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 acces-
sion 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 Monte-
negro to begin an Intensified Dialogue on the full range 
of political, military, financial, and security issues relat-
ing 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
•HRES 1266 EH 
Euro-Atlantic community, including through an Intensi-
fied 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 Eu-
rope 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 in-
vited by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) to begin accession talks and recognizes the his-
toric nature of that achievement, earned through years 
of hard work and a demonstrated commitment to com-
mon security and the shared values of NATO members; 
(2) congratulates Albania and Croatia on the sign-
ing of the Accession Protocols by NATO members on 
July 9, 2008, opening the way for full NATO member-
ship for both countries; 
(3) expresses strong support for the timely comple-
tion of the accession process with Albania and Croatia; 
(4) fully supports the invitations to initiate an In-
tensified 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;
•HRES 1266 EH 
(6) supports the declaration of NATO at the Bu-
charest Summit, which states that NATO’s door should 
remain open to European democracies willing and able 
to assume the responsibilities and obligations of member-
ship, 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.