[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 3, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1091-E1092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATO EXPANSION CANNOT BE LIMITED

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 1997

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I have just returned with the U.S. 
congressional delegation led by Congressman Doug Bereuter from 
attending a meeting of the North Atlantic Assembly, the parliamentary 
arm of the NATO alliance, that took place over the just concluded 
congressional recess. There we discussed with parliamentary 
representatives from all of our allied countries the need to enlarge 
NATO in order to ensure its continued success without drawing any lines 
that would exclude additional countries from future enlargement. In 
fact, Mr. Speaker, if and when any of the former Communist and Soviet 
dominated countries meet the criteria to become eligible for NATO, 
which include irreversible democracy, a commitment to free market 
principles and the rule of law, respect for human rights and liberties, 
and a military that's interoperable with NATO forces, they should be 
extended an invitation for full and open membership in the alliance.
  In that vain, Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to the 
remarks delivered by Congressman Bereuter at the plenary session of the 
North Atlantic Assembly. His

[[Page E1092]]

comments are right on the mark in emphasizing that the first tranche of 
NATO enlargement, with invitations set to go out to a handful of 
countries this summer at the Madrid Summit, can in no way close the 
door on invitations to other countries. I have said and stand by my 
assertion that should we exclude those countries who miss the first 
round of enlargement, NATO will fail. I urge you and all Members of the 
House and the Senate to carefully read Congressman Bereuter's speech, 
the rationale for continued enlargement, continued peace and prosperity 
in Europe, is laid out in crystal clear terms.

