[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 209 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 209


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 24, 2003

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Commending the signing of the United States-Adriatic Charter, a charter 
     of partnership among the United States, Albania, Croatia, and 
                               Macedonia.

Whereas the United States has an enduring interest in the independence, 
        territorial integrity, and security of Albania, Croatia, and The Former 
        Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and supports their full integration in 
        the community of democratic Euro-Atlantic states;
Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have taken clear and positive steps to 
        advance their integration into


Europe by establishing close cooperative relations among themselves and 
with their neighbors, as well as their promotion of regional cooperation;

Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have already contributed to European 
        security and to the peace and security of southeast Europe through the 
        resolution of conflicts in the region and their regional cooperation in 
        the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial;
Whereas on May 2, 2003, the United States-Adriatic Charter was signed in Tirana, 
        Albania, by Secretary of State Colin Powell, Albanian Foreign Minister 
        Ilir Meta, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, and Macedonian 
        Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva;
Whereas the Adriatic Charter affirms the commitment of Albania, Croatia, and 
        Macedonia to the values and principles of the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO) and to joining the Alliance at the earliest possible 
        time;
Whereas Secretary of State Powell stated that the Adriatic Charter ``reaffirms 
        our partners' dedication to work individually, with each other, and with 
        their neighbors to build a region of strong democracies powered by free 
        market economies . . . [i]t underscores the importance we place on their 
        eventual full integration into NATO and other European institutions . . 
        . [a]nd most importantly, the Charter promises to strengthen the ties 
        that bind the peoples of the region to the United States, to one 
        another, and to a common future within the Euro-Atlantic family''; and
Whereas 75 Albanian special forces troops were sent to Iraq as part of the 
        coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 29 Macedonian special 
        forces troops were sent to Iraq as part of the postwar stabilization 
        force, and Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia all contributed to the 
        stabilization forces in Afghanistan, as signs of their commitment to 
        promote international freedom and security: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) strongly supports the United States-Adriatic Charter 
        and commends Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia for their 
        continued efforts to become full-fledged members of the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union;
            (2) urges NATO to invite Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to 
        join NATO as soon as each of these countries respectively 
        demonstrates the ability to assume the responsibilities of NATO 
        membership through the Membership Action Plan;
            (3) welcomes and supports the aspirations of Albania, 
        Croatia, and Macedonia to join the European Union at the 
        earliest opportunity;
            (4) recognizes that Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia are 
        making important strides to bring their economic, military, and 
        political institutions into conformance with the standards of 
        NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions; and
            (5) commends Secretary of State Powell for his personal 
        support of the Adriatic Charter.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 23, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.