III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 483 

Congratulating the Republic of Serbia’s application for European Union membership and recognizing Serbia’s active efforts to integrate into Europe 

and the global community. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 15, 2010 

Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LUGAR, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and 

Mr. CARDIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the Republic of Serbia’s application for European Union membership and recognizing Serbia’s active 

efforts to integrate into Europe and the global community. 

Whereas the United States has been a strong supporter of 

the European Union (EU); 

Whereas the year 2010 marks a full decade of efforts of the 

Government of Serbia to reintegrate into Europe and the 

global community; 

Whereas, on November 30, 2009, the EU decided that the 

citizens of ‘‘Serbia will be able to travel without visa to 

the Schengen area’’ permitting the greater integration of 

Serbia into Europe; 


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•SRES 483 IS 

Whereas a democratically elected Government of Serbia has 

committed to resolving regional disagreements through 

diplomacy and the tenets of international law; 

Whereas, on April 29, 2008, the EU and Serbia signed a 

Stabilization and Association Agreement, which considered ‘‘the EU’s readiness to integrate Serbia to the fullest extent into the political and economic mainstream of 

Europe and its status as a potential candidate for EU 

membership’’; 

Whereas, on June 21, 2003, the EU stated in the Summit 

Declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit at 

Thessaloniki that ‘‘the future of the Balkans is within 

the EU’’ and that the countries of the Western Balkans’ 

‘‘rapprochement with the EU will go hand in hand with 

the development of regional co-operation’’; 

Whereas the United States Government has supported the 

diplomatic efforts of the Government of Serbia to reintegrate into the global community, including a visit by 

Vice President Joseph Biden in May 2009; and 

Whereas the United States Government has long viewed the 

EU as a source of stabilization, security, and prosperity 

for all of Europe and the world: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) applauds the people of Serbia for furthering 

3 their commitment to democracy, free markets, toler4 ance, nondiscrimination, and the rule of law; 

5 (2) urges the European Council to adopt in a 

6 timely manner a clear position on Serbia’s qualifica7 tions as a candidate country; 


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•SRES 483 IS 

1 (3) welcomes the decision of the democratically 

2 elected Government of Serbia to join the NATO 

3 Partnership for Peace Program in 2006; 

4 (4) recognizes the cooperation of the Govern5 ment of Serbia with the United States Government 

6 on issues such as democratization, anti-drug traf7 ficking, anti-terrorism, human rights, regional co8 operation, and trade; 

9 (5) strongly urges the Government of Serbia to 

10 intensify efforts to capture and transfer at-large 

11 indictees Goran Hadzic and Ratko Mladic to the 

12 International Criminal Tribunal for the former 

13 Yugoslavia and otherwise to fully cooperate with the 

14 Tribunal; and 

15 (6) encourages the European Union to also re16 main actively engaged with all countries in the West17 ern Balkans regarding their aspirations for Euro18 pean integration. 

Æ 


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