DATE: Thursday, July 3, 1997                TAG: 9707030621

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK               LENGTH:   26 lines

ACTIVISTS BLOCK NORFOLK-BASED NAVY FRIGATE IN DANISH PORT LEFT-WINGERS IN SMALL BOATS PROTEST NATO'S EXPANSION.

Seven demonstrators in inflatable dinghies blocked a Norfolk-based Navy ship from entering a Danish harbor to protest NATO expansion, police said Wednesday.

The activists - in colorful dinghies with dolphins, fish and mermaids painted on the sides - kept the guided-missile frigate Estocin at bay for three hours off Noerresundby late Tuesday. A dozen more people held protest banners on the town pier, 160 miles northwest of Copenhagen.

Danish left-wing activists have said allowing new members into the 16-member alliance will create a new division in Europe. NATO is scheduled to expand later this month at a meeting in Madrid, Spain.

The protesters dived into the water when police approached but were handcuffed as they swam ashore. They were charged with disturbing public order and released.

The Norfolk-based Estocin was to take part in July 4 celebrations in Rebild National Park, the largest such festivities outside the United States.

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