17 November 1998
(Press conference November 16 in Warsaw) (1200) Warsaw -- Two U.S. senators, William Roth and Barbara Mikulski, spoke to reporters during their visit to Poland November 16. The two were part of a bipartisan Senate delegation. Roth, a Republican from Delaware who served as president of the North Atlantic Assembly and co-chairman of the Senate NATO Observers Group, noted that the U.S. Senate's "very decisive vote in favor of accession [to NATO] on the part of Poland, as well as the Czech Republic and Hungary, was something like 80 to 19." That vote, he said, "indicates the support that there is for the open door policy. It is my personal conviction that the addition of the three will add to security, stability; and it will be critically important that that door be kept open next April when the Washington summit will be held, at which time, at least for now, the three countries will join the Alliance." Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland, said that the support for Poland's entry into NATO was a reflection of its achievements since the fall of the Berlin Wall -- "not only to stabilize democracy, to have a growing economy, but to meet a very rigorous military test of readiness." Following is transcript of Roth's and Mikulski's remarks: (Begin transcript) SEN. WILLIAM ROTH: I want to express my appreciation to the members of the Polish Government and military forces for the excellence of the briefings we've had the two last days. Let me underscore that this is the largest Senate delegation, I believe, that has ever come to Poland. And the reason for that is twofold. First of all, it demonstrates the good will between the American people and the people of Poland. But secondly, this is a time of great importance, the accession of Poland to the NATO Alliance. Let me just say that ten years ago, who would have dared dream that the Cold War would be over; who would have dared dream that Poland would be joining the NATO alliance; and who would have dared dream that Poland would be a democracy with a vibrant economy? These are exciting times, and we wish the people of Poland well. Let me conclude by saying that NATO is a threat to no one. It is a defensive alliance, and all we seek is peace, security, and stability for all of Europe. SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI: It gives me great pleasure to return to Poland once again with a bipartisan group of United States senators. I stood with Senator Roth on the Senate floor to advocate Poland's accession into NATO. I came to Poland with President Clinton, after the Madrid Conference, on the day they called the Day of the Eagles. And now we come back today to see if our hopes for Poland were fulfilled. I can tell you this: in the days that we have been in Poland meeting with elected leadership, seeing the 6th Assault Brigade, listening to the details of the Polish military, Poland should be congratulated on the significant achievements it has already made. Not only to stabilize democracy, to have a growing economy, but to meet a very rigorous military test of readiness. I would like to congratulate the Polish government and the Parliament as well, the Polish military, and most of all, the Polish people for having so much faith and so much persistence overcoming so many obstacles for over so many years. So... congratulations. Q: MARIA BNINSKA: VOA and Radio Super FM. I have two questions. One question is for Senator Mikulski. Do you consider the "yes" vote of the U.S. Senate and NATO countries as your personal success? I have also a question for Senator Roth. I would like you to comment on yesterday's decision of President Clinton to accept the Iraqi government's declaration. According to today's "Washington Post," Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was against the immediate acceptance of the declaration. SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI: Let me first deal with the good news part here. The vote of the United States Senate to accept Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic was not a personal victory. It was really a victory based on the significant effort that Poland made to prepare for accession. The soundness of the policy, the fact that Poland had a stable democracy, civilian control over the military, free market, and commitment to meet the very rigorous test of the military was due to that. Plus working on a bipartisan basis; we don't always get a chance to do it . But when we do -- we get it right. SEN. ROTH: Let me say we have not heard the latest information so it would not be appropriate at this time to comment on Iraq. But again, let me say that the very decisive vote in favor of accession on the part of Poland, as well as the Czech Republic and Hungary, was something like 80 to 19. It indicates the support that there is for the open door policy. It is my personal conviction that the addition of the three will add to security, stability; and it will be critically important that that door be kept open next April when the Washington summit will be held, at which time, at least for now, the three countries will join the Alliance. Again, there was very, very strong bipartisan support on the Senate floor in favor of your country joining this alliance. MARIA WAGROWSKA: "Rzeczpospolita." A question to Senator Roth. When following the session which took place in Edinburgh, we heard some suggestions that the second wave of NATO enlargement should mainly focus on Slovenia. Could you elaborate a little bit on that, and what was your motivation to make this statement? SEN. ROTH: As you know, we have just come from the North Atlantic Assembly which had its fall plenary. We have issued a booklet on NATO in the 21st century. In that book I strongly argue that Slovenia should be invited next April. She is in many ways as well qualified as any of the three countries we have already invited. So that is the principle reason, but I would point out also that by inviting Slovenia we can make it clear that the open door policy continues; in other words, other countries -- we have nine of them now who seek membership in the Alliance -- and we want them to understand that once they meet the criteria like Poland, that opportunity will be present. When I recommended inviting Slovenia, that was intended to be the minimum. Maybe other countries will be ready at that time as well. AGENCJA PRASOWA: What is the purpose of your trip to Lithuania, and do you see also the Baltic states as potentially future NATO members? SEN. ROTH: Absolutely. It is clearer that the Baltic nations are among those countries that are eligible to join the Alliance when they meet the criteria. I believe that was stated in the Madrid Declaration, and certainly in our report that was issued on NATO in the 21st century. We made it clear that that was the intent. (End transcript)