[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 41 (Friday, April 15, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         INTRODUCTION OF NATO EXPANSION ACT OF 1994, H.R. 4210

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 1994

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have today introduced the NATO Expansion 
Act of 1994, H.R. 4210.
  This bill is intended to help adapt one of the great institutions of 
the cold war--the North Atlantic Treaty Organization--to the post-Cold 
War era. At the same time, it will recognize the great progress that 
the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have made since the demise 
of communism and the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.
  An important first step in this direction was taken at the NATO 
summit last January, with the establishment of the Partnership for 
Peace. The Partnership for Peace provided a mechanism for stepped-up 
cooperation between NATO and the emerging democracies of Central and 
Eastern Europe, but it stopped short of promising eventual NATO 
membership to those countries.
  The strong interest of those countries in forging closer ties to NATO 
is demonstrated by the fact that 14 of them already have joined the 
Partnership. At the same time, a number of them have expressed 
disappointment that NATO has not done more to acknowledge their 
progress and provide for their legitimate security concerns.
  The Partnership for Peace was a good start, but it is now time to go 
farther. We cannot afford continued ambiguity while nations with strong 
roots in Western culture and a growing commitment to democratic values 
struggle in the shadow of uncertainty.
  In particular, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia have 
demonstrated their commitment to economic and political reform and to 
the values for which NATO stands. It is increasingly apparent that they 
are now, or soon will be, in a position to further the principles of 
the North Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to the security of the 
North Atlantic area, satisfying the test for admission to NATO under 
Article 10 of that Treaty.
  The United States and NATO must demonstrate their recognition of the 
progress these countries have made by moving to integrate them into the 
NATO Alliance.

  The NATO Expansion Act of 1994 will help achieve this goal by 
declaring the sense of Congress that Poland, Hungary, the Czech 
Republic, and Slovakia should be made full NATO members by 1999 at the 
latest--5 years after the establishment of the Partnership for Peace, 
provided they satisfy criteria specified in the bill. Among these 
criteria are continued progress toward establishing democratic 
institutions, free market economies, civilian control of their armed 
forces, protection of minority rights, and the rule of law.
  Further, the bill will authorize the President to provide transition 
assistance to these countries in order to facilitate their integration 
into NATO. Such assistance, which could include the provision of excess 
United States defense articles and other forms of security assistance, 
will be designed to encourage and support joint military exercises, 
greater interoperability of military equipment and air defense systems, 
and conformity of military doctrine. Such assistance will be drawn from 
existing resources and will not increase foreign aid spending.
  The bill does not limit the possibility of NATO membership to the 
four countries identified in the bill. To the contrary, it opens the 
door to NATO membership for other European countries emerging from 
Communist domination by authorizing the President to provide them NATO 
transition assistance if he determines they are on track for NATO 
membership.
  The countries of Central and Eastern Europe are concerned--with good 
cause--about whether NATO will recognize the progress they have made 
and provide for their legitimate security concerns. The NATO Expansion 
Act of 1994 will give the President the legal authority and 
congressional support he needs for continued American leadership in 
adapting NATO to the post-cold war era.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that the full text of the NATO Expansion Act 
of 1994 be inserted at this point in the Record.

                               H.R. 4210

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``NATO Expansion Act of 
     1994''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On January 10, 1994, the leaders of the NATO member 
     nations meeting in Brussels, Belgium, issued an invitation to 
     European countries that do not belong to NATO to participate 
     in a program of expanded cooperation with NATO called the 
     Partnership for Peace.
       (2) In that invitation, the leaders of the NATO member 
     nations stated: ``We reaffirm that the Alliance, as provided 
     in Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, remains open to the 
     membership of other European states in a position to further 
     the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the 
     security of the North Atlantic area. We expect and would 
     welcome NATO expansion that would reach to democratic states 
     to our East, as part of an evolutionary process, taking into 
     account political and security developments in the whole of 
     Europe.''.
       (3) The political and economic transformation of the 
     formerly communist-ruled countries of Europe has been under 
     way since 1989. In establishing a new Strategic Concept for 
     NATO in November 1991, the leaders of the NATO member nations 
     observed: ``All the countries that were formerly adversaries 
     of NATO have dismantled the Warsaw Pact and rejected 
     ideological hostility to the West. They have in varying 
     degrees, embraced and begun to implement policies aimed at 
     achieving pluralistic democracy, the rule of law, respect for 
     human rights and a market economy.''.
       (4) In particular, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and 
     Slovakia have made significant progress toward establishing 
     democratic institutions, free market economies, civilian 
     control of their armed forces, and the rule of law since the 
     fall of their previous communist governments.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the leaders of the NATO member nations are to be 
     commended for reaffirming that NATO membership remains open 
     to European countries emerging from communist domination and 
     for welcoming eventual expansion of NATO to include such 
     countries;
       (2) Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia 
     should be in a position to further the principles of the 
     North Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to the security of 
     the North Atlantic area not later than January 10, 1999, 5 
     years from the date of the establishment of the Partnership 
     for Peace, and, in accordance with Article 10 of such Treaty, 
     should be invited to become full NATO members not later than 
     that date, provided these countries--
       (A) maintain their progress toward establishing democratic 
     institutions, free market economies, civilian control of 
     their armed forces, and the rule of law; and
       (B) remain committed to protecting the rights of all their 
     citizens and respecting the territorial integrity of their 
     neighbors;
       (3) the United States, other NATO member nations, and NATO 
     itself should furnish appropriate assistance to facilitate 
     the transition of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and 
     Slovakia to full NATO membership not later than January 10, 
     1999; and
       (4) other European countries emerging from communist 
     domination may be in a position at a future date of further 
     the principles of the North Atlantic Treaty and to contribute 
     to the security of the North Atlantic area, and at the 
     appropriate time they should receive assistance to facilitate 
     their transition to full NATO membership and should be 
     invited to become full NATO members.

