Military

DATE=3/29/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=NATO ENLARGEMENT WRAP (L-O)

NUMBER=2-314586

BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Seven Eastern European leaders have hailed their countries' new membership in NATO, and pledged to share the alliance's burdens and responsibilities. V-O-A's Michael Bowman reports, the leaders of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia addressed reporters after taking part in a NATO expansion ceremony at the White House.

TEXT: One by one, the leaders of one-time communist nations took to the podium at the National Press Club to share their thoughts. Some beamed with excitement and obvious pleasure. Others, like Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, seemed humbled by the significance of the step their countries had taken.

/// NATASE ACT ///

Today, history has been made. For my country, the Cold War is, indeed, over today.

/// END ACT ///

Slovenian Prime Minister Anton Rop said the transformation his nation undertook after the fall of Communism helped pave the way for NATO membership.

/// ROP ACT ///

We join the [NATO] family of countries with common values of freedom, human rights and rule of law. Through membership we can ensure the highest possible security level for all our countries.

/// END ACT ///

Several leaders made a point to say they fully embrace the responsibilities that NATO membership entails. Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts:

/// PARTS ACT ///

We understand that membership [in] NATO is not a one-way street, where one side benefits: more security, more stability. It is also [a matter of] obligations. And Estonia is prepared to commit ourselves and our resources and to do our part in making sure that NATO remains the best security alliance there is.

/// END ACT ///

Even before joining the alliance, several of the newest NATO members had contributed to coalition efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the White House earlier Monday, President Bush said NATO must not flinch in the war on terrorism.

/// BUSH ACT ///

Today our alliance faces a new enemy which has brought death to innocent people from New York to Madrid. Terrorists hate everything this alliance stands for. They despise our freedom. They fear our unity. They seek to divide us. They will fail. We will not be divided.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Bush's message was later echoed by Slovakian Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda.

/// DZURINDA ACT ///

We want to participate, especially in the fight against terrorism. We are sure that it is impossible to negotiate with terrorists, to try to look for compromise. It is possible to win this fight.

/// END ACT ///

Latvian Prime Minister Indulis Emsis echoed the sentiment, saying NATO will fight terrorism with the same determination it pursued previous goals, including the containment of the former Soviet Union. Mr. Emsis said Latvians will never forget those who perished under communism -- or the sacrifices the United States and other NATO countries made to help secure Latvia's independence.

/// EMSIS ACT ///

On this occasion, might I express my gratitude to the United States government for the support our nation has experienced during all those long years of Soviet occupation. Your support has brought us to this historical moment today.

/// END ACT ///

Not everyone is cheering NATO's enlargement. Russian officials have warned of a rift between Moscow and NATO as the alliance expands eastward.

But Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha said that NATO's enlargement in no way signifies the "encirclement" of Russia, adding that NATO's strategic priorities have changed since the end of the Cold War. (SIGNED)

NEB/MCB/KL