    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [March 13, 2000]
    [Pages 450-451]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    March 13, 2000

        On March 12, 1999, in Independence, Missouri, the Foreign Ministers
    of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined the
    North Atlantic Treaty Organization. One year ago, America became safer,
    NATO became stronger, and Europe more stable and united.
        Today we take the opportunity to reaffirm that the first new members
    of NATO shall not be the last. From the Baltic Sea to the Balkans, in
    the heart of Europe, and wherever NATO's partners are found, there are
    many countries that share our democratic values and our determination to
    defend them. As they become able to meet the responsibilities of NATO
    membership and to contribute to the security of the transatlantic area,
    we will support their aspirations to become our Allies.
        NATO is erasing arbitrary lines of division across Europe. That is
    essential if we are to meet our goal, shared by our administration and a
    broad bipartisan coalition, of a Europe undivided, democratic, and at
    peace for the first

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    time in history. We will also continue to deepen our partnership with
    Russia and Ukraine, who play essential roles in the new Europe.
        At the NATO Summit in Washington in April 1999, the Allies laid out
    a roadmap to membership. We are helping aspiring allies intensify their
    participation in the Partnership for Peace, encouraging them to follow
    Membership Action Plans to achieve greater interoperability with NATO,
    and engaging with them in a full set of consultations and cooperative
    measures. In these ways, aspiring countries are demonstrating their
    commitment to closer ties with NATO and preparing for possible
    membership in the Alliance. They are also embracing economic and
    political reforms as well as defense policies that strengthen their
    democracies and contribute to peace and security in Europe. We urge them
    to continue pursuing their Membership Action Plans, the surest path to
    joining NATO, with even greater dedication in the months ahead.
        On this occasion, we thank our Allies, new and old, for working with
    us to make sure NATO does in the next half century what it has done in
    the last: unite our strength to deter war and defend our common
    interests. NATO's door is open to those who will help us do that in the
    future.