[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 56 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 56

Affirming the support of the United States for Macedonia's accession to 
             the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 27, 2015

  Mrs. Miller of Michigan (for herself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. 
  Stivers, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Thompson of 
 Mississippi, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Turner, Mr. Kinzinger of Illinois, 
 Mr. Cook, and Ms. Bordallo) submitted the following resolution; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Affirming the support of the United States for Macedonia's accession to 
             the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Whereas Macedonia peacefully asserted and achieved independent statehood in 
        1991, during the course of the former Yugoslavia's violent 
        disintegration;
Whereas the United States has provided over $1,000,000,000 in aid to Macedonia 
        since it recognized its independence;
Whereas Macedonia affirmed its commitment to joining the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO) in 1993, signed the Framework Documents for NATO's 
        partnership for Peace in 1995, and started its Membership Action Plan 
        (MAP) in 1999;
Whereas in March 1995, after signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 1994, a 
        Vermont State Partnership Program was established between the State of 
        Vermont and the Republic of Macedonia;
Whereas Macedonia is an active participant as the first state partner of the 
        Vermont National Guard for the past 20 years, and since 1995, more than 
        3,000 Macedonians and Vermonters have shared their expertise in more 
        than 800 events as the partnership has developed, including a joint 
        military embedment in Afghanistan in 2011;
Whereas during the 1999 Kosovo crisis, Macedonia received and accommodated 
        400,000 Kosovar refugees, and served as a staging area and main corridor 
        for logistical support to the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) as well as 
        leading the KFOR Coordination Centre for logistical support in Skopje 
        since 2006;
Whereas under its NATO Membership Action Plan, Macedonia, in its 15th cycle of 
        MAP, has made strong strides on major reforms and reconstruction of its 
        armed forces towards the goal of building and sustaining a modern, 
        professional defense force of about 12,000 troops that is fully 
        interoperable with NATO;
Whereas Macedonia was one of the first countries to offer support to the United 
        States after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which has had a 
        policy of ``an attack on the United States is an attack on Macedonia'', 
        as stated by the late Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski;
Whereas in Afghanistan, Macedonia, who patrolled International Security 
        Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul, and was the fifth largest 
        ISAF troop contributor per capita, contributed troops to the NATO-led 
        ISAF mission since 2002 and engaged in combat operations side-by-side 
        with United States troops, increasing troop levels in 2010;
Whereas Macedonia has been recognized as an operational partner in the new 
        ``Resolute Support'' Mission in Afghanistan to train, advise, and assist 
        our Afghan partners;
Whereas in the interest of a faithful partnership with the United States, 
        Macedonia deployed troops to Iraq under the leadership of the United 
        States Government until 2008;
Whereas Macedonia also contributes to the European Union mission in Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina and has contributed troops in Lebanon;
Whereas soldiers from Macedonia earned 120 medals awarded by the United States;
Whereas in 2005, in Macedonia, NATO and partner nations conducted a Partnership 
        for Peace, joint military exercises named ``Cooperation Alliance 2005'' 
        that was aimed to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the 
        bloc and member countries of its Partnership for Peace Program;
Whereas in 2007, Macedonia successfully hosted the Euro-Atlantic Partnership 
        Council Security Forum, which was attended by the United States 
        Secretary of Defense;
Whereas in 2008, the United States signed a Declaration of Strategic Partnership 
        and Cooperation with Macedonia stating that ``The 2008 NATO Summit 
        Declaration in Bucharest made clear that the Republic of Macedonia has 
        met NATO's democratic, economic, and defense standards through its 
        rigorous participation in the Membership Action Plan.'';
Whereas the 2008 Declaration outlined the importance of close partnership 
        between the two countries based upon common goals, interests, and 
        values, in order to enhance their strategic relationship through 
        intensified consultation and cooperation in the areas of security, 
        people-to-people ties, and commerce, the United States committed itself 
        to provide additional assistance to Macedonia to help build prosperity 
