DATE=5/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=HUNGARY - NATO PARLIAMENT (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262887
BYLINE=STEFAN BOS
DATELINE=BUDAPEST
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is meeting in
Hungary for the first time since the country became a
member of the alliance last year. But as Stefan Bos
reports from Budapest, the first day of the four-day
session was overshadowed by divisions among American
and European delegates about U-S plans to build a
missile defense system.
TEXT: European and American NATO parliamentarians are
meeting to discuss the future of the alliance in the
post-cold war world. But shortly after the meetings
started, it emerged that the United States and its
European allies are at odds on how to approach new
challenges in Europe and other hot spots a decade
after the collapse of communism.
European NATO member nations accused the United States
of working on its own to develop a system known as the
National Missile Defense system, or N-M-D. A
Christian Democratic Party member of the German
parliament, Karl Lamers, presented a critical report
on the issue for NATO's Subcommittee on Transatlantic
Relations.
Mr. Lamers told V-O-A News that Europe fears America's
missile defense system may lead to a new arms race
with China and Russia.
/// Lamers Act ///
We have to cooperate with Russia and with China.
They have problems with this systems. And I
think it is necessary -- and I said it in my
report -- that before the United States makes
such as decision for national missile defense,
they should try to make a cooperation with
Russia and perhaps to come to a consensus with
Russia.
/// End Act ///
U-S delegates attending the NATO meeting countered
that the missile defense system is not yet fully
operational and that a final decision on deployment is
yet to be made.
The head of the U-S House of Representatives
delegation, Republican Congressman Douglas Bereuter
(of Nebraska), stressed that America has the right to
defend itself against what he called "rogue states"
such as North Korea.
Mr. Bereuter also argued that the United States would
be a better NATO partner when it deploys the missile
system.
/// Bereuter Act ///
It could convincingly be argued that the U-S
would be more likely to shoulder the risk of
defending its allies if the U-S territory were
relatively more secure from ballistic missile
threats.
/// End Act ///
But this drew a strong reaction from members of the
European Parliament. One of its representatives,
Nelly Maes of the Green Party, argued that the
American missile defense system would create havoc in
Europe and around the world.
/// Maes Act ///
What kind of security do you promise to us, the
citizens. We are thinking that security can
only be common security. I hope that the United
States will be very careful again in ... terms
of confrontation.
/// End Act ///
/// REST OPT ///
U-S officials agreed that the latest diplomatic
difficulties about European security may come at a bad
time for Hungary, which is the only NATO country
bordering Yugoslavia.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi told V-O-A
that Hungary is concerned about the military policies
of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and his
crackdown on domestic political dissent. Mr. Martonyi
urged Russia to back away from close ties with Serbia.
/// Martonyi Act ///
I do hope that Russia will play a more positive
role in this area as part of the cooperation
between NATO and Russia.
/// End Act ///
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting will end on
Tuesday when the general-secretary of the alliance,
George Robertson, addresses the gathering. (SIGNED
NEB/SB/JP
27-May-2000 15:48 PM EDT (27-May-2000 1948 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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