[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5756-S5757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATO ENLARGEMENT FACILITATION ACT

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, earlier today I think Senator Brown of 
Colorado in my behalf and in behalf of others introduced the NATO 
Enlargement Facilitation Act.
  I am certainly pleased to be joined by the distinguished Senator from 
Colorado, Senator Brown--who has been a real leader on this issue--the 
distinguished chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and a number 
of

[[Page S5757]]

other colleagues. This legislation is intended to expedite the 
transition to full NATO membership of emerging democracies in Central 
and Eastern Europe. This bill builds on earlier bipartisan legislation, 
such as the NATO Participation Act of 1994, which reflects the strong 
bipartisan support for the policy of enlarging the NATO alliance. NATO 
has expanded its membership on three occasions, each time enhancing 
security and stability in Europe. Bringing eligible Central and Eastern 
European nations into NATO will serve that same critical purpose. For 
nearly 4 years, the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe have 
sought to protect their freedom and independence by becoming members--
full members--of Western institutions, especially NATO. They have 
repeatedly petitioned for membership. Moreover, they have seized every 
opportunity for such association, proving their flexibility and 
seriousness. They have become partners for peace, but they desire to 
become real members of a real alliance. The need for a more inclusive, 
more effective atlantic alliance that would respond to present security 
needs has been clear at least since violent aggression began in the 
former Yugoslavia--where the world witnessed the ineffective response 
of the United Nations, the European Community, the Western European 
Union, NATO, and the United States.
  Since that time, it became clear that the elaborate architecture of 
European security developed during the cold war era was, and is, not up 
to the challenges of the post-cold-war world.
  Meanwhile, the window of opportunity for consolidation of new 
freedoms, independence, and security is closing. Forging new 
relationships and new institutions is increasingly difficult and 
controversial. In my view, further delays will undermine the 
governments and confidence of people recently freed from the 
expansionist ambitions of aggressive neighbors. Yet, the Clinton 
administration has acted as if time were not a factor--as if there were 
no threats to the independence of the newly self-governing democracies.
  Secretary Christopher in a recent speech stated that the 
administration's policy was ``slow, but deliberate.'' I believe the 
administration's policy is deliberately slow. The Clinton 
administration has consistently avoided concrete steps toward NATO 
enlargement--studying and discussing, but not acting. Mr. President, 
this legislation is designed to facilitate NATO enlargement by 
providing targeted security assistance for those countries most likely 
to become eligible to join NATO. The NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act 
creates a $60 million assistance program composed of Foreign Military 
Financing [FMF] loan and grant programs and the International Military 
Education and Training [IMET] program. This legislation declares 
Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic eligible for this assistance 
and authorizes the President to designate others as they meet the 
criteria in current law.
  This legislation, however, does not name countries to be NATO 
members. That is a decision for the alliance to take. This legislation 
seeks to make up for time lost due to a lack of U.S. leadership. It is 
also important to note that this bill is a beginning, not an endpoint. 
Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary will likely be the first 
countries in Central and Eastern Europe to join NATO-- not the last. 
Finally, this legislation should not be interpreted as a lessening of 
U.S. interests in close ties with other countries in the region. The 
freedom and security of all of Europe's new democracies are a big 
concern to us.

  I believe that the United States and NATO must act decisively--before 
the window of opportunity closes. When the Bush administration was 
confronted with the challenge of German reunification, Western leaders 
swiftly reached agreement on policy and acted resolutely to achieve it.
  As with German reunification, the act of including Central and 
Eastern European democracies in NATO is not and cannot reasonably be 
seen as an affront--much less a threat--to any other country, least of 
all Russia. All actual and potential members of the NATO alliance share 
an interest in a peaceable, democratic Russia. Furthermore, the United 
States has a distinct national interest in a firm security relationship 
with Russia. Any United States Government should, and we expect, will 
work cooperatively with a democratic Russia for the consolidation of 
security in Europe--but not by denying NATO membership to Europe's new 
democracies.
  Mr. President, NATO enlargement has enjoyed bipartisan support since 
the end of the cold war. I hope that all of my colleagues will support 
this legislation in that same bipartisan spirit.
  Let me say that we also, of course, addressed in our press conference 
earlier today, when we were honored to have former President Lech 
Welesa of Poland with us, that no countries are named. It is very 
likely that the first three countries invited will be Poland, Hungary 
and the Czech Republic. Though we have not forgotten the Baltic States 
of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and other Central and Eastern European 
countries when they have complied and when they have been selected by 
NATO.
  So my view is that we have had the good beginning. The former 
President of Poland was very impressed, and he feels that we may now be 
on the way to achieving something that has been eluding these freedom 
loving people for a number of years.

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