[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 253 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 253

Recommending the integration of the Republic of Slovakia into the North 
                  Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 3, 2001

 Mr. Stupak submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recommending the integration of the Republic of Slovakia into the North 
                  Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Whereas the Republic of Slovakia came into existence with its peaceful 
        separation from the Czech Republic in 1993;
Whereas the Republic of Slovakia has demonstrated the maturity of its democracy 
        by the recent peaceful transition of power;
Whereas the Government of the Republic of Slovakia has shown a clear desire to 
        continue and progress with improvements in the areas of the human 
        rights, civil society, and a free market economy;
Whereas the Republic of Slovakia has made significant strides in addressing its 
        human rights record with the placement of three ethnic Hungarians in the 
        cabinet of the government, including the Deputy Premier for Human and 
        Minority Rights and has stated its determination to conform to the 
        standards of the Council of Europe;
Whereas the Republic of Slovakia has continually worked to retain civilian 
        control of its military through participation with North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO) forces, and has shown willingness to work with North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization forces through activities such as the 
        Partnership for Peace program, peacekeeping missions to Bosnia, and 
        United Nations operations to Rwanda and Liberia;
Whereas members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization community have been 
        involved in the development of the military of the Republic of Slovakia;
Whereas one of the stated goals of the Government of the Republic of Slovakia is 
        to ``create all of the conditions necessary for the Republic of Slovakia 
        to become a standard democratic state and a stable element in the 
        region'';
Whereas the Republic of Slovakia is geographically located in a strategically 
        significant position between the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, 
        all three of which were included in the first round of North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization expansion;
Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has been a pillar of peace, 
        stability, and freedom in Europe since 1949; and
Whereas the Republic of Slovakia has stated as one of its strategic priorities 
        becoming a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as quickly 
        as possible: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the Republic of Slovakia should be commended for 
        progressing toward political and economic liberty and for its 
        efforts to meet the guidelines for prospective North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization (NATO) members set out in Chapter 5 of the 
        September 1995 Study on NATO Enlargement;
            (2) the Republic of Slovakia would make significant 
        contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
            (3) extension of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to 
        include the Republic of Slovakia would significantly benefit 
        the security and peace of Europe and the region as a whole; and
            (4) the Republic of Slovakia should be invited to be a full 
        member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance at 
        the earliest opportunity.
                                 <all>