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	Organizations Endorsing NATO                  Enlargement
	(Links to WWW sites that are not official U.S.  government sites are provided as a service and should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.   Click here to add your organization or name to endorsement list.)    Military/ Veterans Groups AMVETS   The American G.I. Forum   American Legion     "The three million members of the American Legion believe expanding the NATO Alliance represents a major step forward for the security of Europe as well as the security of America."  --American Legion letter to President Clinton June 30, 1997  Jewish War Veterans of the United States  Marine Corps League  National Guard Association of the United States  Reserve Officers Association of the United States  Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States   "NATO is the most successful defensive alliance in history. Enlargement of NATO to selected new emerging democracies in Central Europe is seen as an effective policy in the promotion of stability and security in Europe."    -- text of June 1997 ROA  resolution       Civic, Policy and Political Organizations American Jewish Committee      "NATO Expansion not only strengthens democracy in those nations that are included in the first accession, but encourages other nations in the region who also seek membership to pursue democratic and economic reforms and to resolve their differences -- many of a long-standing duration-- through peaceful means.  Integration into Western alliance can also offer real safeguards for the rights of Jews and other minority communities.   -- The American Jewish Committee  American Latvian Association   Armenian Assembly of America   Belorussian Congress Committee of America  Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis  Congress of Romanian Americans Inc.  Council of State Governments     "NATO Enlargement is the stated goal of U.S. foreign policy, demonstrating responsible U.S. engagement in global affairs in pursuit of vital U.S. security and commercial interests."  --resolution of the CSG Governing Board  December 7, 1997  Central and East European Coalition  Czechoslovak National Council of America  Estonian National Council of America  Georgian Association of the U.S.A.  Hungarian American Coalition   Joint Baltic American National Committee   Lithuanian American Community Inc.  National Federation of American Hungarians  Polish American Congress   Slovak League of America  Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Inc.  Ukrainian National Association, Inc.  US-Baltic Foundation   U.S. Committee to Expand NATO  U.S. Conference of Majors   Hungarian Human Rights Foundation    "NATO Enlargement, in which the Conference of Mayors advocates and supports as  consistent with U.S. policy objectives and as a component of purposeful and responsible engagement in global affairs."  -- US Conference of Mayors     State and Local Governments:   The California State Legislature  Colorado House of Representatives  Connecticut State Senate  Delaware State Senate  Georgia State Senate  Illinois House of Representatives  Illinois State Senate  Massachusetts State Senate  Michigan State Senate  New Jersey State Assembly  New Jersey State Senate  Pennsylvania State Senate  Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives  South Carolina State Senate  Business Associations  US-EU-Poland Action Committee	Why Enlarge NATO? World Leaders respond   "Enlarging NATO is in America's moral, strategic and political interests. "  --Senator Trent Lott (R-MS).  "The Senate's Role in NATO  Enlargement,"  The Washington Post, March 21, 1997      Events: Atlantic Initiative Conference "" New Nato, New Challenges     "The decision on NATO Expansion is of historic importance.  The stakes are high.  The issue is clear.  Admitting Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into NATO will strengthen the Alliance, Reinforce new democracies, renew the American commitment to Europe, and reaffirm American leadership.  To turn back now would be a tragic mistake."  -- from statement by the New Atlantic Initiative, released by Richard Holbrooke, Jean Kirkpatrick, Anthony Lake and Paul Wolfowitz 09/09/97  tel: 202-862-5850 Former Presidents Endorsing NATO Enlargement   George Bush     Jimmy Carter   Highlights of New Atlantic Initiative Statement Signatories   Former Vice Presidents   Dan Quayle   Walter Mondale  Former U.S. Senators   David L. Boren  Dennis DeConcini  Bob Dole  J.J. Exon  Walter D. Huddleston  John Melcher  Charles Percy  Paul Simon  Former Secretaries of State   James A. Baker, III  Warren Christopher  Lawrence Eagleburger  Alexander Haig Jr.  Henry Kissinger  William Rogers  George Shultz  Cyrus Vance  Former National Security Advisors  Richard Allen  Zbigniew Brzezinski  Anthony Lake  Robert McFarlane  Colin Powell  Former Secretaries of Defense  Frank C. Carlucci, III  Richard Cheney  Clark M.Clifford  Melvin Laird  William Perry  Donald Rumsfeld  Former Directors of Central Intelligence  William Webster  R. James Woolsey  Former U.S. Permanent Representatives to the United Nations  Jeane Kirkpatrick  Other Statements "NATO enlargement is critical to protecting and promoting our vital national security interests in Europe. If we fail to seize this historic opportunity to help  integrate, consolidate, and stabilize Central and Eastern Europe, we would risk  paying a much higher price later."      --Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee, April 23, 1997   "The enlargement of NATO will strengthen security, freedom, and peace in Europe.   It will secure the gains of democracy in Central Europe."    --Senator Bob Dole (R-KS). Remarks to the Philadelphia World Affairs Council, June 25, 1996