DATE=12/1/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS (L ONLY) NUMBER=2-256714 BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN DATELINE=BRUSSELS CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///// ED'S: FOR USE OVERNIGHT. ///// INTRO: The United States is urging NATO members to spend more on their own defense. Correspondent Ron Pemstein reports the call will be repeated during the NATO defense minister's regular winter meeting Thursday and Friday in Brussels. TEXT: Defense Secretary William Cohen said (Wednesday) in Hamburg that Germany's defense spending is setting a bad example for NATO's new members -- Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The United States feels all NATO members should spend about two-percent of their gross domestic product on defense. Despite protests from Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping, Germany's budget for next year shows a slight decline in defense spending. This leaves Europe's biggest country spending about one-and-one- half-percent of its gross domestic product on defense. The goal of two -percent defense spending has been difficult for NATO's new members, who have more pressing social needs than threats to their defense. Mr. Cohen will face questions at the defense minister's meeting about U-S plans for a limited missile defense system. A number of NATO countries agree with Russia that the system could damage the 1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. NATO diplomats say Defense Secretary Cohen will emphasize that no American decision about deploying a limited missile defense will be made until the middle of next year -- so there is no need yet to re- negotiate the treaty. Mr. Cohen has already argued that the United States needs to prepare a defense for missile attacks from rogue nations and that the strategic balance between Russia and the United States will be preserved. The issue of defense spending also affects the European Union's plans to develop its own military force to be used in cases where the United States and other NATO members might not want to become involved. NATO officials say the European plans are too sketchy to be discussed in detail at the defense ministers' meeting. European leaders meet next week in Helsinki to approve plans for a rapid reaction force of about 60-thousand soldiers to be dispatched to crisis points, independent of NATO. U-S diplomats say when the Europeans develop firm plans a regular forum should be set up between NATO Secretary General George Robertson and his predecessor, Javier Solana. Mr. Solana now heads the European Union's defense policies. The two men already meet informally, but NATO officials say better communication will prevent duplication. The NATO ministers will meet Friday with the alliance's so-called -- partners. But the Russian defense minister is not expected to attend. NATO officials say the defense ministers are likely to criticize Russia's military action in Chechnya. NATO has added a partner. (Wednesday) The republic of Ireland became the 26th country to join NATO's "partnership for peace." The partnership is NATO's forum for maintaining political and military contacts with potential members and neutral countries. Irish Foreign Minister David Andrews says Ireland will never join NATO in line with its traditional neutrality. But Ireland is active in international peacekeeping and wants to train its soldiers with NATO. (SIGNED) NEB/RDP/JWH/RAE 01-Dec-1999 11:48 AM EDT (01-Dec-1999 1648 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .