[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 29 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 29

Recommending the integration of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the 
                  North Atlantic Treaty Organization.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 23, 1997

  Mr. Gorton submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Recommending the integration of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the 
                  North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Whereas the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are undergoing a 
        historic process of democratic and free market transformation after 
        emerging from decades of brutal Soviet occupation;
Whereas each of the Baltic countries has conducted peaceful transfers of 
        political power since 1991;
Whereas the governments of the Baltic countries have been exemplary in their 
        respect for human rights and civil liberties and have made great strides 
        toward establishing the rule of law;
Whereas the governments of the Baltic countries have made consistent progress 
        toward establishing civilian control of their military forces and, 
        through active participation in the Partnership for Peace and the peace 
        support operations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (in this 
        resolution referred to as ``NATO''), have clearly demonstrated their 
        ability and willingness to operate with the forces of NATO nations and 
        under NATO standards;
Whereas each of the Baltic countries has made progress toward implementing a 
        free market system which has and will continue to foster the economic 
        advancement of the people of the Baltic region;
Whereas the Baltic region has often been a battleground for the competing 
        territorial designs of nearby imperial powers which, along with other 
        factors, has contributed to a history of insecurity and instability in 
        the region;
Whereas NATO has been a force for stability, freedom, and peace in Europe since 
        1949;
Whereas NATO has indicated it will begin to invite new members in 1997; and
Whereas Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, exercising their inherent right as 
        participating states in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
        Europe, have voluntarily applied for membership in NATO: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are to be commended for 
        their progress toward political and economic liberty and 
        meeting the guidelines for prospective NATO members set out in 
        chapter 5 of the September 1995 Study on NATO Enlargement;
            (2) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania would make an 
        outstanding contribution to NATO if they become members;
            (3) eventual extension of full NATO membership to Estonia, 
        Latvia, and Lithuania would make a singular and lasting 
        contribution toward stability, freedom, and peace in the Baltic 
        region;
            (4) upon satisfying the criteria for NATO membership, 
        Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should be invited to become full 
        members of NATO at the earliest possible date; and
            (5) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should be invited to 
        attend the NATO summit in Madrid on July 8 and 9, 1997.
                                 <all>