[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 483 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 483

Congratulating the Republic of Serbia's application for European Union 
 membership and recognizing Serbia's active efforts to integrate into 
                    Europe and the global community.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 15, 2010

Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. 
 Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

                             April 21, 2010

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating the Republic of Serbia's application for European Union 
 membership and recognizing Serbia's active efforts to integrate into 
                    Europe and the global community.

Whereas the United States has been a strong supporter of the European Union 
        (EU);
Whereas the year 2010 marks a full decade of efforts of the Government of Serbia 
        to reintegrate into Europe and the global community;
Whereas, on November 30, 2009, the EU decided that the citizens of ``Serbia will 
        be able to travel without visa to the Schengen area'' permitting the 
        greater integration of Serbia into Europe;
Whereas a democratically elected Government of Serbia has committed to resolving 
        regional disagreements through diplomacy and the tenets of international 
        law;
Whereas, on April 29, 2008, the EU and Serbia signed a Stabilization and 
        Association Agreement, which considered ``the EU's readiness to 
        integrate Serbia to the fullest extent into the political and economic 
        mainstream of Europe and its status as a potential candidate for EU 
        membership'';
Whereas, on June 21, 2003, the EU stated in the Summit Declaration of the EU-
        Western Balkans summit at Thessaloniki that ``the future of the Balkans 
        is within the EU'' and that the countries of the Western Balkans' 
        ``rapprochement with the EU will go hand in hand with the development of 
        regional co-operation'';
Whereas the United States Government has supported the diplomatic efforts of the 
        Government of Serbia to reintegrate into the global community, including 
        a visit by Vice President Joseph Biden in May 2009; and
Whereas the United States Government has long viewed the EU as a source of 
        stabilization, security, and prosperity for all of Europe and the world: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) applauds the people of Serbia for furthering their 
        commitment to democracy, free markets, tolerance, 
        nondiscrimination, and the rule of law;
            (2) urges the European Council to adopt in a timely manner 
        a clear position on Serbia's qualifications as a candidate 
        country;
            (3) welcomes the decision of the democratically elected 
        Government of Serbia to join the NATO Partnership for Peace 
        Program in 2006;
            (4) recognizes the cooperation of the Government of Serbia 
        with the United States Government on issues such as 
        democratization, anti-drug trafficking, anti-terrorism, human 
        rights, regional cooperation, and trade;
            (5) strongly urges the Government of Serbia to intensify 
        efforts to capture and transfer at-large indictees Goran Hadzic 
        and Ratko Mladic to the International Criminal Tribunal for the 
        former Yugoslavia and otherwise to fully cooperate with the 
        Tribunal; and
            (6) encourages the European Union to also remain actively 
        engaged with all countries in the Western Balkans regarding 
        their aspirations for European integration.
                                 <all>