IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 10

Recommending the integration of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 21, 1997

Mr. SOLOMON submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recommending the integration of Estonia, Latvia, and

Lithuania into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Whereas the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are undergoing a historic process of democratic and

free market transformation after emerging from decades

of brutal Soviet occupation;

Whereas each of the Baltic countries has conducted peaceful

transfers of political power since 1991;

Whereas the governments of the Baltic countries have been

exemplary in their respect for human rights and civil liberties and have made great strides toward establishing

the rule of law;

Whereas the governments of the Baltic countries have made

consistent progress toward establishing civilian control of
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their militaries and, through active participation in the

Partnership for Peace and North Atlantic Treaty Organization peace support operations, have clearly demonstrated their ability and willingness to operate with the

forces of NATO nations and under NATO standards;

Whereas each of the Baltic countries has made progress toward implementing a free market system which has and

will continue to foster the economic advancement of the

people of the Baltic region;

Whereas the Baltic region has often been a battleground for

the competing territorial designs of nearby imperial powers, with this and other factors contributing to a history

of insecurity and instability in the region;

Whereas NATO has been a force for stability, freedom, and

peace in Europe since 1949;

Whereas NATO has indicated it will begin to invite new

members in 1997;

Whereas Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, exercising their inherent right as Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe participating states, have voluntarily applied for membership in NATO: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are to be

4 commended for their progress toward political and

5 economic liberty and meeting the guidelines for pro6 spective NATO members set out in chapter 5 of the

7 September, 1995, Study on NATO Enlargement;
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1 (2) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania would make

2 an outstanding contribution toward furthering the

3 goals of NATO should they become members;

4 (3) eventual extension of full NATO member5 ship to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania would make

6 a singular and lasting contribution toward stability,

7 freedom and peace in the Baltic region;

8 (4) upon complete satisfaction of the aforemen9 tioned guidelines and all other criteria for NATO

10 membership, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should

11 be invited to become full members at the earliest

12 possible date; and

13 (5) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should be

14 invited to attend the NATO summit in Madrid on

15 July 7 and 8, 1997.

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