H. Res. 997 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

April 1, 2008. 

Whereas the sustained commitment of the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization (NATO) to mutual defense has 

made possible the democratic transformation of Central 

and Eastern Europe and Eurasia; 

Whereas NATO members can and should play a critical role 

in addressing the security challenges of the post-Cold 

War era in creating the stable environment needed for 

emerging democracies in Europe and Eurasia; 

Whereas lasting stability and security in Europe and Eurasia 

require the military, economic, and political integration of 

emerging democracies into existing European structures; 

Whereas, in an era of threats from terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, NATO is increasingly contributing to security in the face of global 

security challenges for the protection and interests of its 

member States; 

Whereas the Government of Georgia and the Government of 

Ukraine have each expressed a desire to join the EuroAtlantic community, and Georgia and Ukraine are working closely with NATO and its members to meet criteria 

for eventual NATO membership; 
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•HRES 997 EH 

Whereas, at the NATO-Ukraine Commission Foreign Ministerial meeting in Vilnius in April 2005, NATO and 

Ukraine launched an Intensified Dialogue on membership 

between the Alliance and Ukraine; 

Whereas, following a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in 

New York on September 21, 2006, NATO Secretary 

General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced the launching 

of an Intensified Dialogue on membership between 

NATO and Georgia; 

Whereas the Riga Summit Declaration, issued by the heads 

of state and government participating in the meeting of 

the North Atlantic Council in November 2006, reaffirms 

that NATO’s door remains open to new members and 

that NATO will continue to review the process for new 

membership, stating ‘‘We reaffirm that the Alliance will 

continue with Georgia and Ukraine its Intensified Dialogues which cover the full range of political, military, financial, and security issues relating to those countries’ 

aspirations to membership, without prejudice to any 

eventual Alliance decision. We reaffirm the importance of 

the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership, which has its 

10th anniversary next year and welcome the progress 

that has been made in the framework of our Intensified 

Dialogue. We appreciate Ukraine’s substantial contributions to our common security, including through participation in NATO-led operations and efforts to promote regional cooperation. We encourage Ukraine to continue to 

contribute to regional security. We are determined to 

continue to assist, through practical cooperation, in the 

implementation of far-reaching reform efforts, notably in 

the fields of national security, defense, reform of the defense-industrial sector and fighting corruption. We wel-
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come the commencement of an Intensified Dialogue with 

Georgia as well as Georgia’s contribution to international 

peacekeeping and security operations. We will continue to 

engage actively with Georgia in support of its reform 

process. We encourage Georgia to continue progress on 

political, economic and military reforms, including 

strengthening judicial reform, as well as the peaceful resolution of outstanding conflicts on its territory. We reaffirm that it is of great importance that all parties in the 

region should engage constructively to promote regional 

peace and stability.’’; 

Whereas, in January 2008, Ukraine forwarded to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer a letter, signed by 

President Victor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia 

Tymoshenko, and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseniy 

Yatsenyuk, requesting that NATO integrate Ukraine into 

the Membership Action Plan; 

Whereas, in January 2008, Georgia held a referendum on 

NATO and 76.22 percent of the votes supported membership; 

Whereas in February 2008, Georgia forwarded a letter signed 

by President Mikhail Saakashvili to NATO Secretary 

General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer requesting that NATO 

integrate Georgia into the Membership Action Plan; 

Whereas participation in a Membership Action Plan does not 

guarantee future membership in the NATO Alliance; 

Whereas United States support for the approval of Membership Action Plans for Georgia and Ukraine demonstrates 

support for the development of democratic institutions in 

those countries, the process of defense reform and respect 

for human rights, and does not represent a hostile at-
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tempt to expand the Alliance at the expense of the security of any country; and 

Whereas NATO membership requires significant national and 

international commitments and sacrifices and is not possible without the support of the populations of the NATO 

member states: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that— 

(1) the House of Representatives— 

(A) reaffirms its previous expressions of support for continued enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to include qualified candidates; and 

(B) supports the commitment to further enlargement of NATO to include democratic governments that are able and willing to meet the responsibilities of membership; 

(2) the expansion of NATO contributes to NATO’s 

continued effectiveness and relevance; 

(3) Georgia and Ukraine are strong allies that have 

made important progress in the areas of defense, democratic, and human rights reform; 

(4) a stronger, deeper relationship among the Government of Georgia, the Government of Ukraine, and 

NATO will be mutually beneficial to those countries and 

to NATO member states; and 
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(5) the United States should take the lead in supporting the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to 

Georgia and Ukraine as soon as possible. 

Attest: 

Clerk.