[Senate Treaty Document 108-4]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress 
 1st Session                     SENATE                     Treaty Doc.
                                                                  108-4
_______________________________________________________________________
 
    PROTOCOLS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY OF 1949 ON ACCESSION OF 
 BULGARIA, ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, AND SLOVENIA

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

    PROTOCOLS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY OF 1949 ON ACCESSION OF 
BULGARIA, ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, AND SLOVENIA. 
  THESE PROTOCOLS WERE OPENED FOR SIGNATURE AT BRUSSELS ON MARCH 26, 
2003, AND SIGNED THAT DAY ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE OTHER 
                  PARTIES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY




 April 10, 2003.--The Protocols were read the first time, and together 
  with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                   The White House, April 10, 2003.
To the Senate of the United States:
    I transmit herewith Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty 
of 1949 on the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, 
Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These protocols 
were opened for signature at Brussels on March 26, 2003, and 
signed that day on behalf of the United States and the other 
parties to the North Atlantic Treaty. I request the advice and 
consent of the Senate to the ratification of these documents. I 
also transmit for the information of the Senate a report 
submitted to me by the Secretary of State regarding this 
matter.
    The end of communism and the consolidation of freedom and 
democracy in Central and Eastern Europe have been among the 
great developments of human history. NATO played a vital role 
in defending freedom and promoting this peaceful change for 
over 50 years. I am pleased that, with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, these new democracies can soon join us as 
members of this great Alliance.
    As the threats to the Alliance have changed, NATO itself 
has adapted to face them. At the Prague Summit in November 
2002, I joined the leaders of NATO not only in inviting these 
nations to join us as members, but also in calling for a 
transformation of NATO's military capabilities and structures 
to meet the threats of the 21st century. NATO is proceeding 
with that agenda. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia are already making real 
contributions to the common security of the NATO Allies, 
including the United States, and I am firmly convinced that 
their full membership in NATO will strengthen our Alliance 
further.
    I ask the Senate to join me in advancing the cause of 
freedom and strengthening NATO by providing its prompt advice 
and consent to these Protocols of Accession. My Administration 
stands ready to assist you as best we can in your 
deliberations.

                                                    George W. Bush.
                          LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                    The Secretary of State,
                                         Washington, April 5, 2003.
The President,
The White House.
    The President: I have the honor to submit to you, with a 
view to its transmission to the Senate for advice and consent 
to ratification, Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 
on the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Romania, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia. 
These protocols were opened for signature at Brussels on March 
26, 2003, and were signed on that day on behalf of the United 
States of America and the other parties to the North Atlantic 
Treaty.
    The Protocols propose adding these countries to NATO as 
full members, with all the privileges and responsibilities that 
apply to current allies. The core commitment to these seven 
states will be embodied in the existing text of the North 
Atlantic Treaty of 1949, including the central collective 
defense provision in Article 5. I believe these countries merit 
this commitment on our part and that they share our common 
commitment to democratic values and are prepared to act as 
responsible allies. The U.S. decision to pursue the enlargement 
of NATO has had bipartisan support across several 
administrations. I am confident that the Senate will grant its 
advice and consent to ratification of these protocols, after 
due deliberation, without hesitation. After Poland, Hungary, 
and the Czech Republic formally joined the NATO Alliance in 
1999, NATO's leaders created the Membership Action Plan, or 
``MAP,'' to assist future aspirants. These seven countries' 
successful performance in the MAP process and the impressive 
record of their political, economic, and defense reforms have 
created a compelling justification for their invitation to join 
NATO. At the Prague Summit, in November 2202, you and the other 
NATO heads of state agreed that Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, 
Lithuania, Romania, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of 
Slovenia had demonstrated their adherence to the core values of 
NATO and their readiness to contribute to NATO's collective 
security. As you stated at the Summit, the seven invitees will 
bring a fresh spirit to the Alliance.
    NATO has been the most successful military alliance in 
history. However, the threats to our collective security have 
changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. The nexus 
of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism is the greatest 
threat to our security and to that of our Allies. NATO can play 
an important role in helping the civilized world meet this 
threat. However, NATO must change to do so. Its enlargement to 
encompass these countries is an important step in that 
direction.
    These seven nations, so recently freed from totalitarian 
rule, understand that freedom and security require vigilance 
and sacrifice. Over the past few months, they had stood with 
the United States as we pursued the disarmament of Iraq. They 
also stood with the United States in the War on Terrorism, in 
Afghanistan, and in the Balkans. They are prepared to shoulder 
their fair share of the burdens of our collective security. 
They have all committed to spend a minimum of two percent of 
their GDP on defense, higher than that of many current allies. 
They have also taken seriously NATO's efforts to update and 
improve its capabilities, developing the specialized skills 
that the Alliance will need in the years ahead.
    The Protocols to the Treaty of 1949 for each of the seven 
states are identical in structure and composed of three 
Articles. Article I provides that, once the Protocol has 
entered into force, the Secretary General of NATO shall extend 
an invitation to the named state to accede to the North 
Atlantic Treaty, and that, in accordance with Article X of the 
Treaty, the state shall become a party to the Treaty on the 
date it deposits its instrument of accessionwith the Government 
of the United States of America. Article II provides that the Protocol 
shall enter into force when each of the parties to the North Atlantic 
Treaty has notified the Government of the United States of America of 
its acceptance of the Protocol. Article III provides for the equal 
authenticity of the English and French texts, and for deposit of the 
Protocol in the archives of the Government of the United States of 
America, the depositary state for North Atlantic Treaty purpose.
    These seven countries have a deep appreciation for U.S. 
efforts to free them from communism. They have made the hard 
choices to reform their countries and become vibrant 
democracies with vigorous market economies. Their accession to 
the Alliance will be a major step toward realizing your vision 
of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.
    Respectfully submitted,
                                                   Colin L. Powell.


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