03 March 1998
(SFRC votes 16-2 for Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic) (280) Washington -- The State Department welcomed the "historic vote" by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favoring the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), calling it "good news for the security of both the United States and of our current and soon-to-be NATO allies." State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said in a statement March 3, "The addition of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to NATO will make America safer and NATO stronger. It will also help consolidate the gains of democracy and stability in Central Europe and finally erase the Cold War dividing line." The full Senate is expected to debate this issue in the near future. Following is the text of Rubin's statement: (Begin text) STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE WELCOMES SFRC VOTE ON NATO ENLARGEMENT The Department of State welcomes the historic vote today by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in favor of NATO enlargement. Today's vote is good news for the security of both the United States and of our current and soon-to-be NATO allies. By a margin of 16-2, the Committee voted to approve the addition of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to the NATO Alliance. The full Senate is expected to debate this issue in the near future. The addition of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to NATO will make America safer and NATO stronger. It will also help consolidate the gains of democracy and stability in Central Europe and finally erase the Cold War dividing line. (End text)