DATE= 10/7/97 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-37724 TITLE=NATO - CENTRAL EUROPE BYLINE=ART CHIMES DATELINE=PRAGUE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S CONGRESS HAS OPENED WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE SIX WEEKS OF HEARINGS ON EXPANDING NATO MEMBERSHIP TO INCLUDE FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL EUROPE. IT IS A CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS A FUNDAMENTAL AND HISTORIC TRANSITION FOR THE FIRST EXPECTED NEW MEMBERS. DETAILS FROM V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPE CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IN PRAGUE. TEXT: POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ARE THE LIKELY FIRST MEMBERS OF AN EXPANDED NATO. THEY WERE INVITED LAST JULY TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS AND, IF ALL GOES WELL, THEY WILL PROBABLY JOIN IN 1999, FOLLOWED LATER PERHAPS BY OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION. FROM THE PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS' STANDPOINT, SEVERAL ISSUES LOOM LARGE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, INCLUDING MODERNIZATION OF THEIR ARMED FORCES, INTEGRATION WITH NATO'S COMMAND STRUCTURE, AND THE COSTS OF PAYING FOR IT ALL. DESPITE THE COSTS, CENTRAL EUROPE'S POLITICAL LEADERS GENERALLY VIEW NATO MEMBERSHIP AS DESIRABLE FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, AFTER 40 YEARS OF SOVIET DOMINATION, THERE REMAIN LINGERING DOUBTS ABOUT THE STABILITY OF RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY, AND NATO MEMBERSHIP WOULD PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST A POSSIBLE FUTURE THREAT FROM THE EAST. SECOND, AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, AN INVITATION TO JOIN NATO IS A BADGE OF ACCEPTANCE -- A SIGN THAT THE WESTERN POWERS REALLY CONSIDER THEM A "MEMBER OF THE CLUB," SO TO SPEAK. MAINSTREAM POLITICAL PARTIES IN ALL THREE COUNTRIES SUPPORT NATO MEMBERSHIP. BUT THE PUBLIC IS A BIT MORE DIVIDED: OPINION POLLS INDICATE SUPPORT FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP IS STRONGEST IN HUNGARY AND POLAND, WHILE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SUPPORT IS INCREASING THOUGH IT CURRENT STANDS AT ONLY ABOUT 50 PERCENT. HOWEVER, MANY CZECHS DON'T REALLY CARE -- PERHAPS BECAUSE UNLIKE ITS NEIGHBORS, THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS NO COMMON BORDER WITH THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. THE LACK OF CZECH ENTHUSIASM WAS NOTED RECENTLY BY A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL WHO VISITED THE THREE CANDIDATE COUNTRIES. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FRANK KRAMER ALSO NOTED A DECLINE IN THE CZECH MILITARY BUDGET. OFFICIALS IN PRAGUE SAY THE REDUCTION WAS PART OF AN AUSTERITY PROGRAM, AND THEY SAY MILITARY SPENDING WILL INCREASE. ALL THREE COUNTRIES HAVE TO MODERNIZE THEIR MILITARY ANYWAY, SO THE COSTS OF MEETING NATO MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS MAY BE NOT MUCH MORE -- AND PERHAPS EVEN A BIT LESS -- THAN THE BILL FOR UPGRADING ON THEIR OWN. ALTHOUGH IT NOW SEEMS CERTAIN THAT THE FIRST WAVE OF NEW NATO MEMBERS WILL INCLUDE -- AT MOST -- THE THREE CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, EARLIER THIS YEAR A LARGER EXPANSION WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION. ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA WERE SERIOUS CONTENDERS FOR A WHILE, UNTIL PRESIDENT CLINTON MADE CLEAR THAT AMERICA WOULD ONLY SUPPORT THREE NEW MEMBERS THIS TIME. ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA REMAIN LEADING CANDIDATES FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION. BUT THAT'S NOT LIKELY UNTIL AFTER THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. (SIGNED) NEB/ART/PCF 07-Oct-97 11:40 AM EDT (1540 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .