III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 459 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 25, 2008 Mr. Lugar (for himself and Mr. Voinovich) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing the strong support of the Senate for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to extend invitations for membership to Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia at the April 2008 Bucharest Summit, and for other purposes.

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold a Heads of State and Government summit at Bucharest, Romania in April 2008; Whereas NATO has successfully defended the territory and interests of its members for more than 50 years and contributed to the spread of freedom, democracy, stability, and peace throughout Europe; Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have been preparing for NATO membership for more than 8 years and are undergoing a historic process of democratic and free market transformation after emerging from decades of occupation; Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have made important progress toward establishing civilian control of their militaries and demonstrating their ability to operate with the military forces of NATO nations at Alliance standards; Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia continue to make important contributions to the United Nations-mandated International Security Assistance Force, operating under NATO leadership to assist the Government of Afghanistan in extending and exercising its authority and influence throughout Afghanistan, creating the conditions for stabilization and reconstruction; Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia have made important improvements in their democratic processes, including— (1)embracing ethnic diversity; (2)respecting human rights; (3)building a free market economy; and (4)promoting good neighborly relations; Whereas NATO conducted military operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to further the objective of a lasting peace in Kosovo; Whereas the United States has diplomatically recognized the independence of Kosovo and should support the integration of Kosovo into international and Euro-Atlantic institutions; Whereas lasting stability and security in Southeastern Europe requires the military, economic, and political integration of emerging democracies into existing European structures; Whereas Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia can play important roles in NATO activities in Southeastern Europe, through their unique geostrategic position and by deterring and disrupting any efforts by any party to destabilize the region through violence; Whereas Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, done in Washington on April 4, 1949, states: any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area may be granted NATO membership; and Whereas the Riga Summit Declaration, issued by NATO in November 2006, reaffirms that NATO remains open to new European members: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1)the political independence and territorial integrity of the emerging democracies in Southeastern Europe are vital to European peace and security and to the interests of the United States; (2)the expansion of NATO contributes to the Alliance’s continued effectiveness and relevance; (3)the Senate reaffirms its support for continued enlargement of NATO to include qualified candidates; and (4)the United States should take the lead in supporting the awarding of invitations to Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to join the Alliance at the NATO Summit at Bucharest, Romania in April 2008.