Senate Favoring NATO Expansion As Vote Nears
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate supporters of expanding NATO eastward almost to Russia's doorstep are fending off efforts at major modifications, leading President Clinton to predict "a positive vote" on ratification.
That was possible by late Thursday, although opponents of the plan to add Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to the alliance were focusing their energies behind two key proposed amendments.
One, by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., would impose a three-year freeze on additional memberships once these three have been added to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which now has 16 members.
Another, by Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., would require new NATO members to win membership first in the European Union.
So far, the administration and its congressional allies on this issue have been able to keep what they view as weakening amendments off the legislation.
On a 62-37 vote Wednesday, the Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that would have set up a new process for settling disputes among NATO members.
"We have seen border disputes erupt. We want to make sure we can resolve small things at a low level, because small things can become big things, and then we can have troops at stake and security at stake," she told colleagues.
But, although some supporters went along with her proposal, sponsors generally said that there are already procedures for settling such disputes.
The Clinton administration viewed the vote as a good sign. "It yet another indication" of strong support for the overall measure, said Jeremy Rosner, who is coordinating the effort for the State Department and the White House.
Senators Debate NATO-Russia Issue
The administration also was cheered that support for the measure did not appear to be eroding.
Although two previously undecided senators -- Democrat Dale Bumpers of Arkansas and Republican Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania -- announced they would vote no, two others told the Senate they would support NATO expansion: Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I.; and Dan Coats, R-Ind.
"NATO is a defensive alliance not an offensive alliance," Coats told the Senate. "Russia has nothing to fear from NATO -- not from NATO as it currently exists or NATO with its new members."
Because the measure is a treaty modification, it requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, or 67 votes, to pass. That means opponents need 34 votes to block it, and as of Wednesday they appeared several short.
At the White House, Clinton said at an unrelated ceremony that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., a fellow supporter, had told him Senate ratification appeared likely.
"This is coming at a very important time for America," Clinton said. "I am looking forward to a positive vote by the end of the week."
Of those speaking against the measure Wednesday, Specter said, "This is not the time for NATO expansion.... This would be very counterproductive."
Bumpers said "the hard-liners in Russia are going to have a field day on this, just as there are people in this country who can't give up on the Cold War."
"We cannot deny what this treaty is all about: to hem Russia in," Bumpers said.
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