DATE=3/12/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42848
TITLE=ALBRIGHT / NATO FUTURE
BYLINE=MICHAEL  LELAND
DATELINE=INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   IN A FEW WEEKS, THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION 
WILL MARK ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.  THE NATO ALLIANCE WAS CREATED TO
RESIST SOVIET EXPANSIONISM IN EUROPE, BUT NEARLY TEN YEARS AFTER 
THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, THE ALLIANCE'S SUPPORTERS SAY IT IS 
STILL VERY MUCH RELEVANT IN TODAY'S WORLD. AS VOA'S MICHAEL 
LELAND TELLS US, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT IS 
AMONG THOSE WHO SAY NATO STILL HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.



TEXT:   IN A CEREMONY WELCOMING THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND 
POLAND  INTO NATO,  SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAID THE THREE NEW MEMBERS
WOULD HELP  STRENGTHEN TRANS-ATLANTIC TIES, AND BUILD A COMMUNITY
OF PROSPERITY AND PEACE IN THE REGION.  SPEAKING IN THE MIDWEST 
U-S STATE OF MISSOURI, AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY OF HARRY 
TRUMAN, ONE OF NATO'S CREATORS, MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THE ALLIANCE 
HAS ALLOWED A GENERATION TO GROW UP UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE. BUT 
SHE SAYS THERE IS A POTENTIAL DANGER AHEAD.

                     // ALBRIGHT ACT #1 // 

         FOR THERE IS A RISK THAT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN 
         TYRANNY, AN  ALLIANCE FORGED BEFORE THEY WERE BORN TO 
         COUNTER AN ENEMY THAT  NO   LONGER EXISTS, TO DEFEND 
         FREEDOMS SOME BELIEVE ARE  NO  LONGER IN  DANGER, MAY 
         APPEAR  NO  MORE RELEVANT THAN THE FATE OF CENTRAL 
         EUROPE DID TO SOME OF OUR PREDECESSORS 60 YEARS AGO.

                          // END ACT //

SHE SAYS THE SUCCESS OF NATO IS MEASURED  NOT  IN WARS WON, BUT 
IN  WARS PREVENTED AND FREEDOMS PRESERVED.  SHE SAYS THE 
ENLARGEMENT OF NATO IS  NOT  A SIGN THE ALLIANCE IS BECOMING MORE
AGGRESSIVE, BUT  RATHER IS SERIOUS ABOUT SECURING FREEDOM AND 
STABILITY FOR EASTERN EUROPE, AS IT HAS DONE FOR 50 YEARS IN THE 
WEST.

                    // ALBRIGHT ACT  #2 //  

         WE MUST NEVER FALL BACK INTO COMPLACENCY OR PRESUME THAT
         TOTALITARIANISM IS FOREVER DEAD OR RETREAT IN THE FACE 
         OF AGGRESSION.   WE MUST LEARN FROM HISTORY,  NOT  
         REPEAT IT AND MUST NEVER FORGET THAT THE DESTINIES OF 
         EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA ARE INSEPARABLE.

                          // END ACT //

BUT WITH THE COLD WAR OVER, MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS THREATS TO REGIONAL
SECURITY ARE  NOT  AS CLEAR AS THEY ONCE WERE,  BUT DO STILL 
EXIST -- BOSNIA AND KOSOVO, FOR EXAMPLE.  SHE SAYS NATO MEMBERS' 
OFFER OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ALONG WITH THE THREAT OF FORCE 
HAVE COMPLEMENTED DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS IN THE REGION, AND THAT THE 
PROPOSED INTERIM POLITICAL SETTLEMENT MEETS THE NEEDS, AND 
RESPECTS THE  RIGHTS, OF ALL INVOLVED.

                     // ALBRIGHT ACT #3 //  

         WHEN TALKS RESUME NEXT WEEK, WE MUST BE FIRM IN SECURING
         THIS  AGREEMENT.  WE MUST BE CLEAR IN EXPLAINING THAT A 
         SETTLEMENT WITHOUT  NATO-LED ENFORCEMENT IS  NOT  
         ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE ONLY NATO HAS THE  CREDIBILITY AND 
         CAPABILITY TO MAKE IT WORK.  AND WE MUST BE RESOLUTE IN 
         SPELLING OUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF INTRANSIGENCE.

                          // END ACT //

IN APRIL, NATO'S NOW 19 MEMBER NATIONS WILL JOIN 25 PARTNER 
COUNTRIES ( EDS : IN THE PARNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM) FOR A 
SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON.  THEY'LL DISCUSS THE ALLIANCE'S FUTURE  AND
DEVELOP A REVISED STRATEGIC CONCEPT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE 
VARIETY OF FUTURE DANGERS NATO MAY FACE.  (SIGNED)



NEB/MJL/PT

12-Mar-99 4:39 PM EST (2139 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.