Military

DATE=11/21/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH NATO (S ONLY)

NUMBER=2-296678

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= PRAGUE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush is strongly backing NATO's decision to invite seven central and Eastern European countries to join the alliance. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports he spoke just minutes after the NATO allies took the move at their Prague summit.

TEXT: The president's comments to the summit were brief and to the point.

///BUSH ACT///

America is very pleased by today's decision. We believe it strengthens our nation's most important alliance, NATO.

///END ACT///

Throughout his stay in Prague, President Bush has stressed his support for NATO expansion now and in the future.

He says countries that once struggled as members of the Soviet bloc bring a certain "moral clarity" to the alliance. And though their military resources are relatively small, Mr. Bush says they can make a real contribution.

///BUSH ACT TWO///

By welcoming seven members, we will not only add to our military capabilities, we will refresh the spirit of this great democratic alliance.

///END ACT///

From Prague, Mr. Bush travels to Russia, which once opposed NATO expansion into the former Warsaw Pact. He then pays brief visits to two of the countries invited to join the alliance - Lithuania and Romania. (signed)

NEB/PT