H.Res. 559 (eh) [Engrossed in House] ...

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H. Res. 558

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                        March 30, 2004.
Whereas since 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has played an 
        essential role in guaranteeing the security, freedom, and prosperity of 
        the United States and its allies in Europe and North America;
Whereas since 1994 Congress has repeatedly endorsed the enlargement of NATO 
        through the NATO Participation Act of 1994, the NATO Enlargement 
        Facilitation Act of 1996, the European Security Act of 1998, the Gerald 
        B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002, the Transatlantic 
        Security and NATO Enhancement Resolution of 2002, and House Concurrent 
        Resolution 209 (2003);
Whereas NATO heads of state and government, meeting in Prague on November 21, 
        2002, invited Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, 
        and Slovenia to commence accession negotiations with NATO;
Whereas on March 26, 2003, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, 
        Slovakia, and Slovenia signed accession protocols to the Washington 
        Treaty of 1949;
Whereas on May 8, 2003, the Senate voted 96-0 to give its advice and consent to 
        ratification by the United States of the seven accession protocols;
Whereas on March 2, 2004, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced 
        that all 19 NATO members had deposited with the United States Government 
        their instruments of ratification of the accession protocols;
Whereas Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia 
        have reformed their political and economic systems in preparation for 
        NATO membership;
Whereas Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia 
        have undertaken defense reform programs that will enable each country to 
        contribute to NATO operations and are working to meet the financial 
        responsibilities of NATO membership by spending or committing to spend 
        at least two percent of their gross domestic product on defense;
Whereas Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia 
        have contributed to military operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
        Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq;
Whereas Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia 
        became members of NATO on March 29, 2004, and are expected to be 
        welcomed by NATO heads of state and government when they meet in 
        Istanbul on June 28 and 29, 2004;
Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia, the remaining countries currently in 
        NATO's Membership Action Plan, signed the United States-Adriatic Charter 
        on May 2, 2003, thereby affirming their commitment to the values and 
        principles of NATO, their willingness to contribute to the peace and 
        security of southeast Europe, and their desire to join the Alliance at 
        the earliest possible time;
Whereas in 2003 Congress, in House Concurrent Resolution 209, urged NATO to 
        invite Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to join NATO as soon as each of 
        these countries respectively demonstrates the ability to assume the 
        responsibilities of NATO membership through the Membership Action Plan;
Whereas the Governments of Albania and Macedonia supported Operation Iraqi 
        Freedom and are contributing forces to stabilization operations in Iraq 
        and to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in 
        Afghanistan; and
Whereas the Government of Croatia elected in November 2003 has demonstrated its 
        commitment to implementing reforms and meeting conditions for 
        integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions, including the defense 
        reforms necessary for NATO membership, and has contributed forces to the 
        NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) welcomes with enthusiasm the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, 
        Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization (NATO);
            (2) reaffirms that the process of NATO enlargement enhances the 
        security of the United States and the entire North Atlantic area;
            (3) agrees that the process of NATO enlargement should remain open 
        to potential membership by any interested European democracy that meets 
        the criteria for NATO membership as set forth in the 1995 Study on NATO 
        Enlargement and whose admission would further the principles of the 
        Washington Treaty of 1949 and would enhance security in the North 
        Atlantic area; and
            (4) recommends that NATO heads of state and government, meeting at 
        Istanbul on June 28 and 29, 2004, should agree to review the enlargement 
        process, including the applications of Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia, 
        at a summit meeting to be held no later than 2007.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.

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