[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 997 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 997

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 25, 2008

Mr. Wexler (for himself, Mr. Gallegly, and Ms. Schwartz) 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 Georgia and 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 Georgia and the Government of Ukraine have each 
        expressed a desire to join the Euro-Atlantic community, and Georgia and 
        Ukraine are 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, following a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in New York on September 
        21, 2006, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced the 
        launching of an Intensified Dialogue on membership between NATO and 
        Georgia;
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 Georgia and Ukraine 
        its Intensified Dialogues which cover the full range of political, 
        military, financial, and security issues relating to those countries' 
        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 welcome the commencement of an Intensified Dialogue with 
        Georgia as well as Georgia's contribution to international peacekeeping 
        and security operations. We will continue to engage actively with 
        Georgia in support of its reform process. We encourage Georgia to 
        continue progress on political, economic and military reforms, including 
        strengthening judicial reform, as well as the peaceful resolution of 
        outstanding conflicts on its territory. 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, in January 2008, Georgia held a referendum on NATO and 76.22 percent of 
        the votes supported membership;
Whereas in February 2008, Georgia forwarded a letter signed by President Mikhail 
        Saakashvili to NATO Secretary General Jaap de hoop Scheffer requesting 
        that NATO integrate Georgia into the Membership Action Plan;
Whereas participation in a Membership Action Plan does not guarantee future 
        membership in the NATO Alliance; and
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: 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) Georgia and Ukraine are strong allies that have made 
        important progress in the areas of defense, democratic, and 
        human rights reform;
            (4) a stronger, deeper relationship among the Government of 
        Georgia, the Government of Ukraine, and NATO will be mutually 
        beneficial to those countries and to NATO member states; and
            (5) the United States should take the lead in supporting 
        the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to Georgia and Ukraine 
        as soon as possible.
                                 <all>