        and strengthen security;
Whereas the United States and Macedonia noted that a democratic, secure, and 
        prosperous Macedonia, with friendly and constructive relations with its 
        neighbors is vital to peace and stability in Southeast Europe;
Whereas the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2011 in its final 
        judgment, without possibility for appeal, and binding on the parties, 
        found that Greece, by objecting to the admission of Macedonia to NATO 
        during the 2008 Bucharest Summit, has breached its obligation under 
        article 11 of the United Nations Interim Accord of September 13, 1995;
Whereas current United States President Barack Obama on April 4, 2009, at the 
        Strasbourg-Kehl NATO Summit stated ``I look forward to the day when we 
        can welcome Macedonia to the Alliance'';
Whereas the North Atlantic Council Foreign Ministers meeting on December 7, 
        2011, applauded the significant operational support provided to NATO by 
        aspirant partners Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 
        Georgia;
Whereas senior United States Department of State officials at the 2012 Chicago 
        Summit stated it should be the last summit that is not an enlargement 
        summit;
Whereas the NATO Wales Summit 2014 Declaration expressed appreciation for the 
        Republic of Macedonia's long-standing contribution to NATO operations, 
        its active role in regional cooperation and Macedonia's long-standing 
        commitment to the NATO accession process;
Whereas Macedonia is strategically located in Southeast Europe displaying a 
        unique gateway for rapid NATO troop deployments to the Middle East and 
        North Africa in order to maintain regional stability;
Whereas Macedonia remains committed to further pursuing reforms, focused 
        primarily on the country's development as a stable multi-cultural 
        democracy, by ensuring effective political dialogue, independence of the 
        judiciary, media freedom, the further development of the free market 
        economy, reform of the public administration, improving the living 
        standard and advancing the quality of life of Macedonian citizens;
Whereas Macedonia has been recognized by the World Bank and the European Union 
        as an economic reformer, and according to the Heritage Foundation/Wall 
        Street Journal 2014 Index of Economic Freedom, Macedonia's economic 
        freedom score is 68.6, making its economy the 43rd freest in the 2014 
        Index and is ranked 20th out of 43 countries in the Europe region, and 
        its overall score is above the world and regional averages;
Whereas Macedonia's NATO membership would benefit Greek businesses, which are 
        one of the most significant foreign direct investors in Macedonia, in 
        addition to the significant volume of Macedonian tourism in Greece; and
Whereas Macedonia has satisfied all NATO membership criteria per all 
        declarations made by 2008 Bucharest Summit, and subsequently thereafter, 
        is active in NATO missions, and obtained the support of the ICJ: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports Macedonia's aspirations to join the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);
            (2) recognizes the cooperation between the State of Vermont 
        and Macedonia and the joint military partnership between 
        Vermont National Guard and the Army of the Republic of 
        Macedonia;
            (3) recognizes the significant benefits of closer economic 
        and political ties between NATO members and Macedonia in its 
        commitment to foster regional stability and the important 
        principle of mutual defense of all NATO members, including 
        Greece;
            (4) recognizes the importance of the NATO membership for 
        Macedonia for its economic growth, strengthening of the 
        democratic institutions and norms, and bolstering rule of law 
        in Southeast Europe;
            (5) greatly appreciates the efforts of Macedonia in its 
        commitment and participation with the United States and other 
        countries in advancing peace, democracy, stability, and mutual 
        understanding;
            (6) urges the Administration and the United States 
        Department of State to continue to work closely with Macedonia 
        and to support NATO enlargement by granting full membership to 
        Macedonia;
            (7) acknowledges and supports the progress made by 
        Macedonia's efforts in the NATO membership process;
            (8) calls on the Administration, United States Department 
        of State, and European allies to work with Greece and NATO 
        allies to ensure that bilateral disputes do not impede 
        Macedonia's NATO accession for the sake of regional stability 
        in light of the current situation with Ukraine; and
            (9) urges NATO members to formally extend an invitation to 
        Macedonia to join NATO as soon as possible at one of the next 
        meetings of the North Atlantic Council or NATO Summit in Poland 
        in 2016.
                                 <all>