Joe Lieberman: “That article makes very clear that the goal of access to NATO, in this case of the article in particular regard to the…”

“That article makes very clear that the goal of access to NATO, in this case of the article in particular regard to the three countries we are considering today-- Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic--has moved those countries. The promise of inclusion in NATO has helped the cause of moderate government, the reporter says, during a tough period of economic and political transition. I quote Marek Matraszek, Warsaw director of the CEC Government Relations, a political consulting firm, who says: The promise of NATO has defused destabilizing forces from the left and right. If NATO had not been offered, Poland could have been in a disastrous situation, externally and internally. If we now slam the door closed on the dreams of every other nation in Central and Eastern Europe to join this family of freedom, this military alliance, I fear that we will set back the onward march of freedom and a market economy for which we fought the cold war. Second, it will reduce the ability of NATO and the dream and goal of NATO membership to resolve conflicts that now exist among various nations in Central and Eastern Europe.”