11 February 1998
(Hails enlargement as a "new era" for peace in Europe) (440) By Jane A. Morse USIA Diplomatic Correspondent Washington -- President Clinton signed the protocol endorsing membership for Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during a ceremony attended by hundreds of guests at the State Department February 11. The protocol was then transmitted to the Senate, which must give its advice and consent for ratification of the document. The parliaments of all 16 members of NATO must approve the accession of these three countries. Standing before a replica of the Berlin Wall in the elegant Benjamin Franklin Room, Clinton hailed NATO enlargement as the beginning of "a new era of security and stability for America and for Europe." "Our goal," Clinton explained, "is and remains the creation of an undivided democratic and peaceful Europe for the first time in history. Bringing the three nations into the alliance will advance it...." The President said enlargement will make NATO stronger; the three countries add 200,000 troops to the alliance. He noted that even now, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have proven their willingness to contribute to regional security by providing troops for peacekeeping operations in Bosnia. The President also noted that Czech, Hungarian, and Polish soldiers served as well in the Gulf War, where "they made a significant contribution to our success. And they recognize the threat to the world posed today by Saddam Hussein and by his efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction." Clinton said that all three countries have announced that they are prepared to serve and support the United States "as appropriate should military action prove necessary." NATO enlargement will make Europe more stable and "erase the artificial lines" that divided it since the end of World War Two, Clinton said. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. (Democrat of Delaware), who co-chairs the NATO Observers Group, said NATO inclusion of these three countries will "rectify an historical injustice" and prevent a "gray zone" of nations that might seek their own independent military alliances. Senator William Roth, Jr. (Republican of Delaware), the chairman of the NATO Observers Group, said that enlargement will serve as in important instrument for building trust among nations in Europe. Also attending the ceremony was Secretary of State Albright, who said there is overwhelming support in the United States for entry of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into NATO. She noted that military and veterans organizations, civic, policy and political organizations, ethnic organizations, religious and human rights organizations, as well as business and labor organizations have all endorsed NATO expansion.