PRESIDENT Clinton has for the first time set a precise timetable for the enlargement of NATO towards eastern Europe. He warned Russia it could not have a veto on this process.
In a major foreign affairs speech here during his election campaign, the President set out the goals of US foreign policy between now and the end of the century. And he defended his record during the past four years, including in the Northern Ireland peace process.
"By 1999 - NATO's 50th anniversary and 10 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall - the first group of countries we invite to join should be full-fledged members of NATO," said Mr Clinton.
The President did not name the countries expected to be the first new members. Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic are the most frequently mentioned and have the support of most existing NATO members, especially Germany.
Senior US officials said the decision on the new members would be made at the special NATO summit next year, and defended the decision not to fix an earlier date for enlargement as urged by his Republican opponent, Mr Bob Dole.
President Clinton also pledged that "NATO's doors will not close behind its first new members", and that the alliance will remain open to all of Europe's emerging democracies which are ready to shoulder the burdens of democracy.
"No nation will be automatically excluded. No country outside NATO will have a veto. And we will work to deepen our cooperation with all the Partnership for Peace countries. A grey zone of insecurity must not re-emerge in Europe."
Turning to Russia, the President insisted that NATO enlargement "is not directed against anyone" and asked those in Russia who "look at NATO through a Cold War prism to look again".
He urged Russia to help build a peaceful, undivided Europe. Russia can "best seize that chance if it forges a new relationship with NATO as enlargement moves forward". The US has suggested that "Russia and NATO work out a formal agreement on co-operation", which would include regular meetings at all levels.
Mr Clinton said "we should consult on European security issues so that whenever possible, NATO and Russia can act jointly to meet the challenges of a new era".
Mr Clinton praised the NATO Partnership for Peace (PFP) as "a path to full NATO membership for some and a strong, lasting link to the Alliance for all".
Ireland is considering membership of PFP, but such a step is being opposed by Fianna Fail, which says it would be an infringement of traditional neutrality.
There was a brief reference in the speech to Northern Ireland as one of the regions where the US is "advancing the cause of peace and freedom around the world".
"From the Middle East to Northern Ireland, from Cuba to Buryna, from Burundi to South Africa, those taking risks for peace and freedom know that the United States stands by their side."
But the President also warned that "we must also keep the heat on terrorists who would darken the dawn of the new century".
Relations with the EU were a notable omission from this wide-ranging speech on foreign policy. Mr Clinton urged the extension of free and fair trade and said he would travel to Asia next month for the fourth annual summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum.
But he made no mention of the twice yearly EU-US summit to be held in Ireland in December. There is apparently still a problem in giving a firm assurance that the President will attend.