ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96072602.WWE
DATE:07/26/96
TITLE:26-07-96  TEXT: WHITE HOUSE ON PASSAGE OF NATO ENLARGEMENT BILL

TEXT:
(Praises broad bipartisan House support of bill) (560)

Washington -- The Clinton administration thanked the House of
Representatives in a statement released July 25 for its "overwhelming
demonstration of bipartisan support" for expansion of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in its vote passing a bill
designed to facilitate that effort.

The House passed H.R. 3564, the Nato Enlargement Facilitation Act of
1996, by a vote of 353 to 65 on July 23.

"We are pleased that the House shares President Clinton's
determination to bring Europe's new democracies fully into the
community of Western democracies at its key institutions," the White
House release stated.

"The issue of NATO enlargement involves fundamental questions of
American security and American leadership," the White House said. "As
NATO enlargement moves ahead, it will be important to maintain the
bipartisan spirit that has characterized H.R. 3564."

Following is the text of the White House statement issued by the press
secretary:

(Begin text)

The administration welcomes the overwhelming demonstration of
bipartisan support for the enlargement of NATO demonstrated by its
passage of H.R. 3564, "The NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996."
The House of Representatives passed the bill on July 23 by a vote of
353 to 65. We are pleased that the House shares President Clinton's
determination to bring Europe's new democracies fully into the
community of Western democracies and its key institutions.

In January 1994, President Clinton proposed that NATO bring in new
members from Europe's new democracies; our NATO Allies supported this
initiative and NATO's enlargement is now well under way. The security
of America and Europe will be increased by overcoming the division of
the Continent -- by bringing into the institutions of the
Transatlantic community Europe's new democracies which share our
values and are willing to help shoulder their part of our common
responsibilities. Their integration will help consolidate their
democratic and free market reforms.

Through the Partnership for Peace, another American initiative
launched by President Clinton, we have already deepened our security
cooperation with the new democracies that emerged from communism's
collapse, a necessary prelude to NATO's enlargement.

Our approach to European security and NATO enlargement is inclusive.
NATO can provide the basis for integration, security and stability for
all European countries in the post-Cold War world, just as it did for
the countries of Western Europe after World War II. NATO will enlarge
in a transparent and deliberate manner that increases the security of
NATO's current members, new members and non-members alike. NATO
enlargement will be an open process: as the President has said, NATO's
first new members should not be the last.

We recognize the importance that a reforming Russia can play in
shaping a stable, secure and undivided Europe. We thus intend to
develop a strong NATO-Russia partnership, even as NATO evolves and
brings in new members. In Bosnia, where Russian forces as well as
troops of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the
Baltic countries, Ukraine and other nations are serving together with
NATO soldiers, we are already showing that a broad partnership is
indeed possible and productive.

The issue of NATO enlargement involves fundamental questions of
American security and American leadership. As NATO enlargement moves
ahead, it will be important to maintain the bipartisan spirit that has
characterized H.R. 3564.

(End text)
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