Russia - Gorbachev comments on NATO expansion

(16 Apr 1997) T/I: 10:09:16 Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev on Tuesday (15/4) cautioned the US Congress against the planned expansion of NATO. He claimed that it would be a mistake to expand the alliance without an agreement not to deploy nuclear weapons and combat troops in new member countries. Gorbachev told Congress that the inclusion in NATO of former Soviet bloc nations Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic could strengthen conservative sentiment in Russia. Without naming China, he said a new power was emerging in the Pacific that needs to be balanced by the US and by a Europe that includes Russia. He said he was not convinced by assurances that Russia had nothing to fear from NATO expansion. In the post-Cold War era, he said, NATO should not treat Russia as the victorious allies severely restrained Germany after World War I. Gorbachev now heads an environmental protection foundation. =============================================