGS OF THE 16 EXISTING NATO MEMBERS JUST 
INSIDE THE GATE AT THE ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS.  V-O-A'S RON 
PEMSTEIN REPORTS PRIME MINISTERS OF THE THREE COUNTRIES WERE 
PRESENT FOR THE CEREMONIES.

TEXT:  THIS WAS THE DAY WHEN NATO MEMBERSHIP BECAME REAL FOR THE 
THREE NEW MEMBERS.  NINETEEN FLAGS NOW FLY AT NATO HEADQUARTERS. 
AND THE THREE PRIME MINISTERS TOOK THEIR SEATS AT THE NATO 
COUNCIL AS FULL  MEMBERS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN NOTES THAT HUNGARY IS NOW A
MEMBER OF NATO'S SOUTHERN COMMAND AT A TIME WHEN NATO FACES 
CHALLENGES FROM SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE.  MR. ORBAN TELLS REPORTERS 
HUNGARY HAS SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN DEALING WITH THE KOSOVO 
CRISIS.

                       ///  ORBAN ACT  ///

         WE ARE A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY OF SERBIA.  THEREFORE WE 
         SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND
         THEREFORE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON WHICH FORM HUNGARY 
         COULD CONTRIBUTE.  BUT DIRECTLY, WE  CANNOT  BE INVOLVED
         BECAUSE OF OBVIOUS REASONS INTO THIS SETTLEMENT.  BUT WE
         ARE READY TO COOPERATE, READY TO CONTRIBUTE IN A WAY 
         THAT DOES  NOT  CREATE ANY DANGER TO THE HUNGARIANS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

WHILE HUNGARY HAS SPECIAL CONCERNS IN ITS REGION, POLAND BELIEVES
IT CAN HELP NATO IN DEALING WITH RUSSIA.  PRIME MINISTER JERZY 
BUZEK PUT IT THIS WAY IN HIS REMARKS TO THE NATO COUNCIL.

                       ///  BUZEK ACT  ///

         POLAND NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE EVEN MORE 
         EFFECTIVELY TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THIS PART
         OF OUR CONTINENT, TO DEEPEN THE DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION
         BETWEEN THE ALLIANCE AND ALL COUNTRIES OF OUR REGION.  
         WE FEEL GREAT RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA.  THIS IS WHY 
         WE BELIEVE THAT WE MUST ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING 
         NATO'S RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, UKRAINE, AND OTHER 
         PARTNERS IN THE EASTERN PART OF EUROPE.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

ALL THREE PRIME MINISTERS GIVE HIGH PRIORITY TO KEEPING NATO'S 
DOOR OPEN TO OTHER NEW MEMBERS.  CZECH PRIME MINISTER MILOS ZEMAN
PUSHED FOR SLOVAKIA'S MEMBERSHIP IN NATO.  AT THE SAME TIME HE IS
PESSIMISTIC ABOUT CHANCES FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO.

                       ///  ZEMAN ACT  ///

         ALL DEPENDS ON SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS.  I STILL HOPE 
         THERE IS A CHANCE OF A PEACEFUL SOLUTION, BUT I MUST 
         ADMIT THAT THE PROBABILITY OF SUCH A CHANCE SEEMS TO BE 
         RELATIVELY LOW.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

AFTER NATO'S SUMMIT MEETING NEXT MONTH IN WASHINGTON, THE 
CEREMONIES WILL BE OVER FOR THE NEW MEMBERS.  WHAT REMAINS ARE 
THREE MORE NATO ALLIES TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGE OF  WAR AND 
PEACE IN EUROPE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/RDP/JWH

16-Mar-99 8:23 AM EST (1323 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.