DATE=1/31/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-17327

TITLE=AUSTRIA / NATO (S ONLY)

BYLINE=WAYNE COREY

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: AUSTRIA HAS BECOME THE LATEST EUROPEAN COUNTRY TO

ANNOUNCE ITS INTEREST IN JOINING NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE

PROGRAM. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA.

TEXT: CHANCELLOR FRANZ VRANITSKY SAYS THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT

WILL SUBMIT A DRAFT AGREEMENT TO PARLIAMENT SOON ON AUSTRIA'S

APPLICATION TO JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE.

THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO COLLABORATE WITH NATO DOES NOT

NECESSARILY MEAN THAT NEUTRAL AUSTRIA WANTS TO EVENTUALLY BECOME

A FULL-FLEDGED NATO MEMBER.

CHANCELLOR VRANITZKY SAYS AUSTRIA, WHICH JOINED THE EUROPEAN

UNION ON JANUARY FIRST, IS INTERESTED IN COOPERATING WITH NATO IN

THE AREAS OF HUMANITARIAN AID, PEACEKEEPING, AND HELP IN NATURAL

CATASTROPHES.

BUT, AUSTRIA IS NOT VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN

NATO MILITARY EXERCISES. FOREIGN MINISTER ALOIS MOCK SAYS JOINT

EXERCISES ARE EXPENSIVE, SO THEY WOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF

AUSTRIA'S PRIORITIES IN ITS COOPERATION WITH NATO.

MR. MOCK IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE AGREEMENT

WITH NATO IN BRUSSELS ON FEBRUARY 10TH. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/MH/JWH

31-Jan-95 12:03 PM EST (1703 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America