DATE=3/12/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-246563 TITLE=RUSSIA/NATO (L-ONLY) BYLINE=EVE CONANT DATELINE=MOSCOW CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA IS REACTING TO THE FORMAL INTRODUCTION INTO NATO OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND WITH ANGER AND DEMONSTRATIONS. AS V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, ONE DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAYS NATO EXPANSION COULD HAVE "SEVERE CONSEQUENCES." TEXT: ///NATURAL SOUND OF RALLY -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER/// A GROUP OF ABOUT 20 YOUNG PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN MOSCOW FRIDAY SHOUTING "RUSSIA'S YOUTH AGAINST NATO!" AND "NATO, HANDS OFF YUGOSLAVIA!" RUSSIA DEFIANTLY OPPOSES NATO EXPANSION. BUT RUSSIAN LEADERS CAN ONLY WATCH HELPLESSLY AS THE ALLIANCE MOVES CLOSER TO ITS BORDERS, BRINGING THREE EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES INTO ITS RANKS ON FRIDAY. THE FORMAL INTRODUCTION OF POLAND, HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO NATO SPARKED ANGRY WORDS FROM A TOP RUSSIAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL. ///IVASHOV ACT IN RUSSIAN -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER/// GENERAL LEONID IVASHOV SAYS, "THE EXPANSION OF NATO IS A DANGEROUS AND HISTORIC MISTAKE, WHICH MAY HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES." GENERAL IVASHOV POINTS OUT THAT NATO EXPANSION WILL LEAD TO CONFLICT, NOT PEACE. ///SECOND IVASHOV ACT IN RUSSIAN -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER/// "HISTORY PROVES THAT AS SOON AS YOU UPSET THE BALANCE OF FORCE IN EUROPE," HE SAYS, "THERE IS INSTABILITY, CONFLICT AND WAR." THE DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL CALLED POSSIBLE FURTHER NATO EXPANSION INTO THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS OF LITHUANIA, LATVIA AND ESTONIA "CATEGORICALLY UNACCEPTABLE." HE SAID RUSSIA WOULD RESPOND PROPERLY TO WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS SUCH "A DIRECT THREAT." RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WOULD PREFER TO ENSURE EUROPEAN SECURITY WITH THE "CONVENTIONAL FORCES IN EUROPE" TREATY, A COLD-WAR ERA PACT THAT LIMITS TROOPS AND CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS IN EUROPEAN STATES. RUSSIA HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO GET THE TREATY MODIFIED BEFORE FRIDAY'S NATO EXPANSION EASTWARDS. (SIGNED) NEB/EC/PCF 12-Mar-99 11:24 AM EST (1624 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .