DATE=  9/29/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220573

TITLE=U-S / NATO EXPANSION (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  SENIOR DIPLOMATS FROM POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH 

REPUBLIC ARE IN WASHINGTON TO HELP THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION 

PROMOTE NATO EXPANSION IN CONGRESS.  THERE ARE SENATE HEARINGS ON

THE ADMISSION OF THE THREE CENTRAL EUROPEAN STATES TO THE 

ALLIANCE NEXT WEEK. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE 

HOUSE.



TEXT:  NATO EXPANSION IS POPULAR IN CONGRESS. BUT THE 

ADMINISTRATION IS LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE AS IT BEGINS A 

LOBBYING CAMPAIGN THAT WILL CULMINATE WITH SENATE ACTION ON THE 

ISSUE SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. 



THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF POLAND AND HUNGARY, AND THE  DEPUTY 

FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC MET HERE WITH WHITE HOUSE 

NATIONAL SECURITY SAMUEL ("SANDY") BERGER, AND WILL SPEND MUCH OF

THE REST OF THE WEEK CONFERRING WITH KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.



A NUMBER OF SENATORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF THE 

EXPANSION  PROCESS -- ESTIMATED TO BE AS MUCH AS 35-BILLION 

DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS, WITH THE UNITED STATES PAYING AT 

LEAST TWO-BILLION DOLLARS.



BUT THE CZECH DEPUTY MINISTER, KAREL KOVANDA, SAID HIS GOVERNMENT

IS BOOSTING ITS OWN DEFENSE OUTLAYS BY ABOUT ONE-FIFTH TO COVER 

EXPANSION COSTS AND DOES NOT INTEND TO BE A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON 

THE ALLIES.



                       ///KOVANDA TAPE///



         THE COUNTRY IS READY TO PAY ITS WAY. WE ARE NOT 

         INTERESTED IN BEING JUST A CONSUMER OF DEFENSE. WE ARE 

         INTERESTED IN MAKING A FULL-BLOWN CONTRIBUTION TO NATO 

         SECURITY. JUST AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNMENT 

         REVIEWED AND APPROVED A BILL, WHICH IS GOING DOWN TO THE

         PARLIAMENT IN PRAGUE, WHICH WILL INCREASE THE CZECH 

         MILITARY SPENDING FOR THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE BY 

         SOMETHING LIKE 20 PERCENT.



                          ///END ACT///



THE POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER, DARIUSZ ROSATI, SAID HIS GOVERNMENT 

IS CONVINCED NATO ENLARGEMENT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EUROPEAN

SECURITY.  BUT HE SAID ADDITIONAL EFFORTS MAY BE NEEDED TO 

PERSUADE THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP AND PEOPLE THAT THE PROCESS 

PRESENTS NO SECURITY THREAT TO MOSCOW.



                        /// ROSATI ACT///



         WE ALSO HAVE TO CONDUCT A SORT OF EDUCATIONAL WORK, IN 

         ORDER TO TELL THEM THAT THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO -- WHICH

         IS AN ALLIANCE OF DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES -- IS NOT 

         SOMETHING THEY SHOULD BE AFRAID OF.  AND AT THE SAME 

         TIME, IF RUSSIA WANTS TO BE A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, THEN 

         OBVIOUSLY RUSSIA CANNOT PREVENT OTHER SOVEREIGN 

         COUNTRIES FROM DECIDING THEIR OWN SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS.



                          ///END ACT///



THE HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, LASZLO KOVACS, STRESSED THE NEED 

TO MAKE THE EXPANSION PROCESS TRANSPARENT AND OPEN. HE SAID 

HUNGARY -- WHICH WILL BE GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF

THE ALLIANCE -- INTENDS TO WORK WITH ALL SEVEN COUNTRIES 

SURROUNDING IT TO ASSURE THAT NO NEW DIVIDING LINES ARE DRAWN IN 

EUROPE.



MR. BERGER SAID HE SEES NO INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLES TO NATO 

EXPANSION IN THE SENATE, WHERE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITIES WILL BE 

NEEDED FOR EXTENDING U-S SECURITY GUARANTEES TO THE NEW MEMBERS. 

SECRETARY OF STATE MADALEINE ALBRIGHT IS TO BE THE LEAD WITNESS 

AT SENATE HEARINGS ON NATO EXPANSION NEXT WEEK.  (SIGNED)



NEB/DAG/RRM



29-Sep-97 5:46 PM EDT (2146 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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