[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 48 (Monday, April 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             MANDATED PAUSE

  The accession of Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic to full NATO 
membership must be regarded as the first--not the only--round of 
expansion. A mandated pause would create a new dividing line in Europe 
and send a signal to the Central European countries who were not 
included in the first round that enlargement has not just stalled, but 
has stopped. Many of these countries are making positive changes toward 
democracy and free markets with the view of joining NATO. It would be 
destructive to remove that goal.