III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 459 

Expressing the strong support of the Senate for the North Atlantic Treaty 

Organization to extend invitations for membership to Albania, Croatia, 

and Macedonia at the April 2008 Bucharest Summit, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 25, 2008 

Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. VOINOVICH) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the strong support of the Senate for the North 

Atlantic Treaty Organization to extend invitations for 

membership to Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia at the 

April 2008 Bucharest Summit, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 

will hold a Heads of State and Government summit at 

Bucharest, Romania in April 2008; 

Whereas NATO has successfully defended the territory and 

interests of its members for more than 50 years and contributed to the spread of freedom, democracy, stability, 

and peace throughout Europe; 

Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have been preparing for NATO membership for more than 8 years and 


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•SRES 459 IS 

are undergoing a historic process of democratic and free 

market transformation after emerging from decades of 

occupation; 

Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have made important progress toward establishing civilian control of their 

militaries and demonstrating their ability to operate with 

the military forces of NATO nations at Alliance standards; 

Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia continue to make 

important contributions to the United Nations-mandated 

International Security Assistance Force, operating under 

NATO leadership to assist the Government of Afghanistan in extending and exercising its authority and influence throughout Afghanistan, creating the conditions for 

stabilization and reconstruction; 

Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have made important improvements in their democratic processes, including— 

(1) embracing ethnic diversity; 

(2) respecting human rights; 

(3) building a free market economy; and 

(4) promoting good neighborly relations; 

Whereas NATO conducted military operations against the 

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to further the objective of 

a lasting peace in Kosovo; 

Whereas the United States has diplomatically recognized the 

independence of Kosovo and should support the integration of Kosovo into international and Euro-Atlantic institutions; 

Whereas lasting stability and security in Southeastern Europe requires the military, economic, and political inteVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:44 Feb 26, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR459.IS SR459

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•SRES 459 IS 

gration of emerging democracies into existing European 

structures; 

Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia can play important 

roles in NATO activities in Southeastern Europe, 

through their unique geostrategic position and by deterring and disrupting any efforts by any party to destabilize the region through violence; 

Whereas Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, done in 

Washington on April 4, 1949, states: ‘‘any other European state in a position to further the principles of this 

Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area’’ may be granted NATO membership; and 

Whereas the Riga Summit Declaration, issued by NATO in 

November 2006, reaffirms that ‘‘NATO remains open to 

new European members’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

2 (1) the political independence and territorial in3 tegrity of the emerging democracies in Southeastern 

4 Europe are vital to European peace and security and 

5 to the interests of the United States; 

6 (2) the expansion of NATO contributes to the 

7 Alliance’s continued effectiveness and relevance; 

8 (3) the Senate reaffirms its support for contin9 ued enlargement of NATO to include qualified can10 didates; and 

11 (4) the United States should take the lead in 

12 supporting the awarding of invitations to Albania, 

13 Croatia, and Macedonia to join the Alliance at the 


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•SRES 459 IS 

1 NATO Summit at Bucharest, Romania in April 

2 2008. 

Æ 


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