A resolution congratulating Albania and Croatia on being invited to begin accession talks with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and expressing support for continuing to enlarge the alliance.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Congratulates Albania and Croatia on being invited by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to begin accession talks.

Supports: (1) the invitations to initiate an Intensified Dialogue between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia; (2) the aspirations of Ukraine and Georgia to become integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community; and (3) the enlargement of NATO, and the NATO declaration at the Bucharest Summit that NATO should remain open to European democracies able to assume membership responsibilities.

Affirms that any decision about NATO membership will be made through member consensus and that no country outside of NATO has a vote or veto with respect to such decisions.

[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. Res. 570 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 570

Congratulating Albania and Croatia on being invited to begin accession 
   talks with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and expressing 
            support for continuing to enlarge the alliance.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 19, 2008

 Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Biden) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating Albania and Croatia on being invited to begin accession 
   talks with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and expressing 
            support for continuing to enlarge the alliance.

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) met in April 2008 to 
        enlarge the alliance, to reaffirm the purpose of NATO to defend the 
        populations, territories, and forces in the Euro-Atlantic region, and to 
        further strengthen the ability of NATO to confront existing and emerging 
        21st-century security threats;
Whereas NATO invited Albania and Croatia to begin accession talks to join NATO 
        and indicated that those talks will begin immediately, with the aim of 
        signing Accession Protocols by the end of July 2008 and completing the 
        ratification process without delay;
Whereas NATO expressed recognition of the hard work and commitment demonstrated 
        by other countries that aspire to join NATO and commended those 
        countries for their efforts to build multiethnic societies;
Whereas NATO agreed that Ukraine and Georgia have made valuable contributions to 
        NATO operations, expressed clear support for the applications for 
        Membership Action Plans from Ukraine and Georgia as the next step to 
        full membership, and stated that NATO will begin a period of intensive 
        engagement with Ukraine and Georgia to assess those applications for the 
        December 2008 meeting;
Whereas NATO invited Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to begin an 
        Intensified Dialogue on the full range of political, military, 
        financial, and security issues relating to their aspirations to join 
        NATO;
Whereas NATO expressed the desire to develop an ambitious and substantive 
        relationship with Serbia, making full use of Serbia's membership in the 
        Partnership for Peace, and to make more progress toward integrating 
        Serbia into the Euro-Atlantic community, including though an Intensified 
        Dialogue following a request by Serbia; and
Whereas NATO's ongoing enlargement process has been a historic success in 
        advancing stability and cooperation and reaching the transatlantic goal 
        of ensuring that Europe is whole and free, and united in peace, 
        democracy, and common values: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates Albania and Croatia on being invited by 
        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to begin 
        accession talks and recognizes the historic nature of that 
        achievement, earned through years of hard work and a 
        demonstrated commitment to common security and the shared 
        values of NATO members;
            (2) expresses strong support for the timely completion of 
        the accession process with Albania and Croatia;
            (3) fully supports the invitations to initiate an 
        Intensified Dialogue between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
        Montenegro, and Serbia;
            (4) continues to strongly support the aspirations of 
        Ukraine and Georgia to become integrated into the Euro-Atlantic 
        community, as reaffirmed in Senate Resolution 523, 110th 
        Congress, agreed to April 28, 2008;
            (5) supports the enlargement of NATO and believes that 
        continued engagement with all countries that aspire to join 
        NATO will strengthen security for all countries in the Euro-
        Atlantic region;
            (6) supports the declaration of NATO at the Bucharest 
        Summit, which states that NATO's door should remain open to 
        European democracies willing and able to assume the 
        responsibilities and obligations of membership, in accordance 
        with Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, signed at 
        Washington April 4, 1949 (TIAS 1964); and
            (7) affirms the statement in that declaration that any 
        decision with respect to the membership of countries in NATO 
        will be made through consensus, by members of NATO, and no 
        country outside of NATO has a vote or veto with respect to such 
        decisions.
                                 <all>