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NATO Expansion News - 1998

December

• YEARENDER: NATO '98 Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THE NATO ALLIANCE CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A SUMMIT MEETING NEXT APRIL IN WASHINGTON. NATO'S EXPERIENCE IN THE BALKANS SHOWS ITS STRENGTHS AND ITS WEAKNESSES.
• TEXT: NATO DEFENSE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND NUCLEAR PLANNING GROUP USIA 17 December 1998 -- NATO's Defense Planning Committee and Nuclear Planning Group issued a final communique following their December 17 ministerial meeting, and also approved the 1998 Ministerial Guidance, a key NATO defense planning document.
• 'NATO'S MID-LIFE CRISIS': NAC MEETING REVEALS SPLIT OVER 'NEW STRATEGIC CONCEPT' USIS Foreign Media Reaction Report -- December 11, 1998 -- The semi-annual meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC), where NATO foreign ministers convened to discuss the agenda for next April's Washington summit, dominated editorial pages in Europe and received modest coverage elsewhere. The vast majority of commentary focused on Alliance efforts to define the contours of a "new strategic concept," and particularly U.S. proposals to broaden the Alliance's mission to fight new security challenges, such as that posed by weapons of mass destruction.
• TEXT: ALBRIGHT STATEMENT ON NATO-RUSSIA PERMANENT JOINT COUNCIL USIA 09 December 1998 -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright applauded the efforts of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council in carrying out the provisions of the Founding Act of May 1997. "Much of what the PJC does doesn't make headlines," she said, "but it is vital to shaping the future of the NATO-Russia relationship which is, in turn, vital to our shared security."
• TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE AT NATO HDQS USIA 08 December 1998 -- Secretary of State Albright, at a press conference held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels December 8, emphasized the US view that NATO should not take on global responsibilities.
• TEXT: ALBRIGHT TO NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL USIA 08 December 1998 -- Secretary of State Albright emphasized the importance of the crisis in Kosovo as "a critical test not only for NATO, but for Europe's largest security structure" in her December 8 remarks to the North Atlantic Council (NAC).
• U.S. HOPES NATO MEETING WILL SET AGENDA FOR APRIL SUMMIT By Jane A. Morse USIA 04 December 1998 -- The United States is hoping that the December 7-8 NATO meetings in Brussels will result in a clear agenda for the NATO summit set to be held in Washington, D.C., in April of next year, says a senior administration official.

  November

• TEXT: NATO-RUSSIA PERMANENT JOINT COUNCIL MEETING USIA 30 November 1998 -- NATO-Russia cooperation in SFOR (Stabilization Force) within the framework of the multinational force in Bosnia and Herzegovina became the focus of discussions at the ambassadorial level at the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) meeting November 30.
• HOW TO HELP THE BALTIC RIM By Lyndon L. Olson, US Ambassador to Sweden The Wall Street Journal Europe 19 November 1998 -- The third and final objective we have in the Baltic region is to help Russia become an integrated member of the new Europe. As recent events have demonstrated, this will not be an easy task.
• TEXT: AMBASSADOR OLSON OUTLINES U.S. INITIATIVES IN BALTIC REGION USIA 19 November 1998 --U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Lyndon Olson reviewed key U.S. initiatives with the Baltic and Northern European nations at a conference on Baltic security and cooperation. One of the keys to U.S. strategy in the region, Olson said, is the Charter of Partnership between the United States and the three Baltic nations: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
• DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN ON NATO'S DEFENSE TRANSFORMATION 16 November 1998 -- Defense Secretary Cohen says the Washington Summit, to be held in April to mark the 50th anniversary of NATO, "presents a unique opportunity" for the alliance to focus on transforming its military capabilities to create a force prepared for the challenges of the next 50 years and the missions of the 21st Century.

  October

• HUNGARY / VISEGRAD Voice of America 22 October 1998 -- THE HUNGARIAN, POLISH, AND CZECH PRIME MINISTERS HAVE URGED NATO TO ACCEPT THEIR COUNTRIES AS FULL MEMBERS BEFORE A WASHINGTON SUMMIT IN APRIL.
• NATO FACT SHEET ON RATIFICATION OF ACCESSION PROTOCOLS USIA 01 October 1998 -- The following fact sheet was released by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) giving the status of the ratification of Accession Protocols for the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

