[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 21 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 21

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 1999

Mr. Shimkus (for himself, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. 
 Knollenberg, Mr. Cox of California, and Mrs. Jones of Ohio) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


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

Whereas the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia 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 peaceful 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;
Whereas the governments of these Baltic countries have made consistent progress 
        toward establishing civilian control of their militaries through active 
        participation in the Partnership 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 Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Whereas Lithuania is consistently increasing its defense budget allocation and 
        recently adopted a law providing that allocations for defense will be at 
        least 2 percent of its GDP by 2001;
Whereas Latvia and Estonia are also consistently increasing their defense budget 
        allocations in accordance with NATO requirements;
Whereas each of these Baltic countries has clearly demonstrated 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 
        economy; civilian control of the military; promotion of good neighborly 
        relations; and development of military interoperability with NATO; and
Whereas each of these Baltic countries has satisfied these standards for 
        entrance into NATO: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are to be commended for 
        their progress toward political and economic liberty and 
        meeting the guidelines for prospective members of the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) set out in chapter 5 of the 
        September 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 guidelines and 
        criteria for membership, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia should 
        be invited to become full members of NATO.
                                 <all>