DATE=3/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246780
TITLE=SLOVENIA/NATO (L-ONLY) -- CQ
BYLINE=ALISHA  RYU
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE BALKAN NATION OF SLOVENIA IS RENEWING ITS EFFORTS TO 
BE CONSIDERED FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY 
ORGANIZATION.  NATO WELCOMED THREE FORMER SOVIET BLOC COUNTRIES 
AS ITS NEWEST MEMBERS AT A CEREMONY IN INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI 
FRIDAY.  V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU REPORTS THAT SLOVENIANS CONSIDER NATO
MEMBERSHIP CRUCIAL TO THEIR NATIONAL IDENTITY.

TEXT:  SLOVENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER BORIS FRLEC (PRONOUNCED 
FUR-LITZ) WAS IN WASHINGTON FOR TWO DAYS TRYING TO SECURE U-S 
SUPPORT FOR ITS BID TO JOIN NATO.

SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS BEFORE MEETING U-S SECRETARY OF STATE 
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WEDNESDAY, MR. FRLEC OUTLINED THE REASONS WHY 
SLOVENIA SHOULD BE ADMITTED INTO THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE.

                      // FIRST FRLEC ACT //

         SLOVENIA NOWADAYS HAS A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM, HAS
         ESTABLISHED A FREE MARKET ECONOMY, A VERY HIGH-LEVEL OF 
         HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION, DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF DEFENSE 
         STRUCTURES, AND REASONABLY GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS.

                          // END ACT //

SLOVENIA BEGAN LOBBYING FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP SOON AFTER IT GAINED 
INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA IN 1991.  IT WAS BITTERLY 
DISAPPOINTED WHEN NATO TURNED DOWN ITS BID IN FAVOR OF POLAND, 
HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

SLOVENIA, WITH A GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT COMPARABLE TO PORTUGAL 
AND GREECE, NOW FEELS IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE ANOTHER BID, 
CITING ITS IMPORTANCE IN MAINTAINING THE SECURITY IN THE BALKAN 
REGION.

                     // SECOND FRLEC ACT //

         THE BORDER MOVES CLOSER TO THE AREAS OF INSTABILITY AND 
         SECURITY CONCERNED.  THIS CAN SERVE THEN AS A MESSAGE TO
         THE COUNTRIES WHOSE ACTIONS DESTABILIZE THE REGION THAT 
         WESTERN INSTITUTIONS ARE DETERMINED TO PREVENT AND 
         NEUTRALIZE INSTABILITY AND REGIONAL SECURITY THREATS.

                          // END ACT //

FOREIGN MINISTER FRLEC SAYS WITH THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE
PUBLIC IN SLOVENIA SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP IN NATO, POLITICIANS 
HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PUSH FOR ACCEPTANCE.  ALTHOUGH IT IS 
UNLIKELY SLOVENIA WILL GET CONFIRMATION ANY TIME SOON, MR. FRLEC 
SAYS THE MEMBERSHIP MATTER WILL REMAIN A PRIORITY ISSUE IN 
SLOVENIA UNTIL THE COUNTRY IS ALLOWED TO JOIN.  (SIGNED)

NEB/AR/LTD/GE

17-Mar-99 3:51 PM EST (2051 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.