  September

• WHITE HOUSE SUBMITS REPORT ON PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE USIA 17 September 1998 -- The White House sent to Congress September 17 a report on implementation of the Partnership for Peace (PFP), noting that "the PFP has been a critical tool in helping all the Partners, regardless of their desire to join NATO, to build stronger ties with the Alliance and develop closer cooperative relationships with all their neighbors."
• NATO Updates Strategic Concept By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service 08 September 1998 - A NATO policy committee is updating the Strategic Concept, the document second in importance only to NATO's founding treaty.
• TEXT: AMB. VERSHBOW REMARKS ON EUROPEAN AND ATLANTIC INTEGRATION USIA 03 September 1998 -- As President Clinton said at the signing of the U.S.-Baltic Charter in January, "NATO's door is and will remain open to every partner nation, and America is determined to create the conditions under which Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia will one day walk through that door."
• TRANSCRIPT: AMB. VERSHBOW PRESS CONFERENCE IN VILNIUS USIA 03 September 1998 -- Q: Bridger News: Just yesterday in Moscow, President Yeltsin stated again Russia's opposition to NATO enlargement. If Russia continues its strong opposition to enlargement, despite any partnerships, would the process of NATO enlargement continue to go forward as planned? A: Well, the short answer is "yes."

  August

  July

• Secretary Cohen: DoD News Briefing Friday, July 17, 1998 Q: Mr. Secretary, a few weeks ago you were quoted saying that the United States, namely the U.S. Congress, would not be eager to rush a second wave of NATO expansion. Did you mean not in the Summit in 1999, and is it the general feeling of the Administration?
• CLINTON / ROMANIA Voice of America 16 July 1998 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH VISITING ROMANIAN PRESIDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU AND REAFFIRMED U-S SUPPORT FOR ROMANIA'S BID TO GAIN NATO MEMBERSHIP.
• [EXCERPTS] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing 01 July 1998 -- NATO ENLARGEMENT Timing of Polish, Czech and Hungarian entry into NATO

  June

• U-S / NATO EXPANSION Voice of America 30 June 1998 -- 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.

  May

• CLINTON / NATO Voice of America - 21 May 1998 - PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS GIVEN FORMAL U-S APPROVAL TO EXTEND NATO MEMBERSHIP TO THREE FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS.
• EDITORIAL: THE NEW NATO AND RUSSIA 18 May 1998 -- Voice of America - AMERICA'S MESSAGE TO RUSSIA IS THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN TO RUSSIAN COOPERATION WITH NATO.
• NATO / WARGAMES Voice of America 15 May 1998 -- MILITARY FORCES FROM NATO AND SEVERAL FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS ARE TAKING PART IN JOINT TRAINING NEAR LAKE BALATON IN HUNGARY. SOME ANTI-NATO GROUPS IN HUNGARY SAY THE EXERCISE IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY, AND ONLY A HOBBY OF A FEW ADULT MEN AND WOMEN WHO LIKE TO PLAY WITH MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
• RUSSIAN REACTION TO NATO - Voice of America 13 May 1998 - THE RUSSIANS HAVE STRONGLY OPPOSED THE EXPANSION OF NATO, BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THEY WOULD REACT TO IT. SO FAR, THE REACTION APPEARS MIXED.
• WHAT NOW FOR NATO? - Voice of America 12 May 1998 - AFTER THE U-S SENATE VOTE TO EXPAND NATO, FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST GATHERED AT A MEETING OF THE U-S INSTITUTE OF PEACE IN WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS ITS IMPLICATIONS.
• ROSNER DISCUSSES NATO ENLARGEMENT WITH CZECH PRESS - USIA - 11 May 1998 -- Jeremy Rosner, special advisor to the president and secretary of state for NATO enlargement ratification, spoke with Czech journalists about the "overwhelming" vote in the U.S. Senate in favor of bringing the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland into NATO.
• U.S. SENATE VOTE ON NATO ENLARGEMENT: 'REASON TO CELEBRATE,' BUT WHAT ABOUT RUSSIA? - 07 May 1998 - USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report The majority of pundits heartily endorsed the Senate's action, although they remained concerned about the need for NATO to maintain good relations with Moscow and about the complications that additional enlargement rounds might present.
• THE U-S SENATE VOTES TO EXPAND NATO 04 May 1998 - Voice of America -- THE SENATE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO RATIFY THE EXPANSION OF NATO. IN THE AMERICAN PRESS, HOWEVER, THE ARGUMENT STILL RAGES WITH SOME PAPERS APPLAUDING THE MOVE, AND OTHERS WORRIED ABOUT HOW IT WILL AFFECT RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.
• REACTION TO NATO EXPANSION 04 May 1998 - Voice of America -- THE U-S SENATE VOTED TO EXPAND NATO - A CLEAR VICTORY FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY. BUT REACTION IS MIXED BOTH IN RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

