U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1

19–118

" SENATE ! 108TH CONGRESS

1st Session 

TREATY DOC. 

2003

108–4

PROTOCOLS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY OF 

1949 ON ACCESSION OF BULGARIA, ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, AND SLOVENIA

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

PROTOCOLS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY OF 1949 ON ACCESSION OF BULGARIA, ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, AND SLOVENIA. THESE PROTOCOLS WERE 

OPENED FOR SIGNATURE AT BRUSSELS ON MARCH 26, 2003, 

AND SIGNED THAT DAY ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES 

AND THE OTHER PARTIES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY

APRIL 10, 2003.—The Protocols were read the first time, and together 

with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate


E:\Seals\Congress.#13
(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 

THE WHITE HOUSE, April 10, 2003. 

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 

1949 on the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These protocols were opened for signature at Brussels on March 26, 2003, and signed that day on behalf of the United States and the other parties to the North Atlantic Treaty. I request the advice and consent of the Senate to the 

ratification of these documents. I also transmit for the information 

of the Senate a report submitted to me by the Secretary of State 

regarding this matter. 

The end of communism and the consolidation of freedom and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe have been among the great 

developments of human history. NATO played a vital role in defending freedom and promoting this peaceful change for over 50 

years. I am pleased that, with the advice and consent of the Senate, these new democracies can soon join us as members of this 

great Alliance. 

As the threats to the Alliance have changed, NATO itself has 

adapted to face them. At the Prague Summit in November 2002, 

I joined the leaders of NATO not only in inviting these nations to 

join us as members, but also in calling for a transformation of 

NATO’s military capabilities and structures to meet the threats of 

the 21st century. NATO is proceeding with that agenda. Bulgaria, 

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia are already making real contributions to the common security of the 

NATO Allies, including the United States, and I am firmly convinced that their full membership in NATO will strengthen our Alliance further. 

I ask the Senate to join me in advancing the cause of freedom 

and strengthening NATO by providing its prompt advice and consent to these Protocols of Accession. My Administration stands 

ready to assist you as best we can in your deliberations.

GEORGE W. BUSH.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL 

THE SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington, April 5, 2003. 

The PRESIDENT, The White House. 

THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you, with a view 

to its transmission to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification, Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, the Slovak 

Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia. These protocols were 

opened for signature at Brussels on March 26, 2003, and were 

signed on that day on behalf of the United States of America and 

the other parties to the North Atlantic Treaty. 

The Protocols propose adding these countries to NATO as full 

members, with all the privileges and responsibilities that apply to 

current allies. The core commitment to these seven states will be 

embodied in the existing text of the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949, 

including the central collective defense provision in Article 5. I believe these countries merit this commitment on our part and that 

they share our common commitment to democratic values and are 

prepared to act as responsible allies. The U.S. decision to pursue 

the enlargement of NATO has had bipartisan support across several administrations. I am confident that the Senate will grant its 

advice and consent to ratification of these protocols, after due deliberation, without hesitation. After Poland, Hungary, and the Czech 

Republic formally joined the NATO Alliance in 1999, NATO’s leaders created the Membership Action Plan, or ‘‘MAP,’’ to assist future 

aspirants. These seven countries’ successful performance in the 

MAP process and the impressive record of their political, economic, 

and defense reforms have created a compelling justification for 

their invitation to join NATO. At the Prague Summit, in November 

2202, you and the other NATO heads of state agreed that Bulgaria, 

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, the Slovak Republic and the 

Republic of Slovenia had demonstrated their adherence to the core 

values of NATO and their readiness to contribute to NATO’s collective security. As you stated at the Summit, the seven invitees will 

bring a fresh spirit to the Alliance. 

NATO has been the most successful military alliance in history. 

However, the threats to our collective security have changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. The nexus of weapons of 

mass destruction and terrorism is the greatest threat to our security and to that of our Allies. NATO can play an important role in 

helping the civilized world meet this threat. However, NATO must 

change to do so. Its enlargement to encompass these countries is 

an important step in that direction. 

VI

These seven nations, so recently freed from totalitarian rule, understand that freedom and security require vigilance and sacrifice. 

Over the past few months, they had stood with the United States 

as we pursued the disarmament of Iraq. They also stood with the 

United States in the War on Terrorism, in Afghanistan, and in the 

Balkans. They are prepared to shoulder their fair share of the burdens of our collective security. They have all committed to spend 

a minimum of two percent of their GDP on defense, higher than 

that of many current allies. They have also taken seriously NATO’s 

efforts to update and improve its capabilities, developing the specialized skills that the Alliance will need in the years ahead. 

The Protocols to the Treaty of 1949 for each of the seven states 

are identical in structure and composed of three Articles. Article I 

provides that, once the Protocol has entered into force, the Secretary General of NATO shall extend an invitation to the named 

state to accede to the North Atlantic Treaty, and that, in accordance with Article X of the Treaty, the state shall become a party 

to the Treaty on the date it deposits its instrument of accession

with the Government of the United States of America. Article II 

provides that the Protocol shall enter into force when each of the 

parties to the North Atlantic Treaty has notified the Government 

of the United States of America of its acceptance of the Protocol. 

Article III provides for the equal authenticity of the English and 

French texts, and for deposit of the Protocol in the archives of the 

Government of the United States of America, the depositary state 

for North Atlantic Treaty purpose. 

These seven countries have a deep appreciation for U.S. efforts 

to free them from communism. They have made the hard choices 

to reform their countries and become vibrant democracies with vigorous market economies. Their accession to the Alliance will be a 

major step toward realizing your vision of a Europe whole, free, 

and at peace. 

Respectfully submitted, 

COLIN L. POWELL.

(1)


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