U.S. BACKS ONLY THREE COUNTRIES FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP.

In a move likely to be unpopular in a number of European capitals, the Clinton Administration announced yesterday that it favors the admission of only three new members — Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic — in the first round of NATO enlargement. The decision, formally presented by U.S. defense secretary William Cohen at the NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, comes despite broad support in Europe for the admission of at least two other countries: Slovenia and Romania. (Reuter, June 12)

Washington Reassures Allies on Russian Nuclear Forces.