USA: WASHINGTON: SENATE DEBATE ON THE EXPANSION OF NATO скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: WASHINGTON: SENATE DEBATE ON THE EXPANSION OF NATO

(19 Mar 1998) English/Nat The United States Senate debated the expansion of NATO on Wednesday, with a leading critic suggesting the move could backfire and end up creating a new "iron ring" isolating Russia from the rest of Europe. Senator John Warner suggested this could lead to the division of Europe just as surely as the "Iron Curtain" did during the Cold War. The admission of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has wide bipartisan support in the United States Senate. But battle lines were forming over whether additional nations should be invited - and when. Democrats see inclusion as a further strengthening of the European Union - even if the E-U shows less eagerness to expand eastwards. SOUNDBITE: (English): "We through a lifeline out because the Europeans threw no lifeline out. Because the Europeans didn't do what my friend from New York didn't do what my friend from New York wants them to do. They did not step forward. They were irresponsible in their unwillingness to invite the Poles to join the European Union. SUPER CAPTION:Joseph Biden, U-S Senator Senator Joseph Biden, Democrat from Delaware told the Senate that it would be wrong to slam the door in the face of several countries who are adjusting their policies in expectation of NATO membership. Waiting in line for the next expansion are Romania and Slovenia. Among those who also have applied for admission are Baltic nations Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which the Soviet Union annexed in 1940. But a group of influential senators, led by John Warner and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, is proposing that there should be a three-year freeze on additional membership following the admission of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. SOUNDBITE: (English): "Whether or not this second round comes much more swiftly than anyone expects - for that reason my good friend the senior Senator from New York and I have an amendment pending which at some point we will call up, suggesting this body ought to go on record and have a moratorium, whereby a three year period should elapse should this body vote this treaty session before the next session. SUPER CAPTION:John Warner, U-S Senator Warner, a senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, urged the Senate to consider dangers of expanding NATO to Russia's doorstep. SOUNDBITE:(English): "Its an arc. And just as the Iron Curtain was dropped in the late 1940's facing west, that ring of countries constitutes an iron ring now encircling much of Russia. SUPER CAPTION:John Warner, U-S Senator There is concern that an expanded NATO could entangle the United States in a series of Bosnia-style peacekeeping missions and poison relations with Russia. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan cited a recently published document by the Russians to warn of the possible outcome should Russia feel isolated. SOUNDBITE: (English) "And what is left is fragile and they have just formally proclaimed both their vulnerability and their determination that if it should continue - if NATO is expanded. The no-first-use principle that saved the 20th Century - saved mankind in the 20th Century - is over. If they have those weapons it is a curiously ironic outcome that at the end of the Cold War we may face a nuclear Armageddon. SUPER CAPTION:Daniel Patrick Moynihan, U-S Senator NATO was created in 1949 to confront the Soviet Union in Europe and now has 16 member nations. All must approve the expansion. So far, Canada, Denmark and Norway have done so. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...