H. Res. 1266 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

July 30, 2008. 

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 strengthen 

further 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 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 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 
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Euro-Atlantic community, including through 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 House of Representatives— 

(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) congratulates Albania and Croatia on the signing of the Accession Protocols by NATO members on 

July 9, 2008, opening the way for full NATO membership for both countries; 

(3) expresses strong support for the timely completion of the accession process with Albania and Croatia; 

(4) fully supports the invitations to initiate an Intensified Dialogue between NATO and Bosnia and 

Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia; 

(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; 
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(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. 

Attest: 

Clerk.