NATO expands, adds 7 nations

WASHINGTON -- The Senate unanimously endorsed the addition of seven former communist nations to NATO on Thursday in what would be the largest expansion of the alliance formed as a bulwark against Soviet military power.\nWith the vote, the United States becomes the third of 19 nations to endorse the expansion, which senators said would boost the alliance, strengthen American security and encourage democracy throughout Europe.\nThe seven nations are Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.\nPresident Bush hailed the expansion in a White House ceremony attended by the expansion nations' foreign ministers, who had looked on from the Senate gallery during the earlier vote.\nNoting that Thursday was the 58th anniversary of the allied victory over Germany in World War II, Bush said, "Today on V-E day, we mark another kind of victory in Europe."\n"These heroic nations have survived tyranny, they have won their liberty and earned their place among free nations," Bush said. "America has always considered them friends, and we will always be proud to call them allies."\nThe president also took the opportunity to press for NATO to develop new military capabilities "to confront the emerging dangers of a new era" -- primarily terrorism.\nThe Senate's unanimous vote came despite doubts by many lawmakers about the future of the alliance, following a rift over the Iraq war.\n"This is historic for these seven countries, vital in continuing to strengthen the North Atlantic alliance and central to U.S. security and relationships in the world," said Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, R-Ind.\nThe 96-0 vote contrasted with the heated debate that surrounded the last round of expansion five years ago, when the Senate voted 80-19 to add the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. A two-thirds vote is needed for treaty ratification.\nIt was also the second time in two months that the Senate unanimously endorsed an international treaty dealing with an issue that had once been contentious. In March, it approved an agreement calling for a reduction in U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals.\nBush administration officials have cited the difficulty of winning congressional votes as potential obstacles on some major foreign policy issues, such as nuclear talks with North Korea and immigration talks with Mexico.\n"I hope that we have a very affirmative message today that our committee is effective and thorough," said Lugar, who shepherded the treaties through the Senate.\nAntanas Valionis, Lithuania's foreign minister, said at a joint news conference that the expansion "marked another step in the creation of a Europe whole and free."\nIn a telephone interview, Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda said, "I firmly believe that following the ratification in the U.S. Senate, the parliaments in other NATO countries that haven't done so will also approve the expansion."\nThe seven nations worked hard for U.S. support, inviting senators to visit and sending top officials to Capitol Hill. Of the seven, only Slovenia was not part of the U.S.-led coalition against Iraq.\nSenators said the new members would boost NATO's forces by about 200,000 troops and add new bases that could be used for missions worldwide. The hope also is that the seven nations -- and other eastern European states wishing to become members -- will be encouraged to continue democratic and economic reforms.\nUpon entry into NATO, the nations would be covered by the alliance's mutual defense pact that commits all members to respond with military force to an attack on any other member.\n"This is the beginning of a partnership that will produce greater world stability," said Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.\nBut in a reminder of the dispute over Iraq, the ratification document included an amendment that calls for NATO to reconsider its requirement that its decisions be unanimous. Lawmakers were angry that in February, Belgium, France and Germany temporarily blocked Turkey's request for defensive assistance ahead of the Iraq war. The amendment also asks NATO to consider a policy for suspending members that no longer adhere to democratic principles.\nFour senators did not vote on the expansion Thursday: Thomas Carper, D-Del., Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Carper later said on the Senate floor that he would have supported ratification. No House vote is needed for treaty ratification.