[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1454 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1454

 Expressing the strong support of the House of Representatives for the 
 North Atlantic Treaty Organization to enter into a Membership Action 
                           Plan with Ukraine.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 17, 2008

 Mr. Gerlach (for himself, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. McCotter, Mr. 
    Platts, Mr. Tiberi, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Shuster, and Mr. Hinchey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the strong support of the House of Representatives for the 
 North Atlantic Treaty Organization to enter into a Membership Action 
                           Plan with Ukraine.

Whereas the sustained commitment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
        (NATO) to mutual defense has made possible the democratic transformation 
        of Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia;
Whereas NATO members can and should play a critical role in addressing the 
        security challenges of the post-Cold War era in creating the stable 
        environment needed for emerging democracies in Europe and Eurasia;
Whereas lasting stability and security in Europe and Eurasia require the 
        military, economic, and political integration of emerging democracies 
        into existing European structures;
Whereas, in an era of threats from terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of 
        mass destruction, NATO is increasingly contributing to security in the 
        face of global security challenges for the protection and interests of 
        its member states;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has expressed a desire to join the Euro-
        Atlantic community, and Ukraine is working closely with NATO and its 
        members to meet criteria for eventual NATO membership;
Whereas, at the NATO-Ukraine Commission Foreign Ministerial meeting in Vilnius 
        in April 2005, NATO and Ukraine launched an Intensified Dialogue on 
        membership between the Alliance and Ukraine;
Whereas the Riga Summit Declaration, issued by the heads of state and government 
        participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in November 
        2006, reaffirms that NATO's door remains open to new members and that 
        NATO will continue to review the process for new membership, stating 
        ``We reaffirm that the Alliance will continue with . . . Ukraine its 
        Intensified Dialogues which cover the full range of political, military, 
        financial, and security issues relating to [Ukraine's] aspirations to 
        membership, without prejudice to any eventual Alliance decision. We 
        reaffirm the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership, 
        which has its 10th anniversary next year and welcome the progress that 
        has been made in the framework of our Intensified Dialogue. We 
        appreciate Ukraine's substantial contributions to our common security, 
        including through participation in NATO-led operations and efforts to 
        promote regional cooperation. We encourage Ukraine to continue to 
        contribute to regional security. We are determined to continue to 
        assist, through practical cooperation, in the implementation of far-
        reaching reform efforts, notably in the fields of national security, 
        defense, reform of the defense-industrial sector and fighting corruption 
        . . . We reaffirm that it is of great importance that all parties in the 
        region should engage constructively to promote regional peace and 
        stability.'';
Whereas, in January 2008, Ukraine forwarded to NATO Secretary General Jaap de 
        Hoop Scheffer a letter, signed by President Victor Yushchenko, Prime 
        Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseny Yatensyuk, 
        requesting that NATO integrate Ukraine into the Membership Action Plan;
Whereas participation in a Membership Action Plan does not guarantee future 
        membership in the NATO Alliance;
Whereas NATO membership requires significant national and international 
        commitments and sacrifices and is not possible without the support of 
        the populations of the NATO member States;
Whereas at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008, Allied leaders agree that Ukraine 
        will become a NATO member in future and that its application to join the 
        Membership Action Plan, would be reviewed in December 2008;
Whereass military forces of the Russian Federation have advanced into and 
        attacked the territory of the Republic of Georgia, grossly exceeding any 
        mandate of Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia, and officials of the 
        Government of the Russian Federation have sought to oust the 
        democratically elected Government of the Republic of Georgia;
Whereas Russian aggression in Georgia threatens the territorial integrity and 
        independence of nearby countries in the region such as Ukraine; and
Whereas the NATO admission of Ukraine will dissuade further acts of military 
        force by the Russian Federation thereby strengthening the economic and 
        territorial stability of the region: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the House of Representatives--
                    (A) reaffirms its previous expressions of support 
                for continued enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty 
                Organization (NATO) to include qualified candidates; 
                and
                    (B) supports the commitment to further enlargement 
                of NATO to include democratic governments that are able 
                and willing to meet the responsibilities of membership;
            (2) the expansion of NATO contributes to NATO's continued 
        effectiveness and relevance;
            (3) Ukraine is a strong ally that has made important 
        progress in the areas of defense, democratic, and human rights 
        reform;
            (4) a stronger, deeper relationship between the Government 
        of Ukraine and NATO will be mutually beneficial to Ukraine and 
        to NATO member States; and
            (5) the United States should take the lead in supporting 
        the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to Ukraine as soon as 
        possible.
                                 <all>