[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 602 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 610
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 602
Supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece and
Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to resolve longstanding bilateral
disputes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 1, 2018
Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Coons, Mr. Markey,
Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Risch) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
October 1 (legislative day, September 28), 2018
Reported by Mr. Corker, with an amendment and an amendment to the
preamble
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece and
Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to resolve longstanding bilateral
disputes.
Whereas, on June 17, 2018, Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras and Prime
Minister of Macedonia Zoran Zaev signed an agreement to officially
change the constitutional name of the ``Republic of Macedonia'' to the
``Republic of North Macedonia'' and end a 27-year-long dispute;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the United States Department of State congratulated
Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev and welcomed their historic agreement
to resolve the name dispute;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign
Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the European Union's Commissioner for
Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, issued a joint statement wholeheartedly
congratulating Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev, their teams, and the
people of the two countries, and further reaffirming that the European
Union perspective of the Western Balkans remains the most stabilizing
force for the region;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated,
``This historic agreement is testament to many years of patient
diplomacy, and to the willingness of these two leaders to solve a
dispute which has affected the region for too long.'';
Whereas the agreement paves the way for Macedonia to begin accession talks to
join NATO and the European Union;
Whereas, on July 5, 2018, Macedonia's parliament ratified the agreement to
rename the country as the ``Republic of North Macedonia,'' and under the
terms of the agreement the Government of Macedonia may hold a public
referendum and shall pass a constitutional amendment to rename the
country, and the parliament of Greece must vote on ratification of the
agreement;
Whereas Russia consistently seeks to undermine agreements that enhance European
cohesion, broaden the NATO alliance, or strengthen transatlantic
partnerships;
Whereas the Governments of both Greece and Macedonia have accused Russia of
meddling in their domestic affairs to undermine the name agreement,
including by organizing public protests and deepening ties with
nationalist organizations;
Whereas, on July 11, 2018, the Government of Greece announced the expulsion of
two Russian diplomats and barred the entry of two additional Russian
diplomats due to their involvement in funding public protests to
undermine the name deal;
Whereas Greece is a longstanding NATO member and valued United States ally,
contributing 2.6 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense
and hosting United States Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay;
Whereas Macedonia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 1995, joined NATO's
Membership Action Plan in 1999, and is one of the largest per-capita
troop contributors to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan;
Whereas, on July 11, 2018, NATO allies formally invited Macedonia to begin
accession talks to join the alliance under the name ``Republic of North
Macedonia''; and
Whereas, on July 19, 2018, Macedonia's parliament unanimously adopted a
declaration supporting the country's bid to join NATO: Now, therefore,
be it
Whereas, on June 17, 2018, Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras and Prime
Minister of Macedonia Zoran Zaev signed an agreement to officially
change the constitutional name of the ``Republic of Macedonia'' to the
``Republic of North Macedonia'';
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the United States Department of State congratulated
Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev and welcomed their historic agreement
to resolve the 27-year long name dispute;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the European
Union's Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement
Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, issued a joint statement wholeheartedly
congratulating Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev, their teams, and the
people of the two countries, reaffirming that the European Union
perspective of the Western Balkans remains the most stabilizing force
for the region;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated,
``This historic agreement is testament to many years of patient
diplomacy, and to the willingness of these two leaders to solve a
dispute which has affected the region for too long.'';
Whereas the agreement paves the way for Macedonia to begin accession talks to
join NATO and the European Union;
Whereas, on July 5, 2018, Macedonia's parliament ratified the agreement to
rename the country as the ``Republic of North Macedonia,'' and under the
terms of the agreement the Government of Macedonia may hold a public
referendum and shall pass a constitutional amendment to rename the
country, and the parliament of Greece must vote on ratification of the
agreement;
Whereas Russia consistently seeks to undermine agreements that enhance European
cohesion, broaden the NATO alliance, or strengthen transatlantic
partnerships;
Whereas the Governments of both Greece and Macedonia have accused the Russian
Federation of meddling in their domestic affairs to undermine the name
agreement, including by promoting public protests and deepening ties
with nationalist organizations;
Whereas, on July 11, 2018, the Government of Greece announced the expulsion of
two Russian diplomats and barred the entry of two additional Russian
diplomats due to their involvement in funding public protests to
undermine the name deal;
Whereas Greece is a longstanding NATO member and valued United States ally,
contributing over 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to
defense and hosting United States Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay;
Whereas Macedonia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 1995, commenced NATO's
Membership Action Plan in 1999, and is one of the largest per-capita
troop contributors to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan;
Whereas, on July 11, 2018, NATO allies formally invited Macedonia to begin
accession talks to join the alliance under the name ``Republic of North
Macedonia''; and
Whereas, on July 19, 2018, Macedonia's parliament unanimously adopted a
declaration supporting the country's bid to join NATO: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
<DELETED> (1) welcomes the agreement between Greece and the
Republic of Macedonia to resolve the name dispute and to
strengthen bilateral relations for the benefit of both
countries;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) congratulates Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras
and Zoran Zaev, Foreign Ministers Nikos Kotzias and Nikola
Dimitrov, their teams, and the people of both countries for
this historic achievement;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) affirms that stability in southeastern Europe
is an important United States national security
interest;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) condemns efforts by the Government of the
Russian Federation to undermine the agreement and supports
United States assistance to authorities in Athens and Skopje to
counter malign Russian influence;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) urges Macedonia to continue implementing
important reforms as it seeks to join NATO and the European
Union, including those related to protecting freedom of
expression, strengthening the rule of law, and fighting
corruption; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) encourages the United States Department of
Commerce, Department of State, and other relevant agencies to
support United States companies interested in investing in
southeastern Europe.</DELETED>
That the Senate--
(1) welcomes the agreement between Greece and Macedonia to
resolve the name dispute and to strengthen bilateral relations
for the benefit of both countries;
(2) congratulates Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran
Zaev, Foreign Ministers Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov,
their teams, and the people of both countries for this historic
achievement;
(3) affirms that stability in southeastern Europe is an
important United States national security interest;
(4) condemns efforts by the Government of the Russian
Federation to undermine the agreement and supports United
States assistance to authorities in Athens and Skopje to
counter malign Russian influence;
(5) urges Macedonia to continue implementing important
reforms as it seeks to join NATO and the European Union,
including those related to protecting freedom of expression,
strengthening the rule of law, and fighting corruption; and
(6) encourages the United States Department of Commerce,
Department of State, and other relevant agencies to support
United States companies interested in investing in southeastern
Europe.
Calendar No. 610
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 602
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece and
Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to resolve longstanding bilateral
disputes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 1 (legislative day, September 28), 2018
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble