On June 12, 1997, the White House initiated a conference call with representatives of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), including the Hungarian American Coalition, to brief them on the enlargement of NATO. Mr. Daniel Fried, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director, National Security Council, Jeremy D. Rosner, Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State for NATO Enlargement Ratification, and Marilyn DiGiacobbe, Special Assistant to the President for Public Liaison, participated in the telephone conference. Frank Koszorus, Jr. represented the Hungarian American Coalition.

The White House advised the CEEC that the United States will propose that Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic be invited to join NATO at the Madrid Summit next month. The United States also will press for a “robust” policy to keep NATO’s door open to other European democracies.

The rationale for supporting a smaller first group, as opposed to including other countries at this time, is to keep NATO strong and cohesive, and to ensure the quick and enthusiastic ratification of the enlargement process. The Administration further wants to hold new members to the highest standards.