       NAA Plenary Statement by Rep. Doug Bereuter, June 1, 1997

       Mr. President, North Atlantic Assembly colleagues, we can 
     say with conviction and satisfaction that the argumentation 
     about whether NATO will expand is behind us. Now the 
     questions indeed are who and how. In less than forty days, at 
     the July 8-9 summit in Madrid, NATO will invite several 
     countries--probably between three to five--to launch 
     accession negotiations with NATO. As the Just-Goss report of 
     the Political Committee notes, ``five countries seem to be on 
     a short list of possible invitees (the Czech Republic, 
     Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Solvenia)'', but another eight 
     countries regard themselves as candidates. Undoubtedly there 
     will be more.
       At Yalta lines were drawn across the face of Europe which 
     have lasted more than fifty years. In a different way they 
     still do exist. My colleagues, by our actions we must say: no 
     more lines--never again. We must seize the opportunity to 
     bring those countries east and southeast of the NATO alliance 
     countries to join in our collective defense alliance when 
     they qualify. If we assure, as we must, that the first 
     countries offered NATO membership are not the last and that 
     other qualified countries' NATO membership are not unduly 
     delayed. Then we do not replace the infamous Yalta lines with 
     new ones. Under an open-door, dynamic expansion procedure 
     there are no new lines drawn between Russia and NATO--not 
     even lines excluding Russia itself. The Baltic nations, 
     Ukraine, and other countries will not be neglected for NATO 
     membership. The door to membership is open to one and all. 
     The unprecedented fifty-two years of European peace can be 
     extended in time and eventually all across the face of 
     Europe. And by mutually beneficial and selfless action the 
     Europeans can and should supplement our NATO protective 
     umbrella by offering these new NATO members full membership 
     in the European Union as soon as possible. The NATO security 
     blanket and the economic integration through the EU together 
     are the lasting answers to the quest for peace and prosperity 
     in Europe. It is also the way to contain, it not eliminate, 
     the ethnic, social, religious, and national animosities that 
     so tragically scar our civilization. Another Bosnia, or 
     another Holocaust, need not happen!
       Indeed we citizens of NATO countries have reason to take 
     pride and great satisfaction that the criteria we have 
     established for PFP and NATO membership have, in the 
     applicant countries, already settled national boundary 
     disputes and ethnic conflict and discrimination, advanced 
     democracy and pluralism, fostered civilian control of the 
     military, developed confidence-building measures, gained 
     greater transparency in military budgets, and created greater 
     out-of-area interoperability for out-of-area operations for 
     peacekeeping or against aggression as in Albania or Kuwait. 
     More advances will come as applicants continue to strive for 
     NATO membership. In fact, the events of the last week between 
     NATO and Russia at the very dawn of NATO expansion suggest 
     that it may bring us increasingly together for even more 
     understanding, cooperation and trust. Rather than the dire 
     results predicted in Russia if NATO expands, it well could be 
     the dawn of a new and better day.
       Of course, the decision on which countries will be in the 
     first wave of expansion must be followed by the unanimous 
     ratification in our sixteen NATO countries. The debate in our 
     parliamentary bodies and nations will probably have 
     heightened fervor as the reality of action is in sight. 
     Arguments about the costs of expansion to NATO countries will 
     certainly rage, especially in light of the exaggerated and 
     erroneous assumptions made by those who do not understand 
     that the same infrastructure, nuclear weapons deployment, and 
     out-of-country military deployment of NATO troops we find in 
     the current NATO ``front-line states'' are not needed in the 
     new NATO countries.
       But, then after the budget issues are raised in America and 
     in every other NATO country, the crucial item of debate and 
     the answer demanded by our respective constituents will, as 
     one respected American Democratic Senator said, be this 
     plaintive question: ``Congressman, why are you willing to 
     send my son (or my husband) to protect Poland?'' His answer 
     was this: ``Madam, taking Poland into NATO makes it less 
     likely, not more likely, that your son will fight and die in 
     a conflict on the Polish border.'' I agree! That is the 
     argument all of us in the NATO 16 must and can make.
       Finally, and on a much different level of specificity, I 
     feel compelled to advance to case of first-round membership 
     in NATO for Slovenia even though the Madrid Summit is fast 
     approaching. The ``Visegrad three'' seem a cinch for 
     membership and Romania is pressing its case very 
     aggressively, with vocal support among one or more 
     countries and among numerous organizations, experts, and 
     opinion leaders. Because Slovenia has until recently been 
     almost entirely forgotten, and nearly unknown in my 
     country, because its independent status dates only back to 
     1990, because its military formation and modernization was 
     delayed by the arms embargo for the Bosnia conflict, and 
     because the U.S. Senate leadership added Slovenia to the 
     list of the ``Visegrad three'' countries after earlier 
     House action, I took ten of my House colleagues to 
     Slovenia on week ago for several days of intensive 
     examination of their case.
       (We also visited the country temporarily known in some 
     international organizations as the Former Yugoslav Republic 
     of Macedonia, or Macedonia as they prefer. They too strong 
     desire NATO membership and they are energetically seeking to 
     meet the criteria. We note with satisfaction their progress 
     and praise their commitment and determination.)
       However, on the case of Slovenia, my colleagues in the 
     Assembly, I speak for the enthusiastic and unanimous or near-
     unanimous view of my House delegation colleagues--Slovenia 
     deserves first-round membership in NATO. Indeed an objective 
     examination of the Slovenians case would probably show that 
     they better meet the criteria than any other applicant 
     country. Indeed, nobody can really argue that Slovenia 
     doesn't meet the criteria. Slovenia's case has simply been 
     largely neglected. I know of no reputable opposition to 
     Slovenia. This country is in the ``well-I-guess-I-don't-know-
     any-reason-why-they-shouldn't-be-a-member'' category. They 
     simply have lacked a major proponent among NATO countries. In 
     fact, however, we House members feel we can objectively 
     advance their case because we have no special American 
     benefit or relationship with Slovenia and we have no big 
     ethnic constituency in our country as we do in the cases of 
     Poland or the Czech Republic.
       Because my time is brief I will in capsule form list only a 
     few special reasons for Slovenian membership:
       1. First and foremost, again, they meet the membership 
     criteria--perhaps better than any other candidate.
       2.While the costs of enlargement will be a factor in 
     ratification debates in NATO countries, Slovenia has the 
     financial capacity and commitment to meet its military 
     costs--again better than any other candidate.
       3. Slovenia has never been and will not be considered by 
     Russia to be a threat against it--it's membership will be an 
     example or proof that NATO expansion is not simply hostility 
     directed at Russia. It's acceptance by NATO will only 
     recognize as one nation's effort to enhance its security 
     against any threat by joining the Alliance. (A NATO expansion 
     won't be seen as a finger pointed against Russia, but an open 
     hand that it can grasp.)
       4. Slovenia's admission on the merits of its case and not 
     as part of any grand ``horse-trading scheme, bargaining 
     chip,'' or ``political quid pro quo'' will reassure all 
     applicants and would-be applicants that their cases will be 
     decided by the Alliance on the merits--by objective 
     standards.
       5. Slovenia's admission will serve as an incentive for 
     action and a model to follow for the now independent parts of 
     what was Yugoslavia, and indeed for all of the countries of 
     the Balkans or southeastern Europe.
       6. Finally, at a time when NATO is faced with a terrible 
     dilemma in Bosnia, recent and perhaps prospective combatants 
     in Croatia and Serbia, with potential threats to Macedonia, 
     and with Albanian ethnic difficulties stretching from Kosovo 
     to Albania itself, Slovenia as a NATO member would be a good 
     source of counsel, and potentially of mediation, in those 
     grave controversies.
       My colleagues, that is the short list of reasons why it 
     must not be too late to wake up to Slovenia's case for first-
     round NATO membership--strictly on the merits of its case and 
     because of the advantage of NATO itself. Our House delegation 
     will make its case to our colleagues in Congress and to the 
     Clinton administration. We strenuously urge all of your to 
     consider and make this case, too, in your own respective 
     countries. Slovenia deserves first-round membership and it 
     has a unique position and circumstances to strengthen NATO 
     now!

     

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