[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 2 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 2

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 20, 1999

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


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

Whereas the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are undergoing an 
        historic process of democratic and free market transformation after 
        emerging from decades of brutal Soviet occupation;
Whereas each of the Baltic states has conducted peaceful transfers of political 
        power--in Lithuania since 1990 and in Latvia and Estonia since 1991;
Whereas each of the Baltic states has been exemplary and consistent in its 
        respect for human rights and civil liberties;
Whereas the governments of the Baltic states 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 is participating in the NATO-led multinational military force 
        in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (commonly referred to as 
        ``SFOR'') and is consistently increasing its defense budget allocations 
        with the goal of allocating at least 2 percent of its GDP for defense by 
        2001;
Whereas each of the Baltic states 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 the Baltic states has satisfied these standards for entrance 
        into NATO: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 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 the Baltic states 
        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>