  April

• SENATE-NATO 30 April 1998 Voice of America THE U-S SENATE HAS RATIFIED THE HISTORIC EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO. NATO EXPANSION PREVAILED AS EXPECTED, WINNING THE NEEDED TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY WITH VOTES TO SPARE (80 TO 19).
• ROMANIA - NATO 30 April 1998 Voice of America THE CANDIDATES FOR A SECOND ROUND OF ENLARGEMENT HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR CASE. ROMANIA IS TRYING TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION.
• EDITORIAL: NATO'S FUTURE VOA 30 April 1998 THE ADMISSION OF HUNGARY, POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO NATO IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD CREATING A MORE STABLE AND SECURE EUROPE.
• SENATE / NATO VOA 29 April 1998 THE U-S SENATE COULD DECIDE THURSDAY WHETHER TO RATIFY THE HISTORIC EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO.
• DOD OFFICIAL SEES ROMANIA HEADED IN RIGHT DIRECTION By Rick Marshall USIA 29 April 1998 -- If effort and good intentions were enough, Romania would qualify for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization now, according to John Berry, assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO affairs.
• SENATE-NATO Voice of America 28 April 1998 - THE U-S SENATE HAS TURNED BACK AN EFFORT TO HOLD DOWN AMERICA'S SHARE OF THE COST OF EXPANDING NATO.
• SENATE BEGINS FINAL PUSH TOWARD NATO ENLARGEMENT VOTE 28 April 1998 - By Ralph Dannheisser USIA -- The Senate rejected on April 28 the first of several proposed amendments to the administration-backed plan for NATO enlargement -- an outcome that suggests eventual approval for the hotly debated plan.
• "Mr. NATO" Explains Enlargement By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service 28 April 1998 -- Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic. NATO members? Why should the United States pledge to defend these countries? What's in it for us? Peace and stability, according to Clarence Juhl, deputy defense adviser to the U.S. Mission at NATO.
• SENATE / NATO 27 April 1998 -- Voice of America THE U-S SENATE HAS RESUMED DEBATE ON THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO.
• Latest Polls Indicate Public Support Dropping for NATO Expansion April 27, 1998 , Fenton Communications
• NATO DEBATE: PREVIEW 24 April 1998 Voice of America -- NEXT WEEK, THE U-S SENATE SHOULD FINISH DEBATING AND VOTE ON THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO.
• SENATE - NATO 24 April 1998 Voice of America -- THE U-S SENATE IS POISED FOR A FINAL DEBATE ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY INTO NATO.
• SENATE OPPONENTS OF NATO ENLARGEMENT MAKE THEIR CASE USIA 23 April 1998 -- A politically diverse coalition of senators opposed to NATO enlargement sought to rally their forces April 23, as the full Senate moved toward final floor debate on the enlargement proposal strongly backed by the Clinton administration.
• SENATE-NATO EXPANSION 23 April 1998 Voice of America -- OPPONENTS OF NATO EXPANSION HAVE LAUNCHED A LAST-DITCH CAMPAIGN TO BLOCK THE PROPOSAL IN THE U-S SENATE.