     SEC. 4 AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM TO FACILITATE TRANSITION TO NATO 
                   MEMBERSHIP

       (a) In General.--The President may establish a program to 
     assist the transition to full NATO membership of Poland, 
     Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other European 
     countries emerging from communist domination designated by 
     the President pursuant to subsection (e).
       (b) Conduct of Program.--The program established under 
     subsection (a) shall facilitate the transition to full NATO 
     membership of the countries described in such subsection by 
     supporting and encouraging, inter alia--
       (1) joint planning, training, and military exercises with 
     NATO forces;
       (2) greater inter operability of military equipment, air 
     defense systems, and command, control, and communications 
     systems; and
       (3) conformity of military doctrine.
       (c) Type of Assistance.--In carrying out the program 
     established under subsection (a), the President may provide 
     to the countries described in such subsection the following 
     types of security assistance:
       (1) The transfer of excess defense articles under section 
     516 of Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, without regard to the 
     restrictions in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) 
     of such section (relating to the eligibility of countries for 
     such articles under such section).
       (2) The transfer of nonlethal excess defense articles under 
     section 519 of Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, without regard 
     to the restriction in subsection (a) of such section 
     (relating to the justification of the foreign military 
     financing program for the fiscal year in which a transfer is 
     authorized).
       (3) Assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to the Economic Support 
     Fund).
       (4) Assistance under chapter 5 of part II of that Act 
     (relating to international military education and training).
       (5) Assistance under section 23 of the Arms Export Control 
     Act (relating to the ``Foreign Military Financing Program'').
       (d) Additional Assistance.--In addition to the security 
     assistance provided under subsection (c), the President may, 
     in carrying out the program established under subsection (a), 
     provide assistance from funds appropriated after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act under the following accounts:
       (1) The ``Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund'' account.
       (2) The ``Countries in Transition'' account.
       (e) Designation of Other European Countries Emerging From 
     Communist Domination.--The President may designate other 
     European countries emerging from communist domination to 
     receive assistance under the program established under 
     subsection (a) if the President determines and reports to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that such countries--
       (1) have made significant progress toward establishing 
     democratic institutions, a free market economy, civilian 
     control of their armed forces, and the rule of law; and
       (2) are likely, within 5 years of such determination, to be 
     in a position to further the principles of the North Atlantic 
     Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North 
     Atlantic area.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENTS.

       The President is authorized to confer, pursuant to 
     agreement with any country eligible to participate in the 
     Partnership for Peace, rights in respect of the military and 
     related civilian personnel (including dependents of any such 
     personnel) and activities of that country in the United 
     States comparable to the rights conferred by that country in 
     respect of the military and related civilian personnel 
     (including dependents of any such personnel) and activities 
     of the United States in that country.

     SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and at least once every year 
     thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report on the implementation of 
     this Act.
       (b) Contents.--Each such report shall include--
       (1) an assessment of the progress made by Poland, Hungary, 
     the Czech Republic, Solvakia, and other European countries 
     emerging from communist domination designated by the 
     President pursuant to section 4(e) toward meeting the 
     standards for NATO membership set forth in Article 10 of the 
     North Atlantic Treaty, including--
       (A) an assessment of the progress of such countries toward 
     establishing democratic institutions, free market economies, 
     civilian control of their armed forces, and the rule of law; 
     and
       (B) the commitment of such countries in protecting the 
     rights of all their citizens and respecting the territorial 
     integrity of their neighbors;
       (2) a description of all assistance provided under the 
     program established under section 4, or otherwise provided by 
     the United States Government to facilitate the transition to 
     full NATO membership of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, 
     Slovakia, and other European countries emerging from 
     communist domination designated by the President pursuant to 
     section 4(e);
       (3) a description of all assistance provided by other NATO 
     member nations or NATO itself to facilitate the transition to 
     full NATO membership of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, 
     Slovakia, and other European countries emerging from 
     communist domination designated by the President pursuant to 
     section 4(e); and
       (4) a description of any agreement entered into pursuant to 
     section 5.

     SECTION 7. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees-- The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee 
     on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate.
       (2) NATO.--The term ``NATO'' means the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization.
       (3) Other european countries emerging from communist 
     domination.--The term ``other European countries emerging 
     from communist domination'' means--
       (A) Any member of the Conference on Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe located--
       (i) in the territory of the former Union of Soviet 
     Socialist Republics; or
       (ii) in the territory of the former Socialist Federal 
     Republic of Yugoslavia; or
       (B) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, or 
     Albania.

                          ____________________