DATE=6/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234816
TITLE=U-S / NATO EXPANSION (L)
BYLINE=JOE SUMMERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS HE BELIEVES THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS WILL BE RELUCTANT TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL 
MEMBER-NATIONS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION IN THE 
NEAR FUTURE.  VOA'S JOE SUMMERS REPORTS THAT THE COMMENT CAME 
DURING A WASHINGTON MEETING DISCUSSING THE FUTURE OF NATO.

TEXT:  THE U-S SENATE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO ADMIT POLAND, 
HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO NATO.  BUT U-S DEFENSE 
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS OTHER NATIONS SHOULD NOT BE MISLED 
BY THE MARGIN OF THE VOTE.  HE SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE 
UNITED STATES IS EAGER TO PROCEED WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF EXPANSION
IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 

MR. COHEN, A 24-YEAR MEMBER OF THE U-S CONGRESS, WAS ASKED ABOUT 
NATO EXPANSION AT A FORUM IN WASHINGTON (TUESDAY).  HE SAID HE 
EXPECTS CONGRESS TO KEEP THE DOOR TO NATO MEMBERSHIP OPEN WHILE 
SETTING HIGH STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION.

                      // COHEN ACTUALITY //

         THEY WANT INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE UP,
         TO NOT ONLY BEING CONSUMERS OF SECURITY TO BE PROVIDED 
         BY NATO, BUT ALSO TO BE PRODUCERS AND CONTRIBUTORS. 

                       // END ACTUALITY //

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS OPPOSITION TO ENLARGING NATO AGAIN 
COMES IN SEVERAL FORMS.   HE SAID THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE 
THAT ENLARGING NATO WEAKENS ITS CORE CAPABILITIES.  THERE ARE 
OTHERS THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT NATO ENLARGEMENT WOULD 
HAVE ON FUTURE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.   

MR. COHEN SAYS PERHAPS THE BIGGEST SEGMENT OF THE OPPOSITION 
INVOLVES THE COST FACTOR.

                      // COHEN ACTUALITY // 

         THERE WAS FEAR THAT THE MEMBERS WHO WERE COMING INTO 
         NATO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MEASURE UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS
         OF FULL ARTICLE FIVE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES. AND NUMBER 
         TWO, THAT THE OTHER MEMBERS OF NATO, THE NON U-S 
         MEMBERS, WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE ENOUGH INTO HELPING TO 
         MODERNIZE THEIR OWN REQUIREMENTS, AND THAT THE UNITED 
         STATES WOULD PAY THE BILL.

                      // END ACTUALITY // 

MR. COHEN BELIEVES THE AMERICAN CONGRESS WILL HOLD THE  DOOR TO 
NATO MEMBERSHIP OPEN IN THE FUTURE, BUT ONLY AFTER NATO ABSORBS 
ITS THREE NEW MEMBERS.  HE SAID HE BELIEVES AN IMMEDIATE 
ENLARGEMENT DEBATE WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/EJS/PLM  

30-Jun-98 3:51 PM EDT (1951 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.