  March

• GERMANY / NATO VOA 3/26/98 GERMANY'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT HAS GIVEN ITS APPROVAL FOR THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO, CLEARING THE WAY FOR A VOTE IN THE UPPER HOUSE ON FRIDAY.
• SENATE VOTE ON NATO NOT LIKELY UNTIL END OF APRIL, LOTT SAYS USIA CONGRESSIONAL REPORT, MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1998 Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (Republican-Mississippi) says the Senate will probably not vote until the end of April on a resolution approving the admission of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• NATO EXPANSION DEBATE 3/20/98 Voice of America THE U-S SENATE HAS FINISHED A WEEK OF OFF-AND-ON DEBATE ON THE EXPANSION OF NATO, WITHOUT A FIRM INDICATION OF WHEN THE FINAL VOTE WILL COME.
• CLINTON/NATO 3/20/98 Voice of America PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MADE A FINAL PITCH FOR U-S SENATE RATIFICATION OF NATO'S EXPANSION.
• NATO: ENLARGEMENT AND OTHER CHALLENGES March 16, 1998 - USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report - As the U.S. Senate prepares to debate--perhaps as early as this week--the admission of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland into NATO, foreign writers reiterated their arguments for or against the Alliance's project.
• U-S / NATO Voice of America 3/16/98 AS THE U-S SENATE PREPARES TO OPEN DEBATE ON RATIFYING NEW NATO MEMBERS, PRESIDENT CLINTON IS APPEALING TO LAWMAKERS TO REJECT A PROPOSAL TO SLOW THE PACE OF EXPANDING THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.
• TEXT: CLINTON LETTER TO SENATOR DASCHLE ON NATO ENLARGEMENT 14 March 1998 (President urges Senate to support ratification)
• EDITORIAL: COHEN ON NATO ENLARGEMENT MARCH 15, 1998 THE DOOR WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR OTHER DEMOCRACIES TO JOIN NATO IN THE FUTURE. BUT THEY MUST BE CAPABLE OF SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF COMMON DEFENSE.
• NEW PRIVATE POLL SHOWS AMERICANS SUPPORT NATO ENLARGEMENT 12 March 1998 -- Results of a new private poll show that American support for NATO enlargement "is derived more from the principles of inclusiveness and collective security than from a desire to strengthen the military alliance against possible Russian resurgence."
• General Odom, Steve Solarz, Others Urge Senate Support of NATO Expansion - 12 March 1998
• TEXT: TALBOTT MEETS WITH SLOVAK PARLIAMENTARIANS 10 March 1998 - Talbott expressed the serious concern of the United States about the course of democracy in Slovakia and made particular reference to proposed changes in the election law which, if enacted, would make it more difficult for opposition parties to compete fairly in September parliamentary elections.
• EXPANDING NATO: THE DEBATE GOES ON VOA = U-S OPINION ROUNDUP 05-Mar-98 SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS, AMONG THEM "THE NEW YORK TIMES," CONTINUE TO COUNSEL THAT THIS IS A BAD IDEA
• SENATE PANEL VOTES TO APPROVE THREE NEW MEMBERS FOR NATO USIA 03 March 1998 (Measure due to reach full Senate week of March 16)
• SENATE NATO VOA 3/2/98 THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO IS FACING ITS FIRST TEST IN THE U-S SENATE.

  February

• NATO EXPANSION VOA 24 February 1998 - PLANS TO EXPAND THE NATO MILITARY ALLIANCE GOT CLOSER TO REALITY IN BOTH THE U-S SENATE AND IN CZECH PUBLIC OPINION.
• SENATE PANEL ENDS NATO ENLARGEMENT HEARINGS, READIES FOR VOTE 24 February 1998
• NATO EXPANSION VOA 24-Feb-98 - PLANS TO EXPAND THE NATO MILITARY ALLIANCE CLOSER TO REALITY IN THE U-S SENATE AND IN CZECH PUBLIC OPINION.
• DOD ENDORSES NATO ESTIMATE OF $1.5 BILLION FOR ENLARGEMENT USIA 23 February 1998
• CZECH / NATO VOA 2/12/98: THE CZECH PARLIAMENT HAS VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN APPROVING THE COUNTRY'S BID FOR MEMBERSHIP IN NATO.
• U-S OPINION ROUNDUP - FORMALIZING N A T O EXPANSION VOA02/12/98
• CLINTON / NATO VOA - 2/11/98 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS FORMALLY CALLED ON THE U-S SENATE TO RATIFY NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
• CZECH / NATO VOA - 2/11/98 THE CZECH PARLIAMENT IS DEBATING THE COUNTRY'S PROPOSED MEMBERSHIP IN NATO.

  January

• U.S.-BALTIC CHARTER: 'A STEP' TOWARD NATO OR 'A CONSOLATION PRIZE'? - USIA: Foreign Media Reaction Report - 21 January 1998
• PRESIDENT CLINTON SUBMITS NATO ENLARGEMENT PROTOCOL TO SENATE USIA 11 February 1998
• CHRIS DONNELLY, ADVISOR TO SOLANA, SPEAKS AT PRESS CLUB USIA 09 February 1998
• BRZEZINSKI LOOKS TO RUSSIA AS NATO'S NEXT PHASE USIA 09 February 1998
• CLINTON / BALTICS VOA 16 January 1998 - THE UNITED STATES HAS REAFFIRMED ITS SUPPORT FOR THE BALTIC STATES' EFFORTS TO JOIN NATO.
• U-S AND THE BALTICS VOA 16 January 1998 - THE SIGNING OF A "CHARTER OF PARTNERSHIP" ILLUSTRATES THE GROWING TIES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE BALTIC COUNTRIES.
• U-S-BALTIC CHARTER VOA 12 January 1998 - THE CHARTER CONTAINS NO PROMISES ON TIMING FOR ESTONIA,LITHUANIA AND LATVIA TO JOIN NATO.
• NATO Expansion: Hidden Costs THE WASTE BASKET January 21, 1997 -- NATO is throwing a party and inviting new nations as guests - even though nobody has figured out how much it will cost or who will pay.
• HUNGARY/EUROPE VOA 07 January 1998 - HUNGARY'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S "COMMITTEE OF WISE PERSONS."

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