NATO to mark its 50th anniversary in Washington

At the same news conference, President Clinton announced that NATO will formally welcome its three newest members, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, at its fiftieth anniversary summit -- which he said would take place in Washington early in l999.

The three former Communist states signed protocols with NATO in Brussels earlier in the day, clearing the way for their admission as full members of the alliance.

Mr Clinton said the entry of these new European democracies would make America safer, Nato stronger and Europe more stable and united.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service