DATE=          NOVEMBER 24, 1997

TYPE=        EDITORIAL

NUMBER=      0-07538

TITLE=       EDITORIAL: HUNGARY VOTES FOR NATO



CONTENT=THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO EDITORIALS BEING RELEASED FOR 

BROADCAST NOVEMBER 24, 1997.



ANNCR:

THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 

VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.



VOICE:



    THIS MONTH, THE HUNGARIAN PEOPLE VOTED IN A REFERENDUM ON 

THEIR COUNTRY'S ENTRY INTO NATO.  THE RESULTS WERE OVERWHELMING. 

MORE THAN EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT SUPPORTED HUNGARY'S ENTRY INTO THE 

ALLIANCE.  THE REFERENDUM SENDS AN UNMISTAKABLE SIGNAL OF THE 

HUNGARIAN PEOPLE'S DESIRE TO JOIN THE NORTH ATLANTIC COMMUNITY 

AND RECLAIM THEIR PLACE IN THE WESTERN FAMILY OF NATIONS.



    LAST SUMMER, HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND WERE 

INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE.  AS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON 

STRESSED, AN ENLARGED NATO WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO ADDRESS 

CHALLENGES TO EUROPE'S SECURITY.  A NATO THAT EMBRACES EUROPE'S 

NEW DEMOCRACIES WILL BE MORE CAPABLE OF CARRYING OUT ITS 

MISSIONS, DEFENDING THE TERRITORY OF ITS MEMBERS, AND PREVENTING 

CONFLICTS FROM BREAKING OUT.  AN ENLARGED NATO IS THE LINCHPIN OF

A STABLE, DEMOCRATIC EUROPE.  IT OFFERS THE NEWLY FREE NATIONS OF

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE THE SAME BENEFITS IT HAS PROVIDED WEST

EUROPEAN NATIONS FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY. 



    HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND HAVE SET AN EXAMPLE 

FOR OTHER NEW DEMOCRACIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.  THEY 

HAVE SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND MARKET 

REFORMS. THEIR MILITARY FORCES ARE UNDER CIVILIAN CONTROL.  AND 

THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED RESPECT FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THEIR 

NEIGHBORS.  



    THE DOOR WILL BE LEFT OPEN FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO JOIN NATO. 

THAT POSSIBILITY HAS ALREADY MOTIVATED NATIONS IN THE REGION TO 

SETTLE OLD DISPUTES, RECOGNIZE MINORITY RIGHTS, AND STRENGTHEN 

DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.  THIS BODES WELL FOR THE FUTURE.



ANNCR:



    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED 

STATES GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, 

PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 

20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.  

YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.



21-Nov-97 11:37 AM EST (1637 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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