DATE=4/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230558
TITLE=SENATE-NATO (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN 
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILLx
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE HAS RATIFIED THE HISTORIC EASTWARD 
EXPANSION OF NATO, OPENING THE ALLIANCE TO THREE OF ITS FORMER 
WARSAW PACT ENEMIES.  SENATORS ALSO TURNED DOWN ATTEMPTS TO HOLD 
UP A POSSIBLE NEXT PHASE OF ENLARGEMENT AFTER NATO ACCEPTS THE 
CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.

TEXT:  NATO EXPANSION PREVAILED AS EXPECTED, WINNING THE NEEDED 
TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY WITH VOTES TO SPARE (80 TO 19).  THE FOUR-DAY
DEBATE WAS LIVELY -- AND FOR AT LEAST ONE SENATOR IT WAS ALSO 
PERSONAL.  DEMOCRAT BARBARA MIKULSKI RECOUNTED THE STRUGGLES OF 
POLAND AND THE LIFE OF HER POLISH-AMERICAN FAMILY.

                      /// MIKULSKI ACT ///

         I'M ONLY SORRY THAT MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER ISN'T ALIVE TO 
         SEE THIS BECAUSE WHEN WE VOTE TO RATIFY THIS TREATY, WE 
         WILL THEN UNDO THE HISTORIC TRAGEDY THAT HAS OFTEN 
         ENGULFED THESE NATIONS.  AND FOREVER AND EVER IN THE 
         NEXT CENTURY, ENSURE  NOT  ONLY THEIR PROTECTION BUT 
         ALSO BE SURE THAT DESPICABLE PRACTICES LIKE THE 
         HOLOCAUST WILL NEVER HAPPEN (AGAIN).

                         /// END ACT ///

CRITICS OF EXPANSION SAY THE THREE NEW MEMBERS ARE FACING NO 
IMMINENT THREAT, BUT THEY AND MANY OTHER NATIONS WILL BE IN 
DANGER IF THE MOVE ANGERS RUSSIA.  DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DANIEL 
PATRICK MOYNIHAN WARNS THE WEST CAN  NOT  AFFORD SUCH A CRISIS.  

                      /// MOYNIHAN ACT ///

         IF WE WERE TO HAVE THEIR HOSTILITY, THEIR OPPOSITION, IT
         COULD BE RUINOUS TO THE WORLD.  WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 
         NUCLEAR WAR, AND BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WAR.  THAT IN 
         MY VIEW IS WHAT IS AT ISSUE IN THIS DECISION WE ARE 
         ABOUT TO MAKE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE SENATE DEFEATED SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE SLOWED OR 
HANDICAPPED ENLARGEMENT.  THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL 
DEMANDED A THREE-YEAR HOLD ON THE NEXT ROUND OF EXPANSION.  ITS 
SPONSOR, REPUBLICAN JOHN WARNER, CALLS IT REASONABLE FOR NATO TO 
PAUSE AND ASSESS THE COST OF ITS DECISION.

                       /// WARNER ACT ///

         THINK OF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER, THINK OF THE PARENTS OF 
         THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL TODAY, TOMORROW AND IN 
         THE FUTURE WEAR THE UNIFORM OF OUR COUNTRY AS A PART OF 
         THE NATO FORCE.

                         /// END ACT ///

BUT SUPPORTERS OF EXPANSION CHARGED THE MORATORIUM IS NOT NEEDED,
SINCE THE SENATE WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO THE SECOND ROUND ANYWAY. 
SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN ARGUES THE FREEZE WOULD BE UNFAIR TO 
PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS ACROSS EUROPE. 

                        /// BIDEN ACT ///

         IT IS ABSOLUTELY SUPERFLUOUS AND I WOULD ARGUE IT IS 
         DANGEROUS IN THAT IT WILL SEND A SIGNAL THAT THERE'S AN 
         ARTIFICIAL PAUSE, THAT REALLY MEANS NO ONE ELSE WILL BE 
         CONSIDERED.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTED ANOTHER AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD
HAVE REQUIRED NEW NATO MEMBERS TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION FIRST.

THE RATIFICATION MARKS A VICTORY FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, 
WHICH WORKED HARD TO PUSH THE EXPANSION PLAN THROUGH THE SENATE. 
AS THE PRESIDENT NOTED (THURSDAY) THE VOTE WAS BIPARTISAN, WHICH 
IN MODERN-DAY WASHINGTON MAKES IT A RARE OCCURRENCE.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/TM/WTW

30-Apr-98 11:37 PM EDT (0337 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.