IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 409 
Supporting the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to the Republic of 
Georgia and Ukraine at the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organi-
zation (NATO) Foreign Ministers in December 2008. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 
Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself and Mr. TANNER) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to 
the Republic of Georgia and Ukraine at the meeting 
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) For-
eign Ministers in December 2008. 
Whereas the sustained commitment of the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) to mutual defense has 
made the democratic transformation of Central and East-
ern Europe and Eurasia possible; 
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 the Government of the Republic of Georgia and the 
Government of Ukraine have each expressed a desire to 
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•HCON 409 IH 
join the Euro-Atlantic community, and Georgia and 
Ukraine are working closely with NATO and its members 
to meet criteria for NATO membership; 
Whereas, on April 3, 2008, the heads of state and govern-
ment participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic 
Council in Bucharest stated that ‘‘NATO welcomes 
Ukraine’s and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations for 
membership in NATO. We agreed today that these coun-
tries will become members of NATO. Both nations have 
made valuable contributions to Alliance operations. We 
welcome the democratic reforms in Ukraine and Georgia 
and look forward to free and fair parliamentary elections 
in Georgia in May. [A Membership Action Plan (MAP)] 
is the next step for Ukraine and Georgia on their direct 
way to membership. Today we make clear that we sup-
port these countries’ applications for MAP.’’ 
Whereas at the NATO-Ukraine Commission Foreign Ministe-
rial 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 Dia-
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•HCON 409 IH 
logues which cover the full range of political, military, fi-
nancial, and security issues relating to those countries’ 
aspirations to membership, without prejudice to any 
eventual Alliance decision.’’; 
Whereas in January 2008, Ukraine forwarded to NATO Sec-
retary 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 76.2 percent of the votes supported member-
ship; 
Whereas in February 2008, Georgia forwarded to NATO Sec-
retary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer a letter, signed by 
President Mikhail Saakashvili, requesting that NATO in-
tegrate Georgia into the Membership Action Plan; 
Whereas both Georgia and the Ukraine have been steadfast 
partners in the War on Terror with troops serving as 
part of the Multi-national Force—Iraq; 
Whereas, on August 10, 2008, Georgian troops withdrew 
from Iraq to defend their own borders; 
Whereas, on August 13, 2008, President George W. Bush 
stated, ‘‘The United States of America stands with the 
democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist 
that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia 
be respected.’’; 
Whereas United States support for the approval of Member-
ship Action Plans for Georgia and Ukraine demonstrates 
support for the development of democratic institutions in 
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•HCON 409 IH 
those countries, the process of defense reform and respect 
for human rights; 
Whereas NATO membership requires significant national and 
international commitments and sacrifices and is not pos-
sible without the support of the populations of the NATO 
member states; 
Whereas a period of intensive engagement will begin with 
Georgia and Ukraine at a high political level to address 
the questions still outstanding pertaining to their Mem-
bership Action Plan applications; and 
Whereas NATO Foreign Ministers have the authority to de-
cide on the Membership Action Plan applications of Geor-
gia and Ukraine and have been asked to make a first as-
sessment of progress at their December 2008 meeting: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That— 
(1) Congress— 
(A) reaffirms its previous expressions of 
support for continued enlargement of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to in-
clude 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; and 
(2) it is the sense of Congress that— 
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•HCON 409 IH 
(A) the expansion of NATO contributes to 
NATO’s continued effectiveness and relevance; 
(B) the Republic of Georgia and Ukraine 
are strong allies that have made important 
progress in the areas of defense, democratic, 
and human rights reform; 
(C) 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 
(D) the United States should take the lead 
in supporting the awarding of a Membership 
Action Plan to Georgia and Ukraine at the 
meeting of the NATO Foreign Ministers in De-
cember 2008. 
Æ 
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