DATE=11/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242148
TITLE=NATO-ROMANIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  ROMANIAN PRESIDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU HAS MET (IN 
BRUSSELS WEDNESDAY) WITH NATO'S AMBASSADORS.  HE CAME TO PLEAD 
HIS COUNTRY'S CASE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT GROUP OF MEMBERS 
ADMITTED UNDER THE ALLIANCE'S ENLARGEMENT PLANS.  AS RON PEMSTEIN
REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS, ROMANIA WILL BE A LEADING 
CANDIDATE, BUT THE ALLIANCE MAY  NOT  BE READY.

TEXT:  THERE HAVE BEEN STATEMENTS FROM BRITAIN, GERMANY AND 
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE THAT NATO SHOULD INCLUDE 
POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND TAKE ITS TIME BEFORE 
EXPANDING ANY FURTHER.  THE WASHINGTON NATO SUMMIT MEETING NEXT 
APRIL WILL CELEBRATE THE THREE NEW MEMBERS -- BUT THERE ARE SIGNS
THE DOOR WILL REMAIN CLOSED TO ADDING ANY MORE.

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER HAS SUGGESTED TWO OR 
THREE YEARS PASS BEFORE NATO ENLARGES AGAIN.

PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU CAME HERE TO URGE NATO AMBASSADORS TO 
CONSIDER HIS REFORM EFFORTS.  THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE TELLS 
REPORTERS HE RECEIVED ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM THE NATO AMBASSADORS
-- BUT NO PROMISES.

             ///CONSTANTINESCU ACT W/ INTERPRETER///

         I UNDERSTOOD THAT ROMANIA IS A CREDIBLE AND SERIOUS 
         CANDIDATE FOR THE ALLIANCE AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS NOT IF
         ROMANIA WILL OR WILL  NOT  BE ACCEPTED INTO THE 
         ALLIANCE, BUT OF THE TIME WHEN THE ALLIANCE IS PREPARED 
         TO ACCEPT ROMANIA.

                          ///END ACT///

PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU SAYS ROMANIA HAS BEEN ACTING AS IF IT 
WERE A MEMBER OF NATO -- TAKING PART IN MISSIONS IN BOSNIA, 
ALBANIA AND NOW IN KOSOVO.  ROMANIA IS FLYING AIR MISSIONS OVER 
KOSOVO, TAKING PICTURES TO SEE WHETHER A CEASEFIRE IN THE 
YUGOSLAV PROVINCE IS BEING CARRIED OUT.

// OPT // NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA IS FLYING TO 
SKOPJE TO GET FORMAL APPROVAL FROM MACEDONIA'S GOVERNMENT FOR 
NATO'S EXTRACTION FORCE -- TO BE BASED THERE JUST ACROSS THE 
BORDER FROM KOSOVO. THE FORCE IS MEANT TO RESCUE ANY OF THE 
UNARMED, CIVILIAN VERIFIERS FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF SECURITY AND
COOPERATION IN EUROPE. // END OPT // 

SECRETARY-GENERAL SOLANA TELLS REPORTERS  NOT  TO PAY ANY 
ATTENTION TO THE STATEMENTS OF DELAY IN NATO EXPANSION FROM 
LONDON, BONN AND WASHINGTON.

                        ///SOLANA ACT///

         MINISTERS -- EVEN PRIME MINISTERS -- ARE FREE TO SAY 
         WHAT THEY THINK. LET ME SAY VERY CLEARLY FOR THIS OR FOR
         ANY OTHER QUESTION YOU MAY ASK LATER ON, IN THIS HOUSE, 
         IN THE ALLIANCE, ALL OF THE DECISIONS ARE TAKEN BY 
         CONSENSUS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY -- THIS IS THE 
         BEAUTY OF THIS ORGANIZATION -- EVERYBODY FINDS A COMMON 
         POSITION WHICH WILL MOVE FORWARD. BUT AT THE SAME TIME 
         EVERYBODY FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH THE DECISION TAKEN.

                          ///END ACT///

PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU DESCRIBED FOR THE AMBASSADORS RECENT 
STEPS ROMANIA HAS TAKEN TO PUT BANKS AND OIL REFINERIES INTO 
PRIVATE HANDS AND TO MAKE MILITARY REFORMS IN PREPARATION FOR 
NATO MEMBERSHIP WHENEVER IT HAPPENS. (SIGNED) 

NEB/RDP/PCF/JO

25-Nov-98 12:37 PM EST (1737 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.