    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 3, 1998]
    [Page 319]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Support for NATO Enlargement
    March 3, 1998

        I welcome today's strong endorsement by the Senate Foreign Relations
    Committee for admitting Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to NATO.
    By adding these countries as our newest allies, we will make NATO
    stronger, Europe more stable, and America more secure.
        The United States has led the way in building an undivided,
    democratic, peaceful Europe. I hope we will be among the first to ratify
    NATO's historic enlargement. I look forward to the full Senate vote on
    this issue in the weeks ahead.