DATE=  10/6/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220900

TITLE=ALBRIGHT / NATO (S-ONITER)

BYLINE=DAVID SWAN

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE OPENS HEARINGS TODAY (TUESDAY) ON THE 

PROPOSED TREATY ALLOWING THREE COUNTRIES TO JOIN NATO -- POLAND, 

THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY.  SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 

ALBRIGHT GOES BEFORE THE U-S SENATE COMMITTEE TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR

OF THE MEASURE.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS FROM CAPITOL 

HILL.



TEXT:  THE SECRETARY WILL BE THE FIRST WITNESS WHEN THE SENATE 

FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE OPENS A LONG ROUND OF HEARINGS ON 

NATO ENLARGEMENT.  THE PANEL'S POWERFUL CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN 

JESSE HELMS, IS OFFERING QUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA.



HOWEVER, HE AND OTHER SENATORS STILL WORRY ABOUT THE COSTS OF 

EXPANSION AND WHETHER IT WILL HELP OR HANDICAP NATO'S MILITARY 

POWER. CRITICS ALSO FEAR THE MOVE WILL DRAG THE UNITED STATES 

INTO MORE EUROPEAN WARS.



MS. ALBRIGHT WILL TRY TO EASE THESE CONCERNS AND PERSUADE 

SKEPTICS THE PLAN WILL STRENGTHEN THE ALLIANCE WITHOUT CAUSING 

NEW DIVISIONS ON THE CONTINENT.



BECAUSE IT WOULD CHANGE THE CURRENT NATO TREATY, THE 

ADMINISTRATION NEEDS 67 VOTES, OR TWO-THIRDS OF THE (100-SEAT) 

SENATE, TO RATIFY THE PROPOSAL.  MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT, WHO 

FAVORS EXPANSION, HAS SAID HE WILL SCHEDULE A VOTE AS EARLY AS 

FEBRUARY. (SIGNED)



NEB/DS/RRM



06-Oct-97 3:35 PM EDT (1935 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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