16 April 1998
(NATO accepts Clinton invitation for 50th anniversary) (300) Washington -- President Clinton has announced that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has accepted his invitation to host the Fiftieth Anniversary summit meeting in Washington on April 24-25, 1999. "This summit will mark NATO's extraordinary record of success over the past fifty years in protecting the security of the United States and our European allies," White House statement of April 15 said. "As agreed at the 1997 Madrid summit," the White House said, "we hope to use the upcoming summit meeting in Washington to welcome the entry of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic as new members of the alliance. Looking to the future, the summit will advance the common work of NATO allies and partners to build an undivided Europe that is peaceful, prosperous, and democratic." Following is the White House text: (begin text) THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (Birmingham, Alabama) April 15, 1998 1999 NATO Summit The President is pleased to announce that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has accepted his invitation to host the Fiftieth Anniversary summit meeting in Washington on April 24-25, 1999. This summit will mark NATO's extraordinary record of success over the past fifty years in protecting the security of the United States and our European allies. As agreed at the 1997 Madrid summit, we hope to use the upcoming summit meeting in Washington to welcome the entry of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic as new members of the alliance. Looking to the future, the summit will advance the common work of NATO allies and partners to build an undivided Europe that is peaceful, prosperous, and democratic. (end text)