IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 116
Recommending the integration of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia into the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 26, 2001
Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself, Mr. COX, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. WOLF, Mr. BORSKI,
Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. HILLEARY, Mr.
MCNULTY, and Mr. ENGLISH) submitted the following concurrent resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recommending the integration of Lithuania, Latvia, and Es-
tonia into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO).
Whereas the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Esto-
nia are undergoing a historic process of democratic and
free market transformation after emerging from decades
of brutal Soviet occupation;
Whereas each of these Baltic countries has conducted peace-
ful transfers of political power—in Lithuania since 1990
and in Latvia and Estonia since 1991;
Whereas each of these Baltic countries has been exemplary
and consistent in its respect for human rights and civil
liberties;
•HCON 116 IH
Whereas the governments of these Baltic countries have made
consistent progress toward establishing civilian control of
their militaries through active participation in the Part-
nership for Peace program and North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) peace support operations;
Whereas Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are participating in
the NATO-led multinational military force in the Repub-
lic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo;
Whereas Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia are consistently in-
creasing their defense budget allocations and have adopt-
ed laws providing that such allocations for defense will be
at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP)
by 2002 for Lithuania and Estonia and by 2003 for Lat-
via;
Whereas each of these Baltic countries has clearly dem-
onstrated its ability to operate with the military forces of
NATO nations and under NATO standards;
Whereas former Secretary of Defense Perry stipulated five
generalized standards for entrance into NATO: support
for democracy, including toleration of ethnic diversity and
respect for human rights; building a free market econ-
omy; civilian control of the military; promotion of good
neighborly relations; and development of military inter-
operability with NATO;
Whereas each of these Baltic countries has satisfied these
standards for entrance into NATO; and
Whereas NATO will consider at its 2002 summit meeting in
Prague the further enlargement of its alliance: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
•HCON 116 IH
(1) Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are to be
commended for their progress toward political and
economic liberty and meeting the guidelines for pro-
spective members of the North Atlantic Treaty Or-
ganization (NATO) set out in chapter 5 of the Sep-
tember 1995 Study on NATO Enlargement;
(2) Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia would make
an outstanding contribution toward furthering the
goals of NATO should they become members;
(3) extension of full NATO membership to
these Baltic countries would contribute to stability,
freedom, and peace in the Baltic region and Europe
as a whole; and
(4) with complete satisfaction of NATO guide-
lines and criteria for membership, Lithuania, Latvia,
and Estonia should be invited in 2002 to become full
members of NATO.
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