east europe wants spetial nato tie

BRUSSELS -- East European states, worried that a close relationship between NATO and Russia could leave them out in the cold, are pressing the alliance to give them special ties similar to those demanded by Moscow. Poland, Hungary and the three Baltic republics -- all eager to join the 16-nation Western alliance -- want an agreement with NATO which would allow them to hold more regular political consultations, diplomats and officials say. The request puts NATO in a dilemma, since it has already agreed to the principle of such talks with Russia on issues such as nuclear weapons, Bosnia and peacekeeping. "The Eastern Europeans are saying that they have individual concerns, just like Russia, and that we should respond to them," said one alliance diplomat, who asked not to be identified. "NATO is changing the rules of the game regarding the equal footing of its new partners," complained one East European diplomat. "We think the alliance should also prepare a special framework for those with a perspective of membership."Moscow, complaining that the West has ignored its views on key European security issues, has said it will join the alliance's Partnership for Peace but that it also wants a special status with NATO including talks on security issues. Twenty countries have already signed the partnership scheme which provides for closer military links with NATO but not broader political consultations. Most of them are Moscow's former satellites in Eastern Europe, who see the partnership as a major step toward their goal of joining the Western alliance and are worried that Russia might be able to veto any expansion of NATO membership. U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said last week that there were clearly areas where Russia should have separate consultations with the 16 NATO allies, beyond the partnership scheme. But he added: "Other European states also may have interests or capabilities that would warrant '16-plus-one' consultations or cooperation with them outside the partnership as appropriate. We should welcome those possibilities."East European states have taken his comments as clear backing for their cause and are now pressing their case hard at NATO, diplomats said. Hungary, for example, would like more discussions with the alliance on the issue of its ethnic minorities in neighboring countries, particularly Romania. Latvia and Estonia want to discuss the Russian troop presence. It could be difficult for NATO to turn them down. The alliance said it would treat its former Cold War foes equally but, in an attempt to mollify Russia, has agreed to a strengthened relationship with Moscow. While the alliance has promised to take in some East European states, it is unwilling to name the candidates or set a date, partly for fear of upsetting Russia. Another problem is that NATO is badly over-stretched in trying to launch Partnership for Peace, first offered by alliance leaders at a summit in January. The time and resources needed to draw up detailed programs for military cooperation with former Soviet bloc states has meant that other NATO projects have suffered, officials say. The alliance is worried that holding regular political consultations with Russia and East European states would increase that burden to intolerable levels. "There are people who thought all along that this would be the danger, that it would just get too unwieldy," said one alliance diplomat. "We are not keen to go along with the Eastern Europeans on this, but we have to admit they have a point."