Madrid, 8 July 1997 (RFE/RL) - U.S. President Bill Clinton today told other NATO heads of state that the alliance offers "irreversible membership," and that, therefore, all candidate countries must offer a "credible, irreversible commitment to NATO."
Clinton was quoted by a top NATO official who attended the heads-of-state meeting in Madrid. The NATO official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, briefed reporters after the meeting.
Clinton also called for a new partnership and greater sharing of responsibility between NATO's North American members (U.S., Canada) and the European allies.