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QUESTION: Austria has expressed a wish to be a member of NATO in the last couple of days. How would you respond?
SECRETARY COHEN: Well, what we have always said is that the door to NATO membership remains open. But those nations who seek membership have to comply with some very high standards. That is, the promotion of our democratic ideals, subordination of military rule to that of civilian, promotion of human rights, free and open markets -- all of those issues would have to be taken into account by any candidate for admission to NATO. We don't anticipate that NATO would consider future admissions at least until 2002, I believe, is the earliest date that other countries may be considered.
:special