Washington, 11 November 1996 (RFE/RL) - An influential U.S. Senator, Richard Lugar, says revitalizing and expanding NATO tops a list of foreign policy priorities now facing the United States.
Lugar (R-Indiana) outlined at a press conference last week his view of the most important issues to be dealt with by a new Secretary of State to succeed Warren Christopher, who is resigning.
Lugar said NATO enlargement, together with a more comprehensive policy for U.S. relations with Russia, Ukraine and other newly-independent states of the former U.S.S.R., top the agenda.
Lugar is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Christopher. But he ruled himself out today, saying he does not want the job.
Lugar said he can be a more effective voice in the Senate, and he urged President Bill Clinton to spend more effort on foreign policy in his second term, saying the world needs American leadership.
Lugar (R-Indiana) outlined at a press conference last week his view of the most important issues to be dealt with by a new Secretary of State to succeed Warren Christopher, who is resigning.
Lugar said NATO enlargement, together with a more comprehensive policy for U.S. relations with Russia, Ukraine and other newly-independent states of the former U.S.S.R., top the agenda.
Lugar is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Christopher. But he ruled himself out today, saying he does not want the job.
Lugar said he can be a more effective voice in the Senate, and he urged President Bill Clinton to spend more effort on foreign policy in his second term, saying the world needs American leadership.