ACCESSION NUMBER:379583
FILE ID:TXT402
DATE:02/16/95
TITLE:PERRY ON NATO (02/16/95)
TEXT:*95021602.TXT
PERRY ON NATO
(VOA Editorial)  (340)
(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America February 16,
expressing the policies of the U.S. government.)

With the end of the Cold War, said Secretary of Defense William Perry, the
survival of the United States and Europe is no longer threatened.  But both
European countries and the United States have decided that they will be
better off facing the security challenges of the future together.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- NATO -- has been a success for
nearly half a century because it has adhered to four principles.  The first
is collective defense: if one member nation is attacked, the rest are
pledged to come to its aid.  The second principle is democracy.  NATO is
comprised of 16 of the world's strongest and most successful democracies,
which cherish peace, freedom and human rights.  Another principle is
consensus.  NATO decisions represent the unanimous agreement of all
members.  And finally, NATO forces plan and train together.

Many countries now participating in the Partnership for Peace say they want
to join NATO.  Secretary of Defense Perry said NATO welcomes expansion.
This year, alliance members will study the issue and present their
conclusions to interested parties.  As Perry said, new members must be
prepared to defend the alliance and have the professional military forces
to do it.  Expansion must not dilute the effectiveness of NATO.

Perry stressed that NATO is a defensive alliance committed to ensuring
security and stability for Europe as a whole, including Russia.  The United
States urges Russia to participate fully in the Partnership for Peace.  If
it does, it will see more clearly that NATO does not seek to draw new
divisions in Europe, and that expansion is not directed against anyone.

Times have changed and NATO has changed.  But risks to peace and stability
still exist.  As Secretary of Defense Perry said, "We have a historic
opportunity to expand the zone of stability in Europe.... We must seize
this moment to launch NATO into the